Any Ideas?

[ben wedge]

Everyone's nightmare - the 'intermittent fault'

Went to start the IS250 a month ago to find the Battery flat as a pancake. All sorts of weird things happened as I tried to get started.

A shame faced young visitor admitted to 'playing with' the remote locking and unlocking the doors and trying to get the windows to open and close by remote, so I put it down to that and after a resetting everything thought no more about it until 2 weeks later when after a 50 mile journey I listened to the radio for 1.5 hours whilst waiting for someone. The radio then went dead and I found the Battery was again flat.

Thinking that the Battery had packed up I took it to Lexus to get a new one fitted. To their credit, they said they had checked the Battery and it was fine, I explained the problem and they said that they had checked and could find no fault with the Battery or electrics

Today I went to start up and the Battery was noticeably low but was sufficient to start

I am thinking that I have a problem with an intermittent Battery drain when switched off.....but haven't a clue how to trace it

Anyone got any suggestions?

2007 is250 SEL auto with MM

[The-Acre]

Everyone's nightmare - the 'intermittent fault'

Went to start the IS250 a month ago to find the battery flat as a pancake. All sorts of weird things happened as I tried to get started.

A shame faced young visitor admitted to 'playing with' the remote locking and unlocking the doors and trying to get the windows to open and close by remote, so I put it down to that and after a resetting everything thought no more about it until 2 weeks later when after a 50 mile journey I listened to the radio for 1.5 hours whilst waiting for someone. The radio then went dead and I found the battery was again flat.

Thinking that the battery had packed up I took it to Lexus to get a new one fitted. To their credit, they said they had checked the battery and it was fine, I explained the problem and they said that they had checked and could find no fault with the battery or electrics

Today I went to start up and the battery was noticeably low but was sufficient to start

I am thinking that I have a problem with an intermittent battery drain when switched off.....but haven't a clue how to trace it

Anyone got any suggestions?

2007 is250 SEL auto with MM

I know it seems a bit too obvious but have you checked all the hidden lights like glove compartment, boot etc to make sure they go off?

[Alex Coul]

I wouldn't say there was anything wrong, wouldn't dare leave my radio on for over an hour with the engine off!

[ben wedge]

The Acre

Yes, checked all I can, but thanks for the suggestion

Alex

I've had the radio on for several hours on many occasions without problem. The ACC switches off after an hour steering wheel folds away and you have to reset the start button .

Plus the Battery has been declared perfect and the drain has happened whilst everything switched off

[bluenose1940]

I too have come across situations whereby the Battery is checked and found to be perfectly fine, only for problems to resurface some while later.

An explanation was given to me where it appears that a Battery can have what is called a 'floating cell', therefore it can and does fail intermittently.

This could possibly be your problem. Just thought I'd offer you my two penneth.

[Alex Coul]

Put an uprated Battery in, can't hurt

[The-Acre]

I had the same kind of problem with my previous LS400, the Battery was good, but after having the radio on for an hour it only just had enough to start it.

[ben wedge]

Thanks for the help

I am thinking that there is a fault somewhere in view of the fact that the car can stand for days and be OK, yet sometimes it can drain a fully charged Battery within a day

Since this has now happened both when the car has been locked and unlocked in the garage I assume that it is not related to the alarm system

I am a bit lost with electrics, but is there a way to measure the drain on the Battery with a multimeter

I am now in the position of not knowing if I am going to return to a dead Battery and having to search for a good Samaritan to let me put my jump leads on

For sure I will have to look at replacing the Battery, but Lexus assure me that it is fine and not the cause

Thanks again

[johnatg]

The engine must be off. Disconnect one Battery terminal, then set your multimeter to current (amps) and connect between the disconnected terminal and the Battery post that you removed it from. If you disconnect the neg terminal, connect the multimeter positive (red lead?) to the terminal and neg (black lead?) to the Battery post.

If your multimeter has a 6A setting/terminal socket, try with that first, but dark current draw should be no more than 250mA.

Don't switch anything on or operate the starter whilst you've got the battery/multimeter hooked up like this and beware - most (cheapish) multimeters can't cope with large currents! Bang! (or at least a fuse will blow)

A Battery can pass all the tests with flying colours and still be on the way out.

