MangoMan

My car is acting really wierd! Today I went home for lunch started the car and got home do problem. On the way back the car started acting really wierd It's as if I am loosing power. The lights on my clock and my gear selector lights are flashing dim and then bright and then when shifting into gears it acts rough and really wierd. When sitting at the stop light after gettting off the freeway it was idleing really low I gave it some gas and everything started operating normally and then the lights began to dim and flicker and the whole thing started again. Any ideas? I feel like it is gonna die on the freeway. Its a ES300 1999 by the way and thanks for any help guys.
I am thinking maybe the alternator is going out. But then I thought the battery is fine and it starts right up.

MangoMan

I need help I am scared to drive it.

RobF350

alternator sounds right, I think a auto zone type of place will test it for free for you.
check the connections at the battery and the starter too and see if they are loose or corroded.

MangoMan

Found the fix! I took it to the Lexus mechanic and he couldn't figure it out there was a loose nut to the alternator but that wasn't the problem. The next day my wife took the car to get her hair done and when she came out no power. I drove out with my handy dandy tool set that has all the sizes for my lexus and popped the hood. I looked at the battery terminals and the connectors looked funky, a little tug on one showed that even though they were cranked tight there was slight movement in the positive connector. I moved it and instantly there was power. This called for a trip to the auto part store and some new solid brass connectors! Below is the tutorial!

The fix to problem.

vin 78

Thanks great that you found the problem.
welcome to CL btw

amf1932

I'm glad that fix worked for you, but it's always more advisable to buy new cables, complete with the molded on terminal ends, rather than cutting off the terminal ends from the old cables and just replacing them with new terminal ends.

MangoMan

I didn't cut anything, the OEM cable heads had a nut and bolt that allowed them to be replaced without having to do the entire cable.

Lexucan

Sounds like a great solution and for $8 it's a lot cheaper than replacing both cables. Good work.
I've noticed a bit of corrosion on my terminals so I might just consider switching to brass.....looks good too!

ImpalaMan

I recently acquired my Lexus ES300 (2000 year model) and I just started having that same issue today. The first thing I checked was the battery terminals and you are correct that the positive, although the hardware was tight, I could turn the terminal on the battery. So I know what I'm fixing this evening. Normally, with this kind of issue, I upgrade my battery cables. I have them custom made over at innovativewiring.com. The guy does an amazing job making battery cables and he will make them for any car, the only downside is that you have to send him the originals so he can match the connections. Anyway, I'm gonna run outside with a wire brush and clean the factory terminal as much as possible to get me through the rest of my day. Take care all.

-ImpalaMan