akhil

I have a 2006 Lexus ES 330 with 92k miles on it. All regular maintenance has been done per schedule, except the 90k mile timing belt change.

On my way to the air-port, I could hear a whirling noise from engine and about 40 mile from the airport I got bad batter indicator on my dash board followed by ABS, Airbag and fault light indicator, but no check engine light. I could see the power to the dashboard going on and off. I turned of the AC, radio and all other auxilary power units and was able to drive the car 40 miles to air-port parking to catch my flight. Car won't start now.

I am headed back now and trying to figure out how to trouble shoot. From the internet postings, I understood that most probable cause may be a loose battery connection. Other scenario would be a bad alternator, but I don't think car would run 40 miles in that case. I don't think timing belt will fail immidiately after 90k miles.

Is my understanding correct? Any other possible causes? What should I look for? A friend of mine will bring the tool kit and we will work on it in the parking lot.

Appreciate all the help.

Akhil

KLF

Sounds like a dead alternator to me. Exactly how mine quit. It was there one minute, gone the next. It's totally and entirely possible to drive the car 40 miles on the battery, especially if all the accessories are shut off.

It's easy to change. Don't forget to disconnect the battery first. I learned the hard way what happens if you don't.

A busted timing belt will make the engine stop dead immediately.

nuverde

Yup. Sounds just like my experience with a dead alternator as well. Died suddenly and without warning. Mine died on a Friday night driving on I-45 through Houston. That was fun.

PFB

If possible, take a spare freshly charged battery with you when you go back to your car.

That at least will get you back for another 40 miles or so, or to a garage of your choice.

And yes, it does sound like an alternator issue.

Phil

akhil

Thank you for your replies to my posting. I havea followup question.

It appears that a new alternator only comes with 1 year warranty and a refurburished alternator comes with 3 year warranty. Price difference between the two is only about 10%, but it will take me a few days to order a recived a new alternator. What is you experience with a re-furburished alternator?

Akhil

pauloil

excellent with refurb alternators from Oreilly's. check cables first using voltage drop testing. what you do is run motor at 2000 rpm and turn on several accessories, then measure voltage drop across both ends of any batt. cable to be sure voltage drop is less than 0.2V