Car Won't Start! Battery Drain Problem?

Welshrabbit · March 19, 2012

Hoping for some help! We have a IS220D, 2006. It appears that our Battery won't hold it's charge. We have bought a new one hoping that would solve the issue but it hasn't. We can use the car today then go to do the school run tomorrow and it's dead! Jump start it then it's fine for a few days then it happens again! We have ruled out the Battery and believe that there is not a problem with the charging. People that we have spoken to with more knowledge than me, are possibly suggesting that we have something draining the Battery overnight. Is anyone aware of what our problem could be or aware of a common issue that puts a drain on the Battery when not in use as it does not matter how much we use the car, it rarely starts after being idle for two days, sometimes less. I am very grateful of your help.

Crowy Tan · March 20, 2012

i have same issue on my 1996 gs300 sport

BenIS · March 21, 2012

Sounds to me like there are two factors here. Either the altenator isnt charging the Battery like it should ( I know you mentioned this already but best check anyway. Try and find someone with a multimeter) or like you said something is draining the Battery overnight. Again find someone with a multimeter to see what happens when you lock the car as you would at night, see how much current is being drawn. Is the car standard or does it have an aftermarket alarm fitted for example?

Im not an auto electrician but i am an electrician and this is what i would check first.

Hope this helps.

sorry if not.

Ill carry on thinking ;)

Somebody on here will know though

Trav5149 · March 24, 2012

Hi,

Same problem on my LS - due to it only getting used 3 days a week, it doesn't get time to charge. I've been advised to try a solar trickle panel that connects into the cig lighter - £25 on eBay - I haven't tried it yet though..........

autumnbabe · May 5, 2012

Hello welshrabbit i had a similar problem on my 2006 220 IS in april this year, new Battery fitted in October 2011, couldnt figure out problem then an auto mechanic had a look and low and behold it was a screw on the Battery shorting the earth wire. Check this it might be this. I was shocked something as simple as a screw touching the batteries earth wire would completely deaden the Battery.

LQA · February 24, 2013

Sorry to necro an old thread. I have a IS220d (2006) and I am also suffering the 'random' dead Battery. The Battery is less than a year old. The RAC came out and it appears both Battery and alternator are functioning as should. He did measure the current being drawn when 'off' and it was pulling .8 amps, he ventured that it should be nearer .5 amps. However I am no nearer establishing the cause. The only 'after market' add-on is a towbar with single socket for a trailer. There is an inline fuse visble running behind the Battery that RAC bloke says is non-standard, who am I to argue?

Will removing the fuse assist - if the problem exists there?

Any help appreciated - I'll check the screw issue above too.

Mick

normski2 · February 26, 2013

Have heard of a couple of cases where the earth connection to the car body has worked loose. May be your problem...worth checking.

ROYT · February 27, 2013

Also look for something stuck on, like the boot light.......

normski2 · February 27, 2013

Ooh good shout!!

Or the Glove box light?

LQA · March 1, 2013

I will check the earth connections. i have previously turned off boot lights. Glove box lights; not tried that. I would expect a flat Battery every morning if it was a light permanently on though.

I have read, but not yet tried, inserting a bulb between Battery and earth and pulling fuses one by one.

kopondriver · November 19, 2013

I have the same kind of trouble and also no solution. Changed the Battery 2 years ago because it was losing charge overnight. Had it tested but both Battery and alternator were fine, isolated the Battery overnight and next morning it started fine. Then got fed up disconnecting and changed the Battery which has worked ok for 2 years. Now the same trouble again - is it the colder weather? This time however the car is also taking longer to fire up even when jump starting from another Battery. Changed the heater plugs a few weeks ago but no different. Isolating the Battery overnight again but this morning it turned about a dozen times without starting and then the Battery died. Going to buy a new Battery today - this one only had 1 year warranty. But still think something is draining the charge overnight. Maybe when the Battery is new and strong the overnight drain has little effect and then as the Battery gets older and weaker the drain has a greater effect? The longer cranking time is maybe a separate issue - maybe losing diesel supply when parked overnight? Hard to get anyone to sort these cold start problems because once it starts then its fine for the rest of the day so I can't show a mechanic whats happening. Just putting this on the forum hoping it may ring true with someone else.

