alternator death
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 26
From: Indiana
alternator death
Happy Holidays to all
so as many of you may know ( i apologize for bombarding this forum with questions for the past couple of weeks with nothing to give back) i just purchased a 14 es 350 with 42k miles for my parents.
The service record shows alternator replacement at 35k
What can be the cause of this? is this alarming?
so as many of you may know ( i apologize for bombarding this forum with questions for the past couple of weeks with nothing to give back) i just purchased a 14 es 350 with 42k miles for my parents.
The service record shows alternator replacement at 35k
What can be the cause of this? is this alarming?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,047
Likes: 135
From: AB
Happy Holidays to all
so as many of you may know ( i apologize for bombarding this forum with questions for the past couple of weeks with nothing to give back) i just purchased a 14 es 350 with 42k miles for my parents.
The service record shows alternator replacement at 35k
What can be the cause of this? is this alarming?
so as many of you may know ( i apologize for bombarding this forum with questions for the past couple of weeks with nothing to give back) i just purchased a 14 es 350 with 42k miles for my parents.
The service record shows alternator replacement at 35k
What can be the cause of this? is this alarming?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,297
Likes: 1,589
From: SE PA
Discharging and recharging an auto battery numerous times can cause sulphurization and premature failure of a battery. Cross your fingers and just keep an eye on it.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 248
From: AZ
If it were my car, I'd put a new battery in there if it's original. It's cheap insurance and is probably going to need replacement anyway even if it has nothing to do with the alternator going out so early.
Here's a warning label to illustrate.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 1,034
From: Illinois
There have been threads here about a problem with the gateway computer that ends up causing battery drain.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...nd-2014-a.html
I believe that it affected some 2013 and 2014 ES.
Thus, I suppose that there is a possibility that, if the battery on the car was repeatedly drained, it could have caused the premature alternator failure. If the car that you bought is in the affected group, you should make sure that the gateway computer was also replaced or else you could end up battery/alternator issues in the future.
You might want to check to see if the VIN on the ES that you bought puts it into the group of ESs that the TSB applies to.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...nd-2014-a.html
I believe that it affected some 2013 and 2014 ES.
Thus, I suppose that there is a possibility that, if the battery on the car was repeatedly drained, it could have caused the premature alternator failure. If the car that you bought is in the affected group, you should make sure that the gateway computer was also replaced or else you could end up battery/alternator issues in the future.
You might want to check to see if the VIN on the ES that you bought puts it into the group of ESs that the TSB applies to.
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Driver
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 12
From: VA
If your vin is before the vin shown in the TSB then your car is affected. From the vin shown on, a change was made and installed on the production line to the rest of the cars made. So the TSB doesn’t apply to those cars.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Wow, this bulletin seems to apply to the VIN for the one I just got my parents as well. Will tell them to bring it in next time they get their service.
Too bad Lexus can’t just automatically identify, contact the owners, and fix these things. With my experience, I’ll probably end up paying an exorbitant repair bill and the dealer won’t even mention the bulletin.
Too bad Lexus can’t just automatically identify, contact the owners, and fix these things. With my experience, I’ll probably end up paying an exorbitant repair bill and the dealer won’t even mention the bulletin.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 1,034
From: Illinois
From reading the posts in the thread that I linked earlier and from reading posts in other threads here, it would appear that some dealers have been more cooperative than others with regard to replacing the gateway computer at no cost to the vehicle owner. It would also appear that getting the dealer to replace the gateway computer at no cost to the vehicle owner becomes more difficult if the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty has expired.
Thus, I would suggest that it would be wise to deal with the issue before the bumper-to-bumper warranty expires. I'm guessing that having to pay out of pocket would result in a significant repair bill.
Thus, I would suggest that it would be wise to deal with the issue before the bumper-to-bumper warranty expires. I'm guessing that having to pay out of pocket would result in a significant repair bill.