Help!! (1 Viewer)

[MantaproXT11]

Did a quick trip, easy trail with some puddles and mud. Made it down the mountain, the dash lit up all the warning lights and turned off. Car began losing power. I was able to limped the car off the free way. Now the car won't start. Disconnected the battery, cleaned the terminals... fuse box inside is dry and clean. It's an obvious electrical issue, where should I begin to look next?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Roody]

Any crank or just totally dead?

 

[MantaproXT11]

Any crank or just totally dead?

I can hear the starter clicking. The battery sort of lights up everything, but the media screen is still blank

 

[WTITW]

Looks like you got a good amount of water over the top of your main fuse box. Id disconnect the battery. Going to need to clean that mess up and check everything before giving it power again. Makes sure theres no water in the fuse box or you’ll just short the s*** out of the whole system. Id tow it home, clean, make sure its completely dry in electrical then assess from there.

If you open the fuse box and its dry, you could try just cleaning all that mud off the battery and starting before you tow it.

 

[Acrad]

Do you have a code reader to pull codes?

#OBD #Fusion / #Link - Vehicle #Diagnostic Tool - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

GX - 2nd Gen (2010-2023) - ?? #OBD #Fusion / #Link - Vehicle #Diagnostic Tool - PID Screenshots (https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPOIZn6WWqVG3YVNnYwcD3IvfbLHcnWJ8RGn5eWAMMeIVz0B42IqGbS2fuglaMJ0A?key=YTNFUjRxc0NCS3ZVaTRhZm4zdVJCUnVuYWdwdlJR) This app has been been discussed in a couple...

www.clublexus.com

 

[GrizzlyClint]

I was thinking alternator or a loose battery cable. Also test the battery for proper voltage.

 

[23GXOR]

Lots of things can cause electrical problems, you're just going to have to start somewhere and diagnose it. Could be that the reason it won't start, and the reason it died, aren't the same thing. If it were me I'd pop the air filter out and make sure it's not soaking wet before I worried about anything else.

 

[MantaproXT11]

Air intake and filter was dry, little bit of dirt in the dirty side. Had it towed home. Can't imagine a bit of dirt and water can take out an alternator, gonna have to look into it more tomorrow morning....

 

[Hiluxforever]

I would check the condition of the guards that keep mud out of your engine bay. Mud can most definitely kill an alternator.

Ask me how I know... had to pull my radiator each time.

Did the same mud hole 3 times before I correlated everything.

If you got a high pressure shot of mud at just the right angle, one mudhole can kill your alternator.

I agree with the folks that say tow it, and clean everything out thoroughly, let it dry then see what the electrical system thinks. Hopefully it's nothing major.

Pull battery terminals, thoroughly brush and clean, too, just to eliminate that as a variable.

 

[Pennwestmechanic]

What's the battery voltage? Sounds like the battery failed or lost charge.

 

[WTITW]

Mud can most definitely kill an alternator.

100%. Gx alternator is in such a terrible place so low.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Yep. Toyota has a few sadistic engineers. if memory serves it's the same place as 1st gen hilux 4wd

 

[MantaproXT11]

I would check the condition of the guards that keep mud out of your engine bay. Mud can most definitely kill an alternator.

Ask me how I know... had to pull my radiator each time.

Did the same mud hole 3 times before I correlated everything.

If you got a high pressure shot of mud at just the right angle, one mudhole can kill your alternator.

I agree with the folks that say tow it, and clean everything out thoroughly, let it dry then see what the electrical system thinks. Hopefully it's nothing major.

Pull battery terminals, thoroughly brush and clean, too, just to eliminate that as a variable.

Cleaned the battery terminals, checked the fuse box, ran a test by removing the positive while running... car dies. This confirms the alternator is the issue, per my research. Is there anything else I could be overlooking before I go ahead with an alternator replacement? And is the alternator replacement something a newb can do? Looking into it a bit, sounds complicated

 

[Hiluxforever]

Cleaned the battery terminals, checked the fuse box, ran a test by removing the positive while running... car dies. This confirms the alternator is the issue, per my research. Is there anything else I could be overlooking before I go ahead with an alternator replacement? And is the alternator replacement something a newb can do? Looking into it a bit, sounds complicated

Make sure the alternator connections are clean. Beyond that, testing requires removal, unfortunately.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Alternator replacement isn't difficult as much as tedious

 

[Acrad]

Alternator replacement isn't difficult as much as tedious

IIRC.. it’s the starter that’s the real !!!!!!!

 

[evolute]

Cleaned the battery terminals, checked the fuse box, ran a test by removing the positive while running... car dies. This confirms the alternator is the issue, per my research. Is there anything else I could be overlooking before I go ahead with an alternator replacement? And is the alternator replacement something a newb can do? Looking into it a bit, sounds complicated

I just replaced my alternator about a month ago. It is definitely not difficult, but it is really annoying to get to. You have to remove the radiator and the power steering pump to get to the alternator.
I have been wrenching on cars for over two decades and would not wish this job on a person that doesn’t have a good bit of experience wrenching.

 

[WTITW]

If you can wait an extra day or two for shipping get a “Tucson Alternators” model. They ship overnight and have like twice the output of a factory one. Really wish I had done that when I had mine replaced last summer.

@r2m has one and runs a 3kw inverter off of it.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Something like that is on my long term list as well.

More power. (Cue Tim Taylor)

 

[MantaproXT11]

If you can wait an extra day or two for shipping get a “Tucson Alternators” model. They ship overnight and have like twice the output of a factory one. Really wish I had done that when I had mine replaced last summer.

@r2m has one and runs a 3kw inverter off of it.

Is it a straight swap? Or do I need to change the fuse as well?