LX 470 Total Electrical Failure

[juane]

Just as we were topping out the Moki Dugway on Cedar Mesa everything went dark. Car continued to run fine so we proceeded to our camp and had a great hike in upper Slickhorn Canyon.
Packed up the second morning, cutting our vacation early to drive back to Albuquerque. No turn signals, brake lights, instruments and the windows down. We were cold.
On the NAPI bypass we slowly ran out of engine power. Pulled over and engaged the second battery which got us to Cuba.
Stopped at NAPA to have the main battery charged. Oops, can't do that, it's an AGM. Might take hours.
Well, can't risk getting caught out after dark - no lights. So bought a new, fully charged battery to get us home, joking about what our MPB was (Miles Per Battery).
I'm currently waiting to hear from shop on diagnosis....
Yes, I did check fusible links for continuity. Could not think of anything else....

 

[peneumbra2]

Did you check to see that you made your payment to the electric utility?
No, I guess that wouldn't matter...

 

[pappy]

Yes, I did check fusible links for continuity. Could not think of anything else....

Did you check resistance (ohms) on the fuse link, or just continuity?

 

[juane]

Just continuity.

 

[krazykat69]

Sorry you had this issue. Hope you find out what happened. Let us know. I haven't had an issue like that on my 460, so don't have any thoughts.

 

[juane]

Did you check resistance (ohms) on the fuse link, or just continuity?

Sorry you had this issue. Hope you find out what happened. Let us know. I haven't had an issue like that on my 460, so don't have any thoughts.

Thanks Jeff.

 

[alia176]

Sounds like the primary battery got drained keeping the engine running, so it's not a fusible link issue. If the alternator took a crap, the electrics should still work if the battery is good. It's interesting that the electrics went out but the engine ECU kept operating on the battery alone. Curious what the problem is.

 

[juane]

So curious.
I suspect it's a POS issue. As in Previous Owner Syndrome.

 

[krazykat69]

My first guess is the alternator is bad. Especially if it is the original alternator. Being a 1998 LX 470, that alternator is getting pretty old. Hopefully that's the issue, but there could be a second issue, too.
The LX may start shutting down electrical components in steps as the alternator goes bad, and current drops off.. Lights first, then other other things related to keeping the motor running.. Carrying 3 extra batteries for each trip, is not a good plan, LOL......