Dreamer63 · May 15, 2014

Re the parasitic Battery draw issue (for an IS220D) - has anyone had any success using a solar powered trickle charger and if so what wattage output was the charger please ? (I get the impression that anything less than 4 watts won't cope with the drain from the 'smart key' and immobiliser/alarm, etc ?). Also be interested to hear of any issues concerning the practicalities of using the OBD fuse socket on a regular basis to plug in the charger ? Many thanks.

steve2006 · May 15, 2014

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

I wasn't aware until I read this post the 220d was suffering from Battery discharge problems.

Several hybrid owners have used solar trickle chargers with success but as you say the 4W panels are of little use, there are 8W panels available at a slightly higher cost.

Regarding using the OBD socket as a means of connection it can be done but these sockets are not designed for this purpose so plugging in and out of them constantly could cause damage to the pins over time, probably better to have the cigar lighter rewired to a constant 12V supply and use that plus most panels have the cigar lighter plug fiited as standard.

Dreamer63 · May 17, 2014

Help required ASAP please ! Planning to buy a solar powered trickle charger to address a parasitic Battery draw issue on a 5 year old IS220D, but have concerns over the practicalities of using same. Most connect to the cigarette lighter, but this won't work because it's deactivated once the ignition is off. Some have an OBD connector (or, more specifically, is it an OBD2 ?), but as far as I know the only OBD connection is under the dashboard in the middle of a fuse panel, which is far from ideal and likely to result in problems if used regularly. The only other alternative is to use the crocodile clips, but if I want/need to keep the solar charger inside the car there'll be issues regarding the 'crushing' of the cables with the car door. Any suggestions or advice would be gratefully received, as I need to do something ASAP to overcome the frequent flat Battery syndrome i'm experiencing. Many thanks.

steve2006 · May 18, 2014

Help required ASAP please ! Planning to buy a solar powered trickle charger to address a parasitic battery draw issue on a 5 year old IS220D, but have concerns over the practicalities of using same. Most connect to the cigarette lighter, but this won't work because it's deactivated once the ignition is off. Some have an OBD connector (or, more specifically, is it an OBD2 ?), but as far as I know the only OBD connection is under the dashboard in the middle of a fuse panel, which is far from ideal and likely to result in problems if used regularly. The only other alternative is to use the crocodile clips, but if I want/need to keep the solar charger inside the car there'll be issues regarding the 'crushing' of the cables with the car door. Any suggestions or advice would be gratefully received, as I need to do something ASAP to overcome the frequent flat battery syndrome i'm experiencing. Many thanks.

steve2006 · May 18, 2014

Have you not read my post above? I advised you to have the cigar lighter socket modified and an 8W panel.

Maccamck · July 30, 2014

Re flat Battery. I found that the boot light stayed on. To check fold down the rear centre arm rest and open the zip on the boot opening and see if the light is on. If it is and you do not need the boot light disconnect the wire to the light or if you need the light find the mercury switch and adjust it. I could not find the switch!

jamesmcskeane · November 21, 2014

Hi I just want to jump on this thread.

I have had a similar issue, Battery dead if I leave it over night more so in cold weather.

Just want to check if anyone has exactly the same issue.

When I get into the car, I put my foot on the clutch, green light comes on, I press it, it does not turn over instead everything just goes flat, dash, radio nothing works.

If I leave it maybe a min then open the door everything will come back on like a reset I notice my clock will be reset.

If I try and restart again it might do the exact same thing or if it turns over it will start and it runs fine and may run fine for a week until it is left again over night or if it cold.

