Electrical Gremlins
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
From: MA
Electrical Gremlins
Hello all, Just last week picked up a 2009 AWD L with 119K miles. Car is in decent shape, 2 owners, last one since 2012. Picked it up in NYC. On the 4 hour drive home, the last 1/2 hr the infotainment blinked off, thought it was strange. Did some research and I see others have had same problem. Solder joints or? 2 days later while coming down an off ramp, the electric steering warning blinked. Researched that one and see battery/rack glitches for a potential solution. Had a 3 hour round trip tonight to Boston. The infotainment blinked after an hour and steering warning blinked again.I did feel a "click" in the steering wheel when it happened. Than on the back half of trip I hit the high beams and the same thing all happened again but now with a warning, something like "electrical system compromised, limited use". I am guessing at the verbiage. So, something is causing this, need to figure it out so I can rely on this car. My first plan is to test the battery and the charging system. Just curious who else may have run across this. My main concern is losing the electrical steering and bad results. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 215
From: North Carolina
Hello all, Just last week picked up a 2009 AWD L with 119K miles. Car is in decent shape, 2 owners, last one since 2012. Picked it up in NYC. On the 4 hour drive home, the last 1/2 hr the infotainment blinked off, thought it was strange. Did some research and I see others have had same problem. Solder joints or? 2 days later while coming down an off ramp, the electric steering warning blinked. Researched that one and see battery/rack glitches for a potential solution. Had a 3 hour round trip tonight to Boston. The infotainment blinked after an hour and steering warning blinked again.I did feel a "click" in the steering wheel when it happened. Than on the back half of trip I hit the high beams and the same thing all happened again but now with a warning, something like "electrical system compromised, limited use". I am guessing at the verbiage. So, something is causing this, need to figure it out so I can rely on this car. My first plan is to test the battery and the charging system. Just curious who else may have run across this. My main concern is losing the electrical steering and bad results. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by fwhomeboy; Feb 8, 2022 at 01:45 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 314
Likes: 57
From: IL
On a previous car, I replaced the OEM with a Costco battery & I had weird issues too. My mechanic claimed that the posts were slightly too small and I couldn't get a good connection. He told me that much of new batteries were recycled and theorized the posts were re-used.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
From: MA
Quick update-I am trying to get out of town for 3 weeks(not with the LS) and just did a couple checks. Positive connection on battery was a little loose. Could move by hand. Tightened that up and drove for a bit with no issues. Also load tested the battery and it is fine, alternator is charging as it should. Battery has a 2017 stamp on it, so I did already buy a new one, just havn't installed yet. When I return, I will install the new battery. 5 years on a battery, especially on a high electrical demand car like the LS, is long enough. Fingers crossed that between the loose connection and the age of the battery, the new one will solve my issues.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 215
From: North Carolina
Quick update-I am trying to get out of town for 3 weeks(not with the LS) and just did a couple checks. Positive connection on battery was a little loose. Could move by hand. Tightened that up and drove for a bit with no issues. Also load tested the battery and it is fine, alternator is charging as it should. Battery has a 2017 stamp on it, so I did already buy a new one, just havn't installed yet. When I return, I will install the new battery. 5 years on a battery, especially on a high electrical demand car like the LS, is long enough. Fingers crossed that between the loose connection and the age of the battery, the new one will solve my issues.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
From: MA
Homeboy-I am rushing around to get out of town so I didn't get that far. When I do the battery swap, it will get wire brushed and electrical anti oxidation paste put on. The steering warning light and feeling a little blip in the steering wheel while driving thru Boston has my full attention on getting this remedied once and for all. Fingers crossed that this solution will take care of it.
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