driver1988

The RX wouldn't start. It was -15. My dad was stupid to swap the RX battery with a GS. The alarm went off and my dad disconnected the battery and put old battery back into RX.

Later, came out again and tried to jump start RX with GS battery. The RX starts and ran for 20 minutes before dying.

I got home to check it. All exterior and interior lights are dead. Windsheild wipers, windows, radio, etc. Only thing that works now is highbeam. The car is still able to drive though, with a new battery. It's just that it's no longer charging.

I confirmed the alternator is dead.

Is taking the RX to the dealership recommended over small shops in this situation?

mshumack

I'll bet somebody (Dad ) hooked the battery jumper cables up backwards. It only takes a second of a reversed-polarity connection.

salimshah

Beating a dead horse ... but should have read "Having problems .. start here Mega thread" which is a sticky here in first gen RX.

You cant fully blame your dad as the flat is marked red.

Salim

kalali

Besides, what's so special about the GS battery and makes you think did some damage? And next time take responsibility for your decision to ask for help before calling someone else stupid for trying to help you...

salimshah

It can be that the posts +/- are on the opposite sides for RX vs GS. Once you place the battery in the location the leads that reach the posts are reversed.

I think we all know that any one is capable of committing stupid acts. If one goes by the color marking on the flat and is sharp minded to associate red to be + (s)he is bound to cross wire.

At the end, humans are the only creatures (that I know) who learn from other people's mistakes.

Salim

carguy07

I would check ALL fuses before doing anything else. Sounds a lot like this: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ow-issues.html

Are you sure that the alternator is bad (tested off the car)? I have heard of fried relays, fuses and fusible links if the polarity is reversed.

driver1988

Thanks for the replies, guys. I think I know the problem now. The GS and RX batteries is the culprit here. I guess my dad didn't know.

carguy07

It's actually a pretty common mistake. I think most people get away with a few fuses and everything works right again. Decent chance that your alternator is ok and it was just a dead battery from the weather.

driver1988

nah. alternator died. =(

carguy07

Just wondering of the alternator is not working now since the computer and electronics are ticked off. Lots of dead batteries last night around here. I remember reading that the main ECU fuse will be fried, but the car can still run since the ECU gets some back up power to hold memory. Lets the car run with limited functionality. Could easily need an alternator, just hate to see you put $ into it if you don't have to.

ATLs460

You can be either stupid or rich...it's when you're not the latter when things go wrong lol

kesha78

Hi, first of all I would like to say it is very impolite to talk about your dad in this manner! Think about it! Anybody can make a mistakes, it normal even if you experienced! One day I had a problem with battery. The battery was week and when the car was siting for a couple of hours with - degrees outside it got dead completely. I called my friend to jump start, and he did the same think by mistake. he connected battery terminals the wrong way. The battery needed to be replaced anyway! When i changed the battery everything came back. You should check at first fuse " ALT 7.5 A" before replacing the alternator. It is most likely the alternator got short and it doesn't produce electrical charge anymore back to the battery, and finally the battery got drained and the car will shot off ! Recently I changed the alternator because the same problem. All the best!