coomassie

I wanted to see if anyone knows what is going on with this strange issue by my 2002 RX300. Every once in a while at school I will find a spot to park my car to take a nap (yes a nap, not something else), and I'll lock it with my remote, then climb in the back to get some zzz's. About an hour later, I'll be woken up the the alternator firing full blast, clicking for about 10 seconds. I try to start my car after this happens but the battery is drained, and won't start. There's not even enough power left to lock the car with my remote. No lights were left on. The battery is a little more than one year old, and can jump-start after this issue. This has happened twice to me, and the key part here is that I don't open the door after turning off the ignition, locking the car with the remote, and jumping in back. Conversely, when I get out of the car, and jump in the back through one of the rear doors then lock it with the remote, this alternator thing doesn't happen. Any thoughts? It's almost as if this is some sort of anti-theft mechanism?

carguy07

"alternator firing full blast" what does this mean??

coomassie

It's as if the car is trying to start itself and it cranks on the alternator/starter. It's very strange.

maxSteel

The alternator silent and is is belt driven by the revolving engine crankshaft anyway.

It sounds like you are saying under some circumstances the starter motor is running unexpectedly.
Maybe the starter solenoid is failing in some bizarre way.

salimshah

Do you have aftermarket remote starter installed?

Alternator --> driven by acc belt and function is that it produces voltage to recharge the battery and run all electronics. It can not spin the engine.

Starter -> powerful motor that spins the engine ... if the air+ fuel + ignition at proper timing is available, the engine would run. Starter solenoid is a heavy current relay that takes the signal from ignition key (start) to provide +12v to the starter motor.

Additional info: When the ignition key is in Lock, OFF or ACC the spark is killed preventing engine from running.

Salim

JAB

I think that your problem stems from locking the doors, then keeping the key in the car. I understand why you're locking the doors while you nap, but I suggest that next time, as a test, nap without locking the doors. See if your problem repeats; I doubt that it will.