RTH: electrical failure, engine died, battery dead, alternator?

[oakback]

Driving on vacation, towing a camper, within 1 minutes I had loss of power, pulled over, then engine died. The starter will not turn, it seems the battery is too weak. No trouble codes, aside from a recurring O2 sensor code.
Edit: obd scanner showing volts at 8.8


Would the alternator fail this quickly with no prior symptoms?

Any help is appreciated, so I can do a roadside fix ASAP and get my family moving.

 

[MongooseGA]

Could very likely be a bad alternator, although I've found they give some indication before finally biting the dust.

Easy visual stuff first: is the belt still in place on the front of the engine? I think you can look at the alternator pretty clearly through the passenger wheel well- anything alarming? Pulley in place with belt around it?

Do you have a jump box handy to get the truck running so you can measure the alternator output? Or cables in case a friendly fellow motorist pulls over to help? Battery in the camper?

 

[MongooseGA]

When you say you lost power, do you mean you lost engine/acceleration power? Or you noticed accessories and lights dying before pulling over?

Also, you might post your general current location. Someone local could see this and be able to assist.

 

[oakback]

Could very likely be a bad alternator, although I've found they give some indication before finally biting the dust.

Easy visual stuff first: is the belt still in place on the front of the engine? I think you can look at the alternator pretty clearly through the passenger wheel well- anything alarming? Pulley in place with belt around it?

Do you have a jump box handy to get the truck running so you can measure the alternator output? Or cables in case a friendly fellow motorist pulls over to help? Battery in the camper?

The belt looks fine. I don't have cables or a jump box, I just cleared everything out of the vehicle and forgot to put some stuff back. But even if I got a jump, there's nowhere for me to go in a short distance before the battery would die.

I could do a roadside repair fix, I'm comfortable with that, parts shops are within walking distance for any tools I don't have. But unfortunately nobody has the alternator in stock. I'll likely be calling someone from home an hour away to deliver it, if they can find one in stock.

 

[oakback]

When you say you lost power, do you mean you lost engine power? Or you noticed accessories and lights dying before pulling over?

Also, you might post your general current location. Someone local could see this and be able to assist.

Engine lost what felt like half power, then stereo blipped. I coasted to a stop and the engine died almost immediately. Currently chime and dash lights will come in if the key is turned.

I'm in Blountstown, FL.

 

[Pulgasari]

Do you remember if the battery light came on before your total power loss?

When my alternator broke, I was able to keep driving for a few mins with the battery light on before losing power completely.

 

[oakback]

I don't recall seeing the battery light, but it was raining heavily and I was focused on the road.

 

[MongooseGA]

Do you remember if the battery light came on before your total power loss?

When my alternator broke, I was able to keep driving for a few mins with the battery light on before losing power completely.

This is a good point.

It's possible either the battery or alternator has been long in the tooth and possibly accelerated the end of the other.

 

[oakback]

The date on the battery is July of 2023.

 

[oakback]

I've got help (and an alternator) on the way. I'll let y'all know how it turns out. Thanks so much for the input.

 

[oakback]

While waiting for help, I tried it once more. Cranked up and running strong, it's weird. I'll get the alternator and tools and hit the road and see what happens.

No battery light or CEL while idling for a minute (yet).

 

[Mchodl]

I don't recall seeing the battery light, but it was raining heavily and I was focused on the road.

I'd be looking for water where it shouldn't be.

 

[TLCPNW]

Check your battery terminals?? You never know.

 

[oakback]

It was the alternator. When I started it on my last post, it died a minute later. Help arrived, we got it swapped, and it cranked crank and got us the 1.5 hours the rest of the journey. OBD scanner showed 13.3 volts after the install.

 

[MongooseGA]

Very good. Glad you got to where you were going safely.

And now, even though it wouldn't have saved you this time, put your cables or a jump box back in the truck.

 

[2003lx470]

I just had a similar experience with my 07 Lexus. I was at a red light and heard a peeping noise. Initially, I thought the noise was coming from YouTube. I put it on pause and the beeping noise was still there. I thought it might be the radar detector. I unplugged it and the noise was still coming. As I was making the turn, the battery light came on and the engine was still running strong. A few yards more, all the dashboard and navigation lights started to flash and the engine completely stalled. I managed to get the truck on a side road. Ordered a new alternator and installed it. Now my battery is completely dead. Waiting for the battery to charge and will report my results.

For about two weeks, I heard a failing bearing noise from the front right side of the engine and didn't have the time to look. I knew it could be either the alternator or the power steering pump. Please look into the asap, don't be me.