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Bought this car about two weeks ago hoping I’d be the perfect daily driver. Fairly clean. Not even a week into owning it, the car died on me on my way to work. Showed no symptoms, previos to that. My navigation just started going on & off. Then gauges started acting up. Previous owner had already replaced alternator a couple months back, and the battery was fairly new. I ended up replacing the alternator once again, and getting a new battery. Thought it was all good. Until it died on me again, right after replacing everything. All fuses seem to be fine, battery was brand new, alternator had just been replaced. Someone please help. I’m aware older Toyota’s are prone to having some sort of parasitic draw. Is it the ECU?
Someone please help, it’d be highly appreciated.
Airbag system was replaced by previous owner with Bc Racing coilovers. But, all fuses where pulled out. Don’t know if somehow that information would help.
I can assure you that the car dying while traveling has nothing to do with parasitic draw (which drains your battery so you cannot turn the engine over).
Did the car die quickly (most likely electrical problem) or go through some period of hesitation before shutting down (fuel/air/combustion problem)?
After the car dies, can you restart it immediately? How difficult was it to restart the car? Once the car is restarted, did it return to normal as if nothing had happened?
I can assure you that the car dying while traveling has nothing to do with parasitic draw (which drains your battery so you cannot turn the engine over).
Did the car die quickly (most likely electrical problem) or go through some period of hesitation before shutting down (fuel/air/combustion problem)?
After the car dies, can you restart it immediately? How difficult was it to restart the car? Once the car is restarted, did it return to normal as if nothing had happened?
Thanks for the reply.
I’m sure it’s electrical, but I don’t understand where it could be coming from. The car didn’t hesitate, mechanically wise, engine was running fine. My radio started stuttering, eventually my navigation turned off, then gauges started acting up & eventually shutting off. Then engine started to struggle a bit, (after electronics had already shut off) until the whole car turned off. I was unable to restart the car under it’s own power. I jumped it, but almost immediately died after removing the jumper cables. After changing the alternator, it drove fine, but died 30 minutes after. Then, I changed the battery. After doing so, it lasted for a good hour.
What do you mean by "died" - did it just stop running? If so, how did you get it started again?
Have you checked the service history through the Lexus website or Carfax to see if it has had such symptoms in the past?
The car slowly began to struggle.
electronics started going out, until eventually the engine shut off as well. I couldn’t get it to run again under its own power. Had to tow it away. Until alternator was replaced.
Wasn’t aware I could check service history through Lexus, I haven’t done anything of sorts.
Sounds like your fuel pump is going out, happened to me a couple years ago. Car would run fine most days (and mostly with a full tank of gas) and intermittently stall for no reason. Lexus dealer did a fuel pressure test and that was it. Haven't had a problem since.
Sounds like your fuel pump is going out, happened to me a couple years ago. Car would run fine most days (and mostly with a full tank of gas) and intermittently stall for no reason. Lexus dealer did a fuel pressure test and that was it. Haven't had a problem since.
Battery keeps getting drained. Highly doubt it’s a fuel pump related issue. But, I might be wrong.
Have you checked your negative and positive battery terminals and cables for corrosion? Have you used free service provided by Auto Advance to verify condition of your electrical system? What brand of alternator have you installed?
Have you checked your negative and positive battery terminals and cables for corrosion? Have you used free service provided by Auto Advance to verify condition of your electrical system? What brand of alternator have you installed?
Battery terminals are pretty clean, I was not aware (I’m sure you meant Advanced Auto) had a free service to check electronics. I actually got my alternator from Advanced Auto. Same thing the previous owner had put in it previously.
The car didn’t hesitate, mechanically wise, engine was running fine. My radio started stuttering, eventually my navigation turned off, then gauges started acting up & eventually shutting off. Then engine started to struggle a bit, (after electronics had already shut off) until the whole car turned off. I was unable to restart the car under it’s own power. I jumped it, but almost immediately died after removing the jumper cables. After changing the alternator, it drove fine, but died 30 minutes after. Then, I changed the battery. After doing so, it lasted for a good hour.
OK, let's see what conclusions we can draw from your descriptions...
1. Your car was running along fine, then the electronics began to shut down, and eventually the engine died. [Possible explanation] Your alternator stopped working, or the cable going between the battery and the alternator (let's call it "charging cable") is disconnected. The engine and other accessories in your car began to draw their power from the battery and eventually draining it.
2. You were unable to restart the car under its own power. [Possible explanation] The battery is completely drained when the engine died.
3. You jump started the car, but the engine died soon after the cable was removed. [Possible explanation] With a bad alternator, or a bad "charging cable", the completely drained battery did not have enough power to keep the engine running upon removal of the external power.
4. You replaced the alternator but the car ran only about 30 minutes. [Possible explanation] You must have recharged your battery (which was completely drained before) so you can start your car with the new replacement alternator. It lasted 30 minutes without getting recharged due to a bad alternator or a bad "charging cable".
5. You replace the battery but the car ran only about 1 hour. [Possible explanation] Again, bad alternator or bad "charging cable". New battery lasted a bit longer, but was drained after an hour.
It's not likely that you replaced a bad alternator with another bad one. So I would bet that the "charging cable" is either cut or disconnected somehow. Good luck!
OK, let's see what conclusions we can draw from your descriptions...
1. Your car was running along fine, then the electronics began to shut down, and eventually the engine died. [Possible explanation] Your alternator stopped working, or the cable going between the battery and the alternator (let's call it "charging cable") is disconnected. The engine and other accessories in your car began to draw their power from the battery and eventually draining it.
2. You were unable to restart the car under its own power. [Possible explanation] The battery is completely drained when the engine died.
3. You jump started the car, but the engine died soon after the cable was removed. [Possible explanation] With a bad alternator, or a bad "charging cable", the completely drained battery did not have enough power to keep the engine running upon removal of the external power.
4. You replaced the alternator but the car ran only about 30 minutes. [Possible explanation] You must have recharged your battery (which was completely drained before) so you can start your car with the new replacement alternator. It lasted 30 minutes without getting recharged due to a bad alternator or a bad "charging cable".
5. You replace the battery but the car ran only about 1 hour. [Possible explanation] Again, bad alternator or bad "charging cable". New battery lasted a bit longer, but was drained after an hour.
It's not likely that you replaced a bad alternator with another bad one. So I would bet that the "charging cable" is either cut or disconnected somehow. Good luck!
Thank you very much!
How hard would it be to track down/replace the “charging” cable for the alternator?
Once again, I really appreciate your help.
Thank you very much!
How hard would it be to track down/replace the “charging” cable for the alternator?
Once again, I really appreciate your help.
I suspect the 140A fuse in the fusible link box (in the engine bay just in front of the battery) is blown, which essentially disconnected your alternator from the battery. If so, check out the link below for repair instructions... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ible-link.html
Otherwise if the 140A fuse is good, use a multimeter to check for continuity of the charging cable between the alternator and the positive battery cable connector.
A quick check of your charging system at Advanced Auto will let you know if the charging system is bad. Or even better, grab a cheap multimeter. The voltage should be slightly over 14v (see photo) at the battery terminals with the car running. If not, you will have to trace it to a fuse or the cable from the alternator or battery. But let's make sure you're getting the proper voltage first and go from there.
Sounds like your battery is still being drained while driving. Could be bad alternator or bad electrical cable connection between alternator and battery. Might also be intermittent bad/loose ground connections to ECU, fuse box, battery, or engine.
You may need to take it to Lexus/Toyota and have them diagnose the electrical problem. Or if one exists in your town, an automotive shop that specializes and has expertise in automotive electrical work.
LS430 Ultra Luxury keeps dying on me.
