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Help! Help! Ls430 Battery / Battery Drain / Alternator Problem


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Hi All

Im new to all this so please be gentle! (and as helpful as you can)

Just bought a 2001 LS430. 160k miles. FLSH. Bought it coz I love the shape and its different! Its been well looked after - serviced on time etc. The car hadnt been used for about 4 weeks. When I went to buy it, we had to jump start it. Drove it 70 miles home on Sunday. Didnt do much driving coz had to sort of insurance etc. On Wed, wouldnt start. Shock!! Had to jump start it. It started. Drove it for abit. It started on Friday - drove it for abit. Took it to the garage. They said Battery is ok. Alternator is sort of border line.

My problem is, after that, my confidence has gone down. Will it start again? I dont want to use it often - its like my weekend car. So Im thinking - if I leave it for a few days, will it start up? Is there anything I can do to make sure it starts even after a few days? Do I need to take it on long runs every week or will it be ok if I do 5 mile local runs every 2 days?

Any advice. Ive checked the boot light etc - seems ok and goes out

Would value any help!

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alright mate, i had a similar problem as our ls rarely gets used.

basically, u can buy a Battery recharger. i borrowed a neighbours and it indicated 2 me that the Battery was badly drained, recharged it and car is perfect, however, if you have a secure location that you park it in, e.g garage,it would be a good idea to leave the car unlocked, and about the use of that car i would say you should take it out every week or so on a long run, as this fully recharges the Battery, whereas short runs can damage it further.

hope this helps,

Anuj

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Hi All

Im new to all this so please be gentle! (and as helpful as you can)

Just bought a 2001 LS430. 160k miles. FLSH. Bought it coz I love the shape and its different! Its been well looked after - serviced on time etc. The car hadnt been used for about 4 weeks. When I went to buy it, we had to jump start it. Drove it 70 miles home on Sunday. Didnt do much driving coz had to sort of insurance etc. On Wed, wouldnt start. Shock!! Had to jump start it. It started. Drove it for abit. It started on Friday - drove it for abit. Took it to the garage. They said battery is ok. Alternator is sort of border line.

My problem is, after that, my confidence has gone down. Will it start again? I dont want to use it often - its like my weekend car. So Im thinking - if I leave it for a few days, will it start up? Is there anything I can do to make sure it starts even after a few days? Do I need to take it on long runs every week or will it be ok if I do 5 mile local runs every 2 days?

Any advice. Ive checked the boot light etc - seems ok and goes out

Would value any help!

Hi

Welcome to the LOC.

Can't understand how an alternator can be border line, they either work or they don't, Lexus ones are very reliable and rarley give trouble. Who checked it and how? it is easy to presume the alternator is not giving enough charge when in fact it is the Battery that can't take the charge. Chances are the Battery has been run down a few times and left flat whilst at a dealers. If you have a Denso Battery chances are it is the original, if it is I would change it, I changed mine a while ago for a Bosch silver with 4 year guarantee, got it trade from a motor factors for less than £70. So if you are not going to use it regularly I would buy it a new Battery and you will have no problems.

If it is a has the Premium Pack and has keyless entry, don't leave the key within 15 feet of the car or any other electrical device as it will try to talk to it and the key Battery will drain as well....

Good Luck

Pete

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By the way pete, when you cahnged your battery, did you not have problems with the electrics afterwards?

Surprisingly no, the car even remembered the seat positions, it was virtually as if I hadn't done a thing, I think the radio reset itself but most things worked fine, sometimes the windows go haywire and the one touch doesn't work, all you do is put them all the way down and then up to teach the windows where they are. The first Battery I bought, that was listed didn't fit, it was too deep, if you look at the Battery tray there is no way a bigger or smaller Battery will fit it has to be the exact same size, so measure yours and check the one they give you.

I changed mine back in March and it has been fine ever since with no problems at all

Pete

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it should take around 20 minutes of driving to recharge your Battery, when you start your car you Battery is putting around 200-500 amps in to your starter motor, if you only drive for 5 mins it will not recharge your Battery fully and so eventually it will go flat.

you can get your Battery discharge tested, this will show if the Battery is not holding charge, basically they short the Battery through a big resistor , it should discharge high current for a set period, if it is old or faulty it will discharge very quickly.

also never charge the Battery in the car, if hydrogen collects and you make a spark they will go off like a bomb, showering sulphuric acid everywhere, I have seen a few go off ( from a distance luckly)

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