1996 Ls400, Possible Alternator issue?

[Lucas Baker]

Hi Everyone, 

Im new here, so bare with me!

So I recently purchased my 96 LS400. About 2 weeks ago my car started to die on me on my way home (pressing on the brakes would shut off my Head-unit and dim my lights, and then started to stutter when I tried giving it gas.) When I got home, I shut off my car and it wouldn't start again.

The seller replaced the alternator pretty recently (for a different issue which ended up being a bad belt. So he left the OEM alternator in a box for me for a spare). I went and got the OEM alternator tested and it was good. I replaced it and the car has run good (pushing about 13-14V cold), until today the same exact issue happened again on my way home.

 So now I'm not sure if it was the alternator that was causing the issue

 Im not sure if this is related but Ive run into an issue last week where my car randomly shut off when I went to a dead stop and it just happened again yesterday.

If there is a forum for this same issue, maybe someone can point me to the right spot.

Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated, because I am currently STUMPED and don't want to replace the alternator and waste money the same thing to happen again!

Thank you

[paulo57509]

2 hours ago, Lucas Baker said:

Hi Everyone, 

Im new here, so bare with me!

So I recently purchased my 96 LS400. About 2 weeks ago my car started to die on me on my way home (pressing on the brakes would shut off my Head-unit and dim my lights, and then started to stutter when I tried giving it gas.) When I got home, I shut off my car and it wouldn't start again.

The seller replaced the alternator pretty recently (for a different issue which ended up being a bad belt. So he left the OEM alternator in a box for me for a spare). I went and got the OEM alternator tested and it was good. I replaced it and the car has run good (pushing about 13-14V cold), until today the same exact issue happened again on my way home.

 So now I'm not sure if it was the alternator that was causing the issue

 Im not sure if this is related but Ive run into an issue last week where my car randomly shut off when I went to a dead stop and it just happened again yesterday.

If there is a forum for this same issue, maybe someone can point me to the right spot.

Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated, because I am currently STUMPED and don't want to replace the alternator and waste money the same thing to happen again!

Thank you

The car dies with both the "new" and the old boxed alternator?

First off, confirm that the battery can take and hold a full charge.  Performing any electrical tests with a weak or bad battery will yield meaningless results.

[Lucas Baker]

Yes its died with both. I have a new battery I can put it as well but it should be able to take a full charghe

 

[Bykfixer]

I read elsewhere that there is an issue with the connector to the alternator. 

Without actually seeing the connector they speak of I cannot provide details but apparently it's not uncommon for the connector to not fasten correctly to the alternator due to a small clip that connects being broken. 

So even though the alternator is working proper the charging system is not and the car ends up running off of the battery instead of the alternator.