Battery Drain... A/C blackout... Related?
06-08-08, 11:43 AM
#1
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Location: Texas
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Battery Drain... A/C blackout... Related?
My wife's 1993 SC 300 A/C is not working but it has plenty of freon and the instrument panel is not working right (the stereo won't come on at all). She doesn't use it as a daily driver and we are on our 4th or so battery in 2 yrs or so. The last battery lasted a week. I'm convinced these problems are related, b/c of some sort of electrical fault. Several local mechanics have told me that they were unable to diagnose the problem based on the age of the vehicle. Two have even tried to get the wiring diagrams or elecrical info but to no avail. I'm trying to sell the car but need to fix it first. It's virtually impossible to sell a car w/ no a/c in humid south/east Texas. What should I do? What would Lexus charge me to diagnose the problem? Need help!
06-08-08, 03:35 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
Take it to the Lexus dealer and expect to pay between $100.00-$300.00 for diagnostic. After they figure it out and you will some part to replace then they will call you.
06-08-08, 06:15 PM
#3
man, you are not taking it to the right places at all... all the wiring diagrams are readily available in Mitchell (any self respecting shop has a subscription)...Electrical gremlins are the worst though...
Most places will charge their hourly rate until they find the problem... so, if it takes 5 hours at $80 an hour, you are looking at $400 in diag... it may not take that long, but who knows... you could have some wire burnt somewhere behind the dash...
honestly though it should be a pretty easy thing to find.. there is obviously a power draw somewhere (or the alternator isn't charging - don't discount this as a possible problem)... A charging system test will confirm alternator output... then, so long as that is ok, it's pretty easy to check for current draw with the car off... you do need an ammeter... then just start pulling fuses til you find when the draw stops...
Most places will charge their hourly rate until they find the problem... so, if it takes 5 hours at $80 an hour, you are looking at $400 in diag... it may not take that long, but who knows... you could have some wire burnt somewhere behind the dash...
honestly though it should be a pretty easy thing to find.. there is obviously a power draw somewhere (or the alternator isn't charging - don't discount this as a possible problem)... A charging system test will confirm alternator output... then, so long as that is ok, it's pretty easy to check for current draw with the car off... you do need an ammeter... then just start pulling fuses til you find when the draw stops...
06-09-08, 01:31 AM
#4
Has the alternator ever been replaced?
Check to see if any oil is dripping from the distributor onto the alternator.
Try the AC diagnostics:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=294197
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/performance-and-maintenance/18295-a-c-system-diagnostics-need-codes.html
Check to see if any oil is dripping from the distributor onto the alternator.
Try the AC diagnostics:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=294197
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/performance-and-maintenance/18295-a-c-system-diagnostics-need-codes.html
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