CMC

Thanks for confirming I'm not going mad, and it should remember my settings. Now just to work out how to get it to do so again...

Hi, A little while back I had alternator failure and so the car was worked on with no battery for a few days. Since then I have noticed that every time I start the engine the climate temperature has reset to 22.5 and is off. Unless that is I have only switched off for a brief period, such as at a petrol station. I'm sure that, before the extended battery disconnection, the system remembered my settings regardles. Is there a way to make that happen again - I have looked in the manual but can't spot anything. Oh, and it's a MM system - 2006 IS250 SE-L. If relevant, when I do start the engine the led on the middle button under the screen (Front?) flashes orange for a few seconds before the climate controls light up and are operable. Many thanks. Chris

Hi, Actually, I didn't replace anything in the end. It just righted itself overnight. Not helpful I appreciate, but if you have a similar problem then try the fuses. Whether it needs any reprogramming or not I'm afraid I can't say. Chris

It was camshaft sensor not crank. To be fair they established it was a loose wire by swapping them over. So all in £100 to replace alternator. Plus £260 for the part. Could have been worse.

It turns out the alternator was dead. My local garage quoted 350 (inc) for the replacement part and it turns out it was only £260 (inc) from the stealership direct. So I went and got one and dropped it off at my local garage However, they are now telling me there is a fault with the front camshaft sensor! Strikes me as odd that it would go at the exact time. Could it be a wiring issue?

Hi, I think there were other lights on. I can't really remember how the brakes felt, I was preoccupied with getting myself out of the way. But I have resigned myself to getting a new alternator. It's booked into my local mechanics on Monday. I'll see what part price they come up with and go from there. Thanks everyone for the help. Chris

Hi, They all feel secure and there are no signs of rust. Chris

Hmm, not looking great. I had to jump the car first. The battery was reading about 11.5 volts. That jumpeed about one volt to 12.5 when I revved it. Turn on the lights and the 11.5 (no revving) dropped to about 11. That then went up to about 12 when revved. Regardless of the situation it never got even close to 14. Could that be because the battery is gone? Is there any other way to check other than buying a battery?

Thanks for all the suggestions and info folks. I'll be able to check everything out later this morning and will report back. As far as the battery goes it was supposed to be of spec - it was supplied by Euro Car Parts - and has been fine for 6 months or so. I'll check connections, run some voltage tests and go from there. I'm pleased to have several options before the Alternator comes into play and currently have my fingers crossed.

Thank you both. I'm not going to get a chance to test it properly until tomorrow now but I'll cross fingers for the battery. It's not that old though and I haven't knowingly run it down. I may even look and see if I have a receipt and if it is in warranty. Wiuld that explain the whine though? Would it put extra strain on the alternator perhaps?

Hi, I'm suspecting an alternator issue, but while I wait for it to stop throwing it down so I can take a proper look I was hoping to undearth a fix that wasn't going to cost 500+ Here's what happened... For the last week or so I've noticed a slight whine coming from the engine. A bit like the hum you get from the radio when suppression is failing, but the radio was off. Today, towards the end of a 50 mile motorway run, in the pouring rain, I had a power steering failure. I was off the motorway, on A roads and coming up to a roundabout. Travelling slowly I noticed all steering assistance had gone. I also noticed out of the corner of my eye that the battery light had come on and wasn't sure but I may have cut out. I managed to limp/muscle my way over the roundabout to get out of harm's way and then, being close to home thought I'd try and limp back. Then a few hundred yards further down the road, I noticed the steering assistance was back. So I decided to get home as carefully as I could. But I had to stop at a set of roadworks and as soon as I stopped the light came on again and the steering went again. I put it in park and revved which cut the light and away I went with steering fully assisted again in 50 yards. Anyway, I got home with one more steering failure as I turned onto my drive (after stopping for an oncoming car). So assuming the worst I'm thinking alternator failure. If anyone can make me feel better with an alternative solution, or cheaper problems to check first I'd be a happy bunny. And if anyone has any reliable alternator sources that might be useful too. A quick search at Euro Car Parts is coming up at £559! Thanks. Chris