Battery light, Car dies, 2004 rx330
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Battery light, Car dies, 2004 rx330
Hello all. Im looking for some wisdom.
I have a 2004 RX330 AWD. Recently, my battery died, and I got a jump start. After the jump start, my battery light was on. I ventured to a local auto parts store, and they tested my battery and determined it was bad, so I had my battery replaced. Battery light still on. I had my alternator tested, and it seemed to test good, but was only charging at about 12.9V at idle, no significant change when increasing rpm to 2000+. I replaced the alternator (tested before installed) and battery light is still on, though now my charging voltage at idle is 13.6-13.7V, with a minor increase when increasing rpm. So I believe it safe to say the alternator was faulty before replaced. new symptom I noticed, all accessories appear to operate correctly. Headlights, high beams, wipers, radio, power seats/wheel. But when I turn on the heater, the car stalls and will not stay running when a restart is attempted with the heater still on (even on lowest setting). Here are some of the things I've checked
1, Engine fuse block, fuse 15 (ALT-S 7.5A) is NOT installed, nor was it before this problem began. When a fuse in installed into this slot, the cluster goes dark and is unresponsive, setting multiple dtcs once fuse is removed.
2, battery voltage is present at the alternator main lug, indicating no significant corrosion in the battery cables as no voltage drop is not present.
3, terminal 1 at the generator, s-terminal, (white with blue tracer?) has continuity to ground, as does the body side of the slot for EFB Fuse 15 listed above, and likewise, generator terminal 1 to fuse 15 slot has continuity between the two
4, multiple dtcs set (my obd reader does not save them, and I neglected to write them down). some I remember are master window switch, solar sensor, p0430, and several others set in bcm and ecm, nothing directly pointing to a reason for the charging system light.
5, only noted physical manifestation of a symptom
A) the car stalls when heater is turned on any setting while engine is running.
B) recently the drivers window will roll down on its own after manually locking the door as a result of next symptom.
C) recently, the power locks do not work from the key (intermittent, although developed within last week)
D) obviously, the battery light is on, however it does turn off if I turn the key off, unplug the alternator, and start the car. then returns once I plug the alternator back
in and restart the car.
E) if I disconnect the battery for a length of time, once it is reconnected, the car start/stalls until I give it gas, then runs fine. for one ignition cycle, the heater and all
other accessories work as designed. once I turn the key off and back on, the heater causes the car to stall.
I am a certified mechanic, but am relatively new to the Lexus/Toyota avenue. Would love to get to the bottom of this, but I am on a bit of a budget since I've spent money on a battery and alternator in the past week. Can anybody suggest any further tests I can do, or things to check, before I resort to taking it to the dealer? I do have tools, ability, and access to alldata wiring diagrams. all I lack is some of the more specific knowledge and experience for this model.
I have a 2004 RX330 AWD. Recently, my battery died, and I got a jump start. After the jump start, my battery light was on. I ventured to a local auto parts store, and they tested my battery and determined it was bad, so I had my battery replaced. Battery light still on. I had my alternator tested, and it seemed to test good, but was only charging at about 12.9V at idle, no significant change when increasing rpm to 2000+. I replaced the alternator (tested before installed) and battery light is still on, though now my charging voltage at idle is 13.6-13.7V, with a minor increase when increasing rpm. So I believe it safe to say the alternator was faulty before replaced. new symptom I noticed, all accessories appear to operate correctly. Headlights, high beams, wipers, radio, power seats/wheel. But when I turn on the heater, the car stalls and will not stay running when a restart is attempted with the heater still on (even on lowest setting). Here are some of the things I've checked
1, Engine fuse block, fuse 15 (ALT-S 7.5A) is NOT installed, nor was it before this problem began. When a fuse in installed into this slot, the cluster goes dark and is unresponsive, setting multiple dtcs once fuse is removed.
2, battery voltage is present at the alternator main lug, indicating no significant corrosion in the battery cables as no voltage drop is not present.
3, terminal 1 at the generator, s-terminal, (white with blue tracer?) has continuity to ground, as does the body side of the slot for EFB Fuse 15 listed above, and likewise, generator terminal 1 to fuse 15 slot has continuity between the two
4, multiple dtcs set (my obd reader does not save them, and I neglected to write them down). some I remember are master window switch, solar sensor, p0430, and several others set in bcm and ecm, nothing directly pointing to a reason for the charging system light.
5, only noted physical manifestation of a symptom
A) the car stalls when heater is turned on any setting while engine is running.
B) recently the drivers window will roll down on its own after manually locking the door as a result of next symptom.
C) recently, the power locks do not work from the key (intermittent, although developed within last week)
D) obviously, the battery light is on, however it does turn off if I turn the key off, unplug the alternator, and start the car. then returns once I plug the alternator back
in and restart the car.
E) if I disconnect the battery for a length of time, once it is reconnected, the car start/stalls until I give it gas, then runs fine. for one ignition cycle, the heater and all
other accessories work as designed. once I turn the key off and back on, the heater causes the car to stall.
I am a certified mechanic, but am relatively new to the Lexus/Toyota avenue. Would love to get to the bottom of this, but I am on a bit of a budget since I've spent money on a battery and alternator in the past week. Can anybody suggest any further tests I can do, or things to check, before I resort to taking it to the dealer? I do have tools, ability, and access to alldata wiring diagrams. all I lack is some of the more specific knowledge and experience for this model.
#2
Intermediate
Even though the alternator is new, doesn't mean that it is working as it should. At idle under minimal load, Lexus’s voltage at the battery should hover at or above 14 volts (many times closer to 14.5). With the headlights, blower motor, and radio on this should change very little. If the voltages begin to drop into the low 13 volts or below (usually rapidly as the loads' increase), a failing alternator is to blame.
Since the engine dies once you turn on the heater fan, you will need to test the voltage as you turn on accessories.
Here is a video on voltage drop and checking a remanufactured alternator
Since the engine dies once you turn on the heater fan, you will need to test the voltage as you turn on accessories.
Here is a video on voltage drop and checking a remanufactured alternator
Last edited by Audiqv8; 03-28-18 at 05:15 PM.
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