Very likely yes 13 volts is barely charging the battery.

 

Sometimes maybe but not always.

 

I also have yet to encounter any 460 with replaced starter/alt personally....they are very high quality parts

 

Depends if the car has active feedback battery management.....modern stuff like the 460 have a large output range so it won't waste effort charging a full battery and will aggressively charge on deceleration etc

 

I found one off Amazon ! 3 of them for $19.99! Didn’t know these things existed. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

If I'm not mistaken this LS is a "half way" setup going by the following pin-outs either way I haven't heard of the 460 having charging issues except when the alternator is on the way out.

 

Agreed. My 98 ls400 at 226k and 97 sc300 at 185k both had original starters/alternators when I got rid of them.

 

Both times I had an alternator fail it was at about 250,000 miles. Was able to slap brushes in the one, other had deep grooves in the rotor contacts.

 

Ok, you all convinced me. I’ll hang tight and continue using the factory alternator

appreciate all the feedback and assistance!

 

Interesting, so not a fully active one but still a feedback controlled system. Huh, I've never had to look into it since none of mine have had issues nor have I had to really deal with too many customer cars with UR alternator issues.

My current record for a known factory alt is on my Jeep at over 320k

 

What does “half way” set up mean in regards to the alternator?

 

My 2011 LS460 with 116k miles, original alternator (and starter). Runs great.

Just as a note, I also have the original alternator on my 140k mile 2006 Lexus ES330 and 220k mile 2004 Toyota Solara SLE V6. As you said, I wouldnt worry about the alternator. Get that cool USB charger with voltage display if you want extra piece of mind.

 

Not a fully active charge controller system, nothing to worry about we were just talking about system strategy

 

I have a 2005 LS430. Both starter and alternator were replaced around 150-160k. My parents' 2009 es350 alternator went also right at 150k. Several times over its life my car battery died and I jumped it and drove to recharge. That did not help alternator life, I now know. Also the starter got damaged when battery died and I repeatedly tried to start it. It did not die but on a start would not disengage properly and started to grind for a moment each time. I don't remember how I fixed the battery that time. I think someone had jumped it and I eventually got it to start again the next day after excess cranking attempts?

My suggestion from bad experience is: change you battery before it dies. And it it does need a jump start, replace it ASAP or use a charger to recharge if still good. A bad or drained battery getting charged by alternator is not great, and too many attempts to start may have damaged my starter. Not saying they will not die eventually, but on my LS430 I change the battery every 2.5 years now, before the extrem summer heat then before the extreme winter 2.5 years later. After 16 years with multiple dead batteries,I have found I need to do that. If your battery routinely lasts longer, then great.