[Nigel21]

I would agree with the above posts and suggest that you change the Battery first.

I've been a mechanic in the motor trade for many years and seen these symptoms many times.

[normski2]

Might pay you to check the earth connection from the Battery to the car body......they have been known to loosen over time on some vehicles.

[ben wedge]

Thanks for all the replies

New Battery fitted and all has been well since - but I'm still wary.

I now need 2 front discs and pads, 4 calipers freeing off, new plugs and 2 front wheels refurbed a total of around £1500

As it's approaching 60,000 miles I toyed with the idea of trading in for a newer model.....and was a bit upset to be offered £5k as PX

I think now it's behaving I'll hang onto this one....the later models are less well equipped and I would miss my toys

Thanks again

[johnatg]

That sounds somewhat OTT. I've done that job (not the plugs) earlier this year.

Mtec discs and redstuff pads - £160.(Much cheaper and perfectly adequate ones are available). 2 new rear calipers (because it wasn't just freeing off!) - £120 (Special Lexus dealer price, but you can get refurbed ones if necessary for much the same price). 4 wheels refurbed (will they match if you only do 2?) - £260.

You can get plugs on eBay for about £75.

Total £615. Plus - shouldn't be more than 4 hours labour for the whole thing?

Get a quote from an independent garage - none of it is hard or specialist (with the possible exception of the plugs, but plenty of guides on threads here)

[Stupot42]

Thanks for all the replies

New battery fitted and all has been well since - but I'm still wary.

I now need 2 front discs and pads, 4 calipers freeing off, new plugs and 2 front wheels refurbed a total of around £1500

As it's approaching 60,000 miles I toyed with the idea of trading in for a newer model.....and was a bit upset to be offered £5k as PX

I think now it's behaving I'll hang onto this one....the later models are less well equipped and I would miss my toys

Thanks again

£5k seems rather low.I have the lower spec SE 220D on an 09 plate and have just been given £5k PX at a Honda dealer and I've got 113k on the clock, full history (but only 2 Lexus stamps)! Try another dealer and see what they offer you. I can't believe yours is worth less than mine. You could always sell privately.

[ben wedge]

Unfortunately I am a little too old now to be crawling around and my hands aren't as compliant so I no longer attempt anything fiddly

The £1500 includes 2 rear tryes which I forgot to mention. In round figures it breaks down to

Full 60,000 service (fluid changes, plugs et al) c £600

Front pads & discs c £295

Free calipers c £100

refurb corroded front wheels c £300

2 rear tyres c £300

The first 3 carried out by Lexus, hoping for less than £1000 all in. Freeing calipers is usually £47 a wheel, but they will probably do the front gratis whilst t changing the discs and give a poor pensioner a slight discount

The front wheels are pretty badly corroded but the rears are not too bad at all, quoted £360 for all 4 last year, so will probably just have the 2 done for less than £200

Goodyear assymetrics to match the front (quieter than the previous Bridgestones) should come in at under £300

Have used a good indy with previous cars, but to be honest he is not a lot cheaper than Lexus...and he doesn't clean the car or provide courtesy car and coffee

The Battery was £90 from Lexus...very competetiive price

Now that it is back to being reliable I intend to keep the car for another few years...my only fear is a major failure costing damn near the value of the car.....even one of those motors on the seats, steering column or windows would be a disaster. Nice to have these toys but ......

ben

[ben wedge]

Aye , I must admit I was expecting a fair bit more than that - dependant on what it was px against....especially as they had an 06 SE for sale at £10,495

Certainly persuaded me to stick with what I've got

ben

[Stupot42]

Aye , I must admit I was expecting a fair bit more than that - dependant on what it was px against....especially as they had an 06 SE for sale at £10,495

Certainly persuaded me to stick with what I've got

ben

Sounds like you've got a nice car. Stick with it if you're happy with the costs. Finding a good one when you change can be a mine field if you're buying a used motor.

I'm expecting mine will end up on someone's forecourt with £7k or £8k in the window.