My daughters SC430 (105K miles) would not start this weekend. (it had been in the garage for 3 weeks)
Battery completely dead. I hooked up jumper cables and the car made multiple rapid clicks but would not start.
After letting the jumper cable sit for 5 minutes the car started up and we drove it over to the auto parts store for a diagnostic check since it was Sunday.
The diagnostics showed the battery and starter are fine but it got a fail on the alternator..

I called the Lexus dealer and the service tech thought it sounded like the battery not the alternator but the would need to run test first.
I was planning on seeing if it will start today when I get home..

Has anyone had this issue?
Any suggestions appreciated.

 

If you want to test it yourself, watch this video
Or you can take it to an auto parts store and they will usually test your charging system for free

 

 

Mr. Austin,
yes, I also had the same issue years ago.
it was the alternator on an '03 and changed it out to an aftermarket one from Toyota.
after that, the only thing I had to replace over the years was the battery.

thanks...sam

 

 

So had some trouble starting my car for the last two mornings. It's been pretty cold and I'm sure it had something to do with my issues. Had battery and alternator tested at AutoZone that reported it was only 82% charged and meter suggested replace battery. Luckily, it was an Interstate MTP Megatron and has a 30 month free replacement and 6 year warranty. Took it to authorized Interstate dealer who warrantied it out completely free even though I was a "little" over the 30 month date. Happy to see this company stand behind their warranty.

 

Good for you. I also have an Interstate. It's still going strong but I will keep it in mind for the warranty. Thanks Shawn.

 

So I took the car to Firestone. They test it and say the alternator is fine.
Battery a little low but ok for now. It has been starting just fine the past week.
I might get a trickle charger if a have to let the car sit for weeks at a time. (anyone recommend a brand of trickle charger?)

The Lexus dealership did say the Lexus batteries are just Interstate batteries with a Lexus sticker slapped on it..
So I will go with an Interstate battery when time comes.\

Prices around here for an Interstate Battery is $192 (installed at Firestone)
New alternator Installed is $500 (dealership would be double)

 

 

I use the Die Hard Battery Charger Maintainer. $42 Solid State. Auto Feature. I bought multiple connectors, I just move them from car to car. I installed a quick connector on the batteries, all I do is plug in.

 

When you park your car, turn the headlights all the way off and flip the door lock with your finger (Don't use the lock button or the remote) This will lock your car without turning on your alarm. This won't solve your battery issue, but it will give you a longer time that you can let your car sit without having to jump start it.

 

ive left my SC for almost two weeks and it started right up. i normally daily drive it though

 

If the battery is new or fairly new, two, three weeks or a month sitting is probably still OK. I would not let it sits if the battery is more than 2 years old. Battery tender is a good investment.

 

A battery tender is the simulation of the charging that happens if the car being used if a daily driver. Hence you get the 4 to 6 years of use for a good battery, maybe even more. The newer trickle chargers today are electronic-solid state. None of the heavy transformer type ones that normally would blast the battery with a constant voltage and current, which can negatively result in shorter lifetime of the battery. They are compact and light.