LexusGuy91 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Hi I have a 1991Lexus LS400 with 211k miles on it. Recently I wasdriving it in slow traffic, and while I was sitting at a red lightthe dash board started to light up with all these warning signals,low oil, emergency brake on, etc, when the light turned green Iaccelerated and all of the lights went away and my dash went back tonormal. I then got stuck at another red light and the same thingoccurred this time however the whole dashboard started flickering andbecoming dimmer and then the engine turned off. I tried to turn thecar back on but nothing happened. I had to call AAA and they said itwas probably my alternator, the AAA guy zapped my battery and told meto turn off all the vents and the headlights. He also said that whenI come to a stoplight I should put the car in neutral and rev theengine so that the car doesn't die again. I drove it all the way tomy mechanic and parked it in his lot. I turned off the car anddecided to walk home, but just for the heck of it I tried to startthe car and it started it up normally. My mechanic took a look at itthe next day and he couldn't figure out what the problem was, he saidthat alternator was fine. Anybody have anyidea what the problem is? The alternator isabout 4 years old, and I just got a new battery about 4-5 months ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landar Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Welcome Max What you are describing is a classic intermittent. Just what is 'intermittent' is still a mystery. It could be your alternator or your battery but my money is on the battery cables or a ground connection. My first step would be to thoroughly clean the battery connections. Did your mechanic at least do that? You also have a 91 and the trunk wiring issue can manifest itself in all kinds of crazy electrical ways. Though I would not go down that path just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exhaustgases Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Battery connections Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sha4000 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I also would check the battery cables for corrosion and to see if they are loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exhaustgases Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Especially where the cable goes into the connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexusGuy91 Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 Update: I brought my car to a different mechanic and he figured out the problem. It was the alternator. He replaced it and the car works now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landar Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Glad to hear it is now fixed. Thanks for taking the time to post the update! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sha4000 Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Easy fix though it could be costly. Glad you got it worked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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