f1bryan12

My 2010 rx350 randomly shut off a few times during a drive tonight. The power shuts off for a sec and turns back on immediately. It jerks the steering wheel to the middle when it’s off and I am forced to slam on the brakes. The engine stays on. There are no lights on the dash. The car has around 170k miles so really high. I had traction control off the whole time. It shut off first while I was taking a corner really fast, but did so even after I started going really slow. It starts and drives fine but I am scared to drive it. Any ideas on what could be going on?

Clutchless

Why do you have traction control off? Did you have problems with it? Did it shut off randomly before you turned off traction control?

Take it to a local independent Toyota specialist ASAP before you get killed. Next time it may not turn back on while there is a Semi Truck behind you. Do not go to the dealer.

Use This database to help find a good local shop then cross check them on Google and Yelp. https://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files

This is very difficult to diagnose online and you have not advised how competent you are with home car repairs and diagnosis. It could just be bad battery connections, or something else that probably needs an in person inspection and testing. There could be stored codes that will help with diagnosis.

f1bryan12

I don’t think it was related to traction I only turned it off because I wanted to see if it would change anything with my friends. I have turned it off before but I don’t think it was related in this case

Clutchless

You say it shuts off but then state the engine stays on. Which is it? Then you state the steering wheel locks up in the center (I think) or moves to the center. What happens after you hit the brakes and it stops?

How do you restart it or does it restart itself a second later?

salimshah

It is kind of hidden in the post ... "No Power" engine keeps running.

Still the confusing thing is how the power is removed from a running engine with transmission in drive. To me it means brakes being applied or power through transmission being decoupled.

The other strange thing is steering self centering ... It should be held by the driver at ALL times [even if the vehicle wants to go straight]

Still serious issues which need to addressed.

Salim

PS: Respectfully to the OP ... is the vehicle being driven within its safe limits on public streets? With traction intentionally set OFF the little bit of nanny is being removed making the vehicle more unsafe.

f1bryan12

Hey everyone, I figured out that the battery came loose and the two terminals were touching at times which was causing the system to lose power. All is good

salimshah

Oh yes, mother of all problems.

I wanted to commend you for taking my post in the right spirit and not get upset. Thanks

Salim