IS220D 2006

The Battery being dead I am not sure about, if it did not turn over at all the first time or the second (I mean it just made a click and the entire dash went black) the third attempt it seem to turn over like nothing was wrong.

Between attempts I could not do anything, if i put foot on the cltch the green light did not come on, then a few mins later it comes back to life.

Any ideas?

Thanks

steve2006 · November 21, 2014

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

If it's an intermittent problem it could be poor Battery terminal connections or earths so make sure evrything is good and tight.

It could also be the Battery if one or more of the cells is breaking down internally.

jamesmcskeane · November 24, 2014

Thanks,

I took the car to a garage they said the Battery needs replaced hopefully I have no more issues with it.

agent_dess · January 8, 2015

Died again, it started this morning drove 1mile to station (I needed the car go asda once I got back from work) got back to station and went to turn car on and it kept turning over... Must say it hasn't been driven for a few days but started ok! So anyway left it there and went home, going back for it shortly... Had this problem a year ago jump start did the trick then hope it will do same now, last Battery check in October said Battery was healthy!!

raybo · April 3, 2015

Hi guys. I have just had a similar problem with my 2009 IS220D. After driving for 3 hours non stop, I parked up to unload my luggage and then attempted to start the engine again to move the car. The engine turned once then died. No amount of praying or cursing seemed to work. I have had the car for 15 months without any problem with the Battery etc.

After connecting jump leads to the terminals, the first attempt to jump the car from another Battery proved fruitless. I then moved the clip from my earth terminal to a bolt in the engine compartment and it turned over and started fine.

Local auto electrician discovered that the alternator was fried and charge nearly £500 to replace it with a new one. 2 days later it was flat again!

I have now had a new Battery fitted as he said that it seemed to be unable to hold a full charge, which caused the alternator to keep trying to top it up, hence the alternator burnt out!

I am not sure if he was just covering up a misdiagnosis about the alternator but so far after 3 weeks everything seems ok.

Marco82 · June 26, 2016

Same problem guys I have a is 220d 2006. 85k.

Noticed the car starting becoming laboured and taking a few attempts to start. Bought a Battery replaced which seemed fine for a few hours. Starting the car got worse until it completely failed to start initially draining the Battery. When I got a jump start of a friend the car tried to turn over then completely died. No light on dash. As if the Battery had been disconnected. Wiggling the wires seemed to bring the car back to life but when trying to start the car completely lost electricity as if the Battery had been disconnected. I initially though it was a short. Googled and saw a few people had the same issue. Called a local auto electrician who charged me £20 to reconnect to another terminal as the original has corroded.

all sorted happy days

HeenaM · February 2, 2020

We've got the same problem with our 2008 IS250.

The Battery and alternator are fine, so we had an electric specialist come and have a look. We learned that there's a parasitic drain from the onboard body control module which is discharging the vehicle when it's switched off. The body control module also powers the audio module which is another item that can sometimes have this parasitic drain problem.

Either way it needs repairing or replacing and 'regular' garages don't seem to have the software or coding skills needed to fix it. So it will have to go to Lexus & that's going to cost a lot! 😞

Has anyone managed to remedy the problem? If so, how and how much did it cost?

ColinBarber · February 2, 2020

2 hours ago, HeenaM said:

We've got the same problem with our 2008 IS250.

The battery and alternator are fine, so we had an electric specialist come and have a look. We learned that there's a parasitic drain from the onboard body control module which is discharging the vehicle when it's switched off. The body control module also powers the audio module which is another item that can sometimes have this parasitic drain problem.

Either way it needs repairing or replacing and 'regular' garages don't seem to have the software or coding skills needed to fix it. So it will have to go to Lexus & that's going to cost a lot! 😞

Has anyone managed to remedy the problem? If so, how and how much did it cost?

How much drain, and after what time period? It can take 15 mins+ for everything to settle down.