Savon's Lexus

sorry for the long post, but i believe information=knowledge=power :)

this is interesting... my friends car was/is having similar problems, here's the situation:

we live in New Mexico so it gets pretty warm in the summer, and now that summer has hit us, this problem has popped up. it all started when the ignition interlock failed (bad choices, my fault, i failed as a friend, anyways...) that seemed to short something out and the battery got completely drained. a jumpstart the first day worked fine, but the next day at work, a jump didn't do anything and the interlock was having problems. so, we towed it to get the interlock reinstalled/serviced... done. the next day, she was at a stop light with the ac running, and the car felt like it was about to die (power drain?). the radio's volume would fade in and out and the car was on the verge of stalling. the car was taken to autozone and had the alternator checked. both the alternator and drive belt were found to be bad(i guess the alternator was tested "in car"), so both were replaced on the spot. however, after they were replaced the problem continued. that is to say that, while idle, with the ac on, the car seemed to be on the verge of dieing. this perplexed the autozone guys, so they tested the alternator a second time "out of car"... this time the alternator came back fine. my friend doesn't take any crap from anyone, she's an amazing girl! so she spoke to the manager, and because of the situation, got a new battery, the original alternator put back in, and was only out the cost of the belt. the next day, same thing... stopped at a light, ac on, radio in and out, seemed to be on the verge of stalling. so she had a different mechanic look at it while at work and he concluded that the alternator was bad (again). so i decided to just replace the damn thing myself... done. now, i can understand that even though the battery was replaced, if the alternator is bad it's not going to recharge the battery. this was the case for a couple days before i actually replaced the alternator. so once i got the new alternator installed we fired up the car and everything seemed fine. we turned on the ac full blast and i felt first hand what was going on... the car was idle (just under 1000rpms) but once the ac was turned on it would drop down to 300/400rpms? up, down, up, down, up, down ect... i thought that if the previous alternator was bad then the battery may have been drained even though it was new (as the car had been driving two days before i put in the new alternator) so i sat there for a few minutes idling the car a little bit higher to recharge the battery... within a few minutes this seemed to fix everything! radio on, full blast, no problem, ac on, full blast, no problem. two days! no problem! but now, the check engine light has come on!? so this is the point where im not sure what to do...

so i can verify that;

1. the negative cable to battery is in clean condition

2. the s-belt has been replace and is within measure (this is the one belt in front right?)

3. new alternator

4. new battery

but how can i trouble shoot;

5. AC compressor / clutch

6. catalytic convertor or air/fuel chain clogged

im also looking into seeing how much it would be to have a tech/mechanic read the error codes that should be generated from the check engine light.

i know i need to top off the oil, she is running a little low, and will be doing a full oil change for her come july. i know i can do that. im also gunna find out how to check spark plugs (never had to do that, so i'll be researching that now) so lets assume those will be fine... i'll repost if thats not the case and fixes the problem.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

These board have already been such a wealth of information!!! everyone here is super badass in my book!

OMG , this is exactly what mine is doing , i have gotten new belts, new batteries, the alternator was tested several time and charging correctly, new catalytic converter has been put on , it's been turned up , new gaskets put on , this is my only issue lol and its causing me great grief. I need to find this needle in this haystack.

Hi all ,

I have been experiencing the wierdest thing, i have had the altnernator checked, several new batteries but when the AC is running and i have to sit idle for any long period of time , i notice my car loose power, the radio starts then the check engine light comes on and if i turne the AC off the power restores to its normal level and all is well. This issue is really bothering me because i never knwo when its going to do it, i don thave to sit idle long at all but i have noticed it always happen when the AC is on and well heck its too dang on hot not to use the AC. ANyone else had this issue or ar there post already out there you can refer me too?

I have literally gone through about 4 batteries witn the last 3 yrs. i am nto sure what could be goin on because i have had everything checked, the alternator, starter etc and i cant figure out what could be draining this battery. I had a new one put in a month ago and drove it sunday with no problems, went out today Thursday and it will not start... i am at my witts end, it has been a great car but geez , what gives.... has anyoen had this problem?

Hello all , i have replaced the stereo and put in a dvd touch screen double din player in as well as an amp and 2, 12's but i want to know replace the door speakers and everwhere i turn i get a diffeent answer as to what size fits the doors of my 1995 gs300..

Please help!