LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

electrical short

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Old 03-30-03, 01:55 PM
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rybikowsky
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Default electrical short

Need some input, 92 ls 400. Battry goes dead if car not used for three to five days. I have changed batterys It made no diffrence. Is there any part of the car , that is phrone to shorts. I am not the greatest with electricle things. Thanks. Michael.
Old 03-30-03, 02:48 PM
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GA400
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Question Is one of the interior lights staying on?

Rybikowsky,

Just some ideas.....

The door sensors for the courtesy lights are notorious for failing. Also, how about your trunk light? Glove box light? Do you have an aftermarket alarm?

Also, is the battery factory spec for cca's? Ours call for some big power. Someone down the line may have put too small of a battery in there. I believe the size code is 24F for fit and at least 650 cca. Can someone confirm that, please?

HTH,

GA400
Old 03-30-03, 11:29 PM
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97LS400
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Rybikowsky,

I was a Honda Parts and Service Manager for 10 years.

GA400 is correct. We had more dead batteries caused by interior/trunk lights left on than any other cause.

Next verify that you have not recieved a bad battery (it happens.) Many places will do a battery load test in the driveway. This is not a voltage test but a "load" tester where you dial in the CCA capacity of your battery and the tester verifies that it can put that much power out under load.

If the battery is ok and no lights are staying on you have something else drawing power. The number one cause (that I saw over and over) is an aftermarket amplifier wired direct to power (not switched to the stereo.) After that there was a wiring draw problem with the aftermarket stereo or alarm system. In both those cases disconnect them and see if the problem goes away.

If that doesn't do it you take it to a pro to pin down what the draw is (in amps) and where it is going. Every modern car will have a slight draw going to clocks, ECU, etc.
Old 03-31-03, 07:16 AM
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rybikowsky
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Thanks for the help. I will check the things suggested. I do know that the battry is fine. The one that was in It was a lexus labeled one The second one I bought as a backup. Was listed in the chart a for the L S 400. same amps size etc. After noticing this problem, I bought a very neat gadget. It is a small black box, that is installed on the positive post on the battery. Then You hook the cable to It. What it does is protect total voltage loss from the battery. When it senses to much of a drop. It breaks the connection, and leaves enough currant to start the car. The negative side is that it cannott save any of the settings. But it keeps you from having to walk.
Old 03-31-03, 07:50 AM
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spxChrome
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Check this thread out. I had the same problem:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...threadid=75301
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