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LS 400/LS 430 Electrical Questions & Problems

82 messages,  Last post on Aug 17, 2011 at 9:22 AM

You are in the Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus LS 400, Lexus LS 430, Electrical, Sedan

Messages Page 4 of 9

#25 of 82 Electrics chaos by rbb50

Sep 21, 2008 (8:40 am)

I Have a 1992 Lexus ls 400 with 270,000 Kilometers on it.. The engine occasionally shuts down if I use anything electric on it ... For example, If I touch the brake peddle, use the turn signal, open / close the window, the car will stall out and usually restart immediately. It doesn't happen al the time, just occasionally but I cannot find any common factor. Also, whether it is related or not, the gear shift lever will jam and the release button has to be hit hard to release it.. If the car shuts down, the lever must be jiggled to get the car to restart. Other than the electrics problems its a great little car and runs fine.. any suggestions ... thanks...

#26 of 82 Re: Electrics chaos [rbb50] by j7wild

Sep 21, 2008 (9:14 am)

Replying to: rbb50 (Sep 21, 2008 8:40 am)
if you go back to my previous post #19 on page 2 , my problem was caused by the alternator starting to short out so I had it and the battery replaced.
 
Everything ran fine for about a month and then I started having a problem SIMILAR to yours and to #10 on page 2.
 
Same thing: car will jerk like it's downshifting when I apply the brakes and the Reverse indicator on the dash will come on and the whole instrument panel will fade out.
 
Also if I turn the headlights on and I'm going faster than 30mph, the speedometer will drop to 30mph and it won't go any faster and the engine rev meter will go up to 4 or 5 and it sounds like you are driving in neutral.
 
The first time this happened I was driving home from a friend's house at 3 am , 16 miles away, and I pretty much limped home at 25 mph max.
 
One more thing is the O/D indicator will flash saying it's off and then it disappear.
 
I took it back for repair and they replaced a cable in the taillight that was shorting out and it caused a brake light to go out.
 
After that, it's working fine now and I hope it stays that way.

#27 of 82 Re: Electrics chaos [rbb50] by vguthrie

Sep 21, 2008 (9:16 am)

Replying to: rbb50 (Sep 21, 2008 8:40 am)
I own a 1993 LS400. I had a similar problem but not as crazy, found that there is a cluster of wires in the trunk hinge on the drivers side. Constant wear from opening and closing the trunk one of the wires had been cut. Everytime I applied the brakes the reverse light on the panel would lite up and the car would "clunk" as if it was trying to go into reverse. Don't know if this will help but there are alot of wires in that cluster something could be cut and causing your car to go haywire!

#28 of 82 Re: Electrics chaos [vguthrie] by j7wild

Sep 21, 2008 (10:21 am)

Replying to: vguthrie (Sep 21, 2008 9:16 am)
yeah I'm gonna check it out because there light out warning light on my instrument panel keep lighting up and I had my wife stand behind the car while I use the turn signals, the hazard, step on the brake, turn the lights on and she can't see a single light that's out
 
thanks vguthrie

#29 of 82 new battery for 2001 LS 430 by acco20

Sep 30, 2008 (2:46 pm)

I will soon need a new battery for my 2001 LS430. I have checked the battery itself and I have checked all the manuals and can not find any numbers or discriptions that would lead me to buy the right battery. I mean what size, cranking power etc. I am concerned when I do not know exactly what I am looking for. Can anyone help??? Thank you. wwest...are you out there by any chance...

#30 of 82 Re: new battery for 2001 LS 430 [acco20] by wwest

Oct 01, 2008 (7:35 am)

Replying to: acco20 (Sep 30, 2008 2:46 pm)
I have been buying my replacement batteries at Costco of late and simply rely on their cross-reference catalog.

#31 of 82 last battery I bought by j7wild

Oct 01, 2008 (7:56 am)

for my 1992 LS 400 was a 430 cranking amp battery and that's because the guy at Auto Zone told me I needed something that big for such big car

#32 of 82 Re: last battery I bought [j7wild] by wwest

Oct 02, 2008 (9:12 am)

Replying to: j7wild (Oct 01, 2008 7:56 am)
The biggest "challenge" for your car battery is in cranking the engine. These days most starter motors are reduction geared and therefore require less cranking amps than in days gone by. Additionally with all the electronics in control, especially EFI, engines simply start a LOT quicker.
 
I would wager that a small garden tractor battery would supply enough AMPS to start an LSes V8 but accordingly would not have a very long life.

#33 of 82 Re: last battery I bought [wwest] by j7wild

Oct 02, 2008 (9:24 am)

Replying to: wwest (Oct 02, 2008 9:12 am)
Wwest, so the guy at Auto Zone conned me then?
 
 

#34 of 82 Re: last battery I bought [j7wild] by wwest

Oct 05, 2008 (7:55 am)

Replying to: j7wild (Oct 02, 2008 9:24 am)
No, just good salesmanship...
 
Except for lightening your wallet slightly more than necessary he did you no harm.
 
Manufacturers of late have become a bit more conscious of weight vs MPG issues so while the higher capacity battery will undoubtedly weight more than the OEM it will also likely last longer.

Messages Page 4 of 9

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