Well this morning I started the car and everything was normal, I drove 15 miles to my girls house, went in and came back out to start the car and nothing, the instrument panel did not light up nothing, jumped the car and was fine. While on my way to work I noticed that everytime I stepped on the brakes the radio went out and the instrument panel went dim for a second, but nothing else affected the radio (like turning on the lights or AC). Now when I got to work I shut it off and tried to restart it and again nothing. ANY ideas???


battery was replaced 1 1/2 yr ago

99' GS400
HIDs
167000 miles
SRT intake
Tanabe exhaust

and no aftermarket electronics/ no navi

 

sounds like your alternator is about to die.

 

Starting problem points to the battery (sepcially when you jump it, it starts).

Now follow the trail ... terminals, wires, alternator (which may not be charging up the battery) as well as not providing enough juice while the car is running. [relatively good battery + wire is still needed to produce electricity]

Start with the easiest thing first .. check absense of corrosion on terminals and see if the clamps are tight (should not be able to twist the terminal by hand).

You can try overnight charging and then getting the battery tested under load. If it passes with flying color, move to the next step

Next would be the alternator. Although it can be checked in the car but allmost all auto-shops have the set up to check it unmounted.

If it the alternator it might be worth investigating what caused it ... ie is there any thing external like leaking stearing pump etc.

Good luck

Salim

 

if you can just go to autozone and let them run a test on your battery and alternator which they do for no charge. but it does sound like your battery is weak and this could be from your alternator not operating properly

 

just an update...took it to woodfield lexus and they could not even get a reading off of the battery..diagnosis bad battery.. seems the battery (a lexus battery) died after 21 months luckily the battery had an 84 month warrenty on it, but there were no other problems with it.

it just seemed strange that every time i stepped on the brake the radio would go out and the clock and radio would hold their settings, even the lexus rep was a little baffled by that

thanks for your replies

off to continue the mods---next on the block TQ and rear

 

glad it worked out for you

 

This is funny if you read it as the Gauntlet voiceover.