dakota166

so the lcd in my old climate control went out, i go get one that works. im all excited. go to work and come home and the car wont start only clicks when i turn the ignition. it eventually started. could this be the starter or a/c related? im also having power steering problems. willing to provide anymore info if needed

Legender

We'll certainly need more info on the PS problems. Clicking at start up is usually not related to the AC. Check the battery power first and make sure you've got a good battery with good connections. I do hope you disconnected the battery prior to doing anything electrical on the vehicle. Lexus vehicles are finicky when it comes to messing with their electrics. If the battery/electrical system checks out then it could be the starter. Good luck.

dakota166

it seems like some sort of power drain, i wasn't having this problem before i did the climate/radio swap.my plan is swapping the radio. im hoping its the radio but not getting my hopes up. i also have the front defroster light blinking. going to get my friend with a multi meter out to check it out.

Yonny

Definetly the radio could be an issue. Some radios don't swtich off completely.

dakota166

changed the radios. didnt do anything. finally got someone with a multimeter over he says the wiring going to my alternator is messed up and i also have a power steering pump leak over it. so we're going to see if replacing thw wiring adapter to the alternator fixes it. if not the next step i guess is to get a new alternator

PhilipMidd

Unfortunately the alternator going out with a PS pump leak is common.
3 voltage measurements to take:
1. What voltage does your battery measure when possitive (or negative) lead is disconnected.
2. When connected but engine off?
3. With engine running at about 1500RPM?
Very roughly they should be around 12v, 12v and 14v respectively. A very new battery may show a volt higher.
If the running voltage and the stopped but connected voltage are almost the same, then your alternator is not working. Like I said, common problem with LS400 due to PS pump being on top of the Alt.

dakota166

everything with the multimeter was fine from what i remember. so we assume the alternator is going bad, the pig tail going to it was just gone and it was open/hard wired to the alternator. we fixed that but still no luck. we're chopping it up to steering fluid leaking on the alternator.

PhilipMidd

Yeah. Sounds about right.
I was lucky with mine. PO had just replaced the Alternator but not fixed the PS leak. My leak was BAD and I had the dreaded white smoke on start. Every time I filled up with Petrol I had to top of the PS fluid because it had already started squealing. Went through about 2L of Transfluid before learning what the problem was and that I needed to fix it asap. I just plugged up my PS Vacuum Control Valve and associated vacuum lines and she's all good.
Hopefully the Alt is not too expensive.

Michael88

As soon as I hear PS problems and difficult starts, I think about the well documented PS leaking on the alternator design flaw. Most people on this message will tell you they had to replace both at the same time.