'13 LX570 - Intermittent Stalling & Fluctuating Voltage After Dealer Detail

[vkj200]

Hi folks,

I need some help with my 2013 LX570 (138K miles). The battery is an OEM replacement from last year.

video
Two weeks ago, I took it to the dealer for an oil change and a "full detail" special. (They did a s*** job buffing the car, but that was expected.)

A day or so later, the problems started.

1. The entertainment system rebooted randomly while I was driving.
2. Later, it did it again, and then the car shut off as I was slowing down for a red light.
3. Right before it died, I noticed the voltage meter gauge fluctuating wildly (see attached video).

After I restarted it, the gauge fluctuated again, and then the issue stopped. I then had to travel for the SEMA show and left the car sitting for a week. When I came back, I drove the car fine for several days, but today it did it again. The voltage gauge was fluctuating, and the car shut down as I was coming to a stop. This seems to happen relatively soon after starting the car.

Here's what I've checked:

• I had the battery and the alternator tested, and both passed.
• The dealer wants to inspect the car but already said it "sounds like an alternator," even though it tested fine.
• I checked all the grounding points I could find along the fenders, and they are all tight.

My suspicion is that this is related to the "detail." Do you think they could have gotten water into a sensitive area (like the alternator or a fuse box) while cleaning the engine bay?

I was reading a post from someone with a similar issue, and they mentioned recent ABS work; their problem was a harness that wasn't connected properly. However, they didn't mention anything about the voltage meter.

What are your thoughts on this? How can I find a diagram showing all the main grounding points?

(P.S. The dealer did tell me they "inspected" the car and found other issues I need to resolve, like brake pads, but that seems unrelated.)

 

[doru]

Engine shutdown has nothing to do with ABS.
You had the car parked for quite a while and then drove it enough for the temp under the hood to be high enough to dry whatever water they might have used under the hood to detail it.
I doubt any of the above are your problems.
The symptoms do sound like charging system related. The video points to that.
As you saw your truck run "fine" for a few days and it is very likely that at the time you tested the battery/alternator it also run "fine".

I looked at the electrical diagram, and the alternator and battery are directly connected to the regulator (regulator + alternator = generator). Voltmeter is connected to the regulator. There is no view inside the regulator to tell how the voltmeter is connected inside the regulator. But what we know for sure is that between voltmeter and the regulator is AD1 a waterproof connector under the hood very unlikely to have a water intrusion problem, EA1 connector and E58 that are high under the driver dashboard - again unlikely to have water intrusion. Usually the problems are with EA2 and EK1 & 2 connectors, lower, close to the floor.

So, I would say the areas to look more is alternator using better testing, and just to make sure check for water intrusion in the cabin (search the forum for the many threads how to do it).

 

[Sandroad]

I agree with @doru to check for water intrusion. It seems very likely the dealer detail forced water inside through the cowl, door seals, windshield (if not original), or sunroof drains. The electrical connectors in the door sills are susceptible to water damage and problems there could cause your symptoms. Use the info in this thread to check for evidence of water in the sills and corrosion in the connectors.

Thread 'LX 570 Electrical mystery'

Jun 14, 2024

So I am having some electrical gremlins on my 2010 LX 570. First gremlin was the door panel window switch. Driver door only rolls down the driver side window and does not engage auto function. (I have not taken the panel off to check yet) the weirder thing is that the truck will not power completely off. When I turn it off the head unit stays on and the key fob will not lock the door l. No matter how long I leave it, the truck will not power off. Any ideas??

• jwt2744
• Replies: 10
• Forum: 200-Series Cruisers

 

[LTX200]

I had a somewhat similar experience recently, so I hope the following information is helpful:

I replaced the battery on my 2014 LX570 earlier this year. About 2500 miles later, I started to experience the following:

1. The entertainment system rebooting randomly while driving or at a stoplight.
2. The vehicle randomly stalling while stopped or shifting into gear.

No warning lights on the dash, but using a scan tool I read error code B1585, which is a USB fault code for the navigation system. I cleared the code and unplugged the USB devices, and the problems persisted, and the fault code returned.

With a voltmeter, I tested the battery at idle and never got above 13.1v, then with the scan tool, I logged the voltage during a long drive and the battery never got above 13.2v. With this information, I had an alternator load test conducted, and determined that the internal voltage regulator was not functioning properly.

I had the alternator replaced, and all of the above issues have not reappeared, and I have not gotten any fault codes. It has been about 1500 miles, so I do feel confident that I found the source of my problem.

Good luck.

 

[vkj200]

Thank you everyone for responding. Very helpful. I will proceed with swapping out the alternator, @135K on original one is a good run.