jjc1971

lenore, Thanks that sounds very sensible. I'll try that. Any tip on easiest way to get the belts loose? Is there a tensioner somewhere that will ease it enough to get the belts off? Thanks

Eugene, Ok. So somehow I have clearly offended you. I really am not sure how. And I'm not sure directing me to that page added anything. I'm not focussed on belts. I'm trying to get to the bottom of an issue that is causing the engine to not be able to deliver full power. And the belts are connected to items that can seize as well as the engine. And I have a squeaking belt. And a battery not charging light which happens if the thing attached to the belts fails or the belt fails. It may be nothing to do with the belts but there sure is enough 'coincidental' stuff to be worthwhile exploring it. I did think the point of forums was to explore stuff and gather opinions. I wouldn't come here if I had the answers? But I do confess I can't see how changing the battery would stop the squeaking belt, or get the car out of limp mode. Sorry :(

Filehorse, Thanks for taking a look - really appreciated :) I have the same - half inch play in the centre of the pulleys. I used to have a 1973 Jensen interceptor and the AC unit seized on that while I was driving. Jammed everything solid and set fire to the drive belt. So I think I probably for no valid reason lean towards that at the moment. But it could equally be nothing to do with that drive belt. I hate cars. I have lots and love them really, but actually I bought this because Lexus 'just work' apparently. The reviews are so good. And I urgently needed a daily that I could just drive. XC90 is still at the garage 3 weeks later, and the toys are in the garage off the road. So frustrating to be on forums so quickly with a Lexus. I know its an old one but its done 90k and I'd hoped for more if I'm honest. I'll let you know how I get on with steering and AC on the drive belt. And thanks!

Eugene, Good point on temperature. By 'not cold' I mean the engine is at normal operating temperature having been running for 10 mins. Ambient temperature is cold cold. Your memories of London are on the money. Right now its -1 degree celsius. Cold. I fully accept that the battery may have seen better days, but to my mind that couldn't cause the belt to squeak? When i say the power has gone I don't mean electrical power - I mean engine power. It runs fine and turns over and lights work and seat warmers do too (very necessary here right now) but when I move off there just isn't enough power from the engine to get the car up a hill. Like its in limp mode. So something is interfering with engine power. Significantly. And I don't think battery can do that. Because of the squeaking and cutout I was exploring something on that drive belt seized slowing the engine speed down and as the battery charge light was on alternator seemed like a good place to start. But the alternator actually moves ok, so I need to explore the other components on the same drive belt. But I certainly will change the battery soon. I need to isolate that its not a fully seized engine first as I have no desire to waste money on ancillaries if the whole engine block is seized!

Filehorse, Thats a good point. Any tips on how to loosen the belt? On other cars I've worked on there's tension put in by a slide arm where the alternator connects. Is this how you would do it? I can't see out here now - its gone dark as its early evening here and cant find the torch! I'll look out an independent. Its so hard to find one to trust though. Although I don't trust main dealers either. On my Volvo XC90 just before Xmas went in for a dpf filter and the dealer diagnosed it as a replacement gearbox for £5,800. I told them not to be silly, spoke to their engineer and when I said I thought they had got it wrong he completely agreed. I'll try easing the belts because if there is AC and other parts on the same loop then that might be a cause as you say. I could have imagined it but I did feel the steering was a bit odd. Thanks

Actually not even sure if the RX300 has a limp mode. Filehorse, Thanks. Did check out the belt and it seemed ok as above. But annoyingly so did the alternator. When it was started from cold. I guess possibly a bearing could get sticky when its warmed up but ok when it is cold? It felt as though the engine was being held back. Fuel consumption was showing noticeably lower than normal even when going steadily at 50. It felt like the engine was using a lot of fuel to not go very fast. Like towing a truck. Thats good to hear about the alternator change. It's nicely located at the top of the engine for a change.... I can live with an alternator change.

Hi Eugene, That's great advice. Thanks. Firstly I'm in UK not US so not sure if there are any cotswolds forumers? I've just checked it out and the belt going round the alternator is good and tight but not overly. Its about the same as alternator belt tension on my other car. I started the car up and it was fine, no squealing, no battery light. So this shows that the Lexus alternator does at least turn and hasn't fully seized. And the belt is in good condition and the right tension. Which means I don't understand: 1) why it squeals occasionally 2) why it didn't charge the battery for 5 minutes But actually my biggest concern - 3) why the car was so underpowered it couldn't get up a hill last night. Does the lexus give any warning signs if it goes into limp mode? Could it have gone into limp because of the alternator hiccup? Thanks James

Hi all, New to Lexus and new to here. I did try to search but couldn't find a thread related to this. Also posted this on the wrong thread - sorry. Bought a 2004 RX300 a couple of weeks ago and I've been really pleased so far. But I now have an issue. A couple of days ago the belts squeaked for about a minute but it wasn't first start up of the day so I noticed and thought that's odd. Since then belts have squeaked a few times and again for a minute only and not from cold. Yesterday got in it to leave work at 5pm and got the squeak but also the red battery light was on for the first time so I turned off all the power hungry items. After about 5 mins the battery light went out again, and then I pulled over to pick up groceries. When i restarted car started ok with no noise and no red light but no power. There was nothing to indicate it was in limp mode, no warning lights just wouldn't pull. Any thoughts? My initial uneducated thought is alternator. Alternator may have semi 'seized' so with the squeak yesterday was alternator refusing to turn, but then it did turn but is so stiff its basically nearly stopping the engine but it is reluctantly turning hence the battery light is out. Is there any way I can test the alternator? Is my theory idiotic? Any help greatly appreciated.

Hi all, New to Lexus and new to here. I did try to search but couldn't find a thread related to this. Bought a 2004 RX300 a couple of weeks ago and I've been really pleased so far. But I now have an issue. A couple of days ago the belts squeaked for about a minute but it wasn't first start up of the day so I noticed and thought that's odd. Since then belts have squeaked a few times and again for a minute only and not from cold. Yesterday got in it to leave work at 5pm and got the squeak but also the red battery light was on for the first time so I turned off all the power hungry items. After about 5 mins the battery light went out again, and then I pulled over to pick up groceries. When i restarted car started ok with no noise and no red light but no power. There was nothing to indicate it was in limp mode, no warning lights just wouldn't pull. Any thoughts? My initial uneducated thought is alternator. Alternator may have semi 'seized' so with the squeak yesterday was alternator refusing to turn, but then it did turn but is so stiff its basically nearly stopping the engine but it is reluctantly turning hence the battery light is out. Is there any way I can test the alternator? Is my theory idiotic? Any help greatly appreciated.