czechboy16

Hello,

I have a 1996 ES 300 that is dead in a parking lot. The battery is completely drained. I can jump start it, but as soon as I start driving the ABS light comes on and it dies shortly thereafter and will not start again without a jump.

I was thinking it's got to be the alternator, but I'd think it would die before I start driving it. Is that true?

Anyhow, I looked at the alternator and I think I'm just going to drive over and replace it. My second question is, how do I remove the cables from the alternator? The plug that attaches to the alternator is an enclosed plastic plug and I don't see any screws or anything... Do I twist it or what? I don't want to try to strong arm it and break the plug.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. It's been a while since I've tinkered with cars, but this looks simple enough.

esucaris1

Yes it sounds like the alternator... there is a tab on the plug you should be able to squeeze it and pull the plug do not pull on the wires...

Slooooooow

iTrader: (1)

Esucaris1 should know; he's done everything on these engines.

Oh, and to ClubLexus! Show us some pics of your ride and let us know your plans with 'er.

czechboy16

Thanks!!!

I went over and swapped out my alternator. Initially I thought it fixed the problem, but it still died a couple times so there's still something going on...

The car's electric seems to be underpowered. When I hit the brake pedal the dash lights blink off. One of the times I hit the brakes to put it in gear the engine died and wouldn't start again without a jump.

I was able to drive it home (whew!) but every time I hit the brakes I saw those lights dim.

I'm charging the battery now that I have the car in the driveway, I'm puzzled because it's a new alternator and after it starts the car runs off the alternator instead of the battery, right?

Any other ideas?

rtk7

my car was the SAME way but my abs wouldnt turn on and it wouldnt die so i switched batteries and it worked. but yours dies when your driving so it might be your alt. but go to autozone or anything and get it check. they check em for free

esucaris1

Thanks for the props... The alternator is only supposed to maintain a fully charged system not bring it back from the dead... Try it after charging it fully and yes have the system checked at autozone for free...

czechboy16

Thanks all for the help! What a great forum...

My freakin' power went out (what a day!)

It's back on now, so I'm charging the battery up. I'll post with the outcome.

JSM1284

Also check the Alternator fuse.

czechboy16

Turns out it also needed a battery... I replaced it and it seems to be OK now (knock on wood). Thanks for all the suggestions!

swifty562

if u think its your alternator, start up your car and take out the negative on the battery. if it dies out, its your alternator.

srvcm

I had the same situation last last sunday where the car just died while I was driving. Furtunately for me I had a tool box and was able to change the alternator. I also went to Autozone and had the system checked after I installed the alternator and found the battery was also bad so I chenged that too. That also fixed my erratic shifts of the tranny.