I have a 2005 LX470. I replaced the alternator with a new denso one about 50k miles/4 years ago bc I was already in there doing to the T-belt and I also have a new interstate battery I installed earlier this year.
Lastly, I have the Scan Gauge 3 (SG3), which stays plugged into the OBD2 port at all times. Looks like this.
The SG3 is pretty good about only turning on after the engine is started, but I've noticed that sometimes when I unlock the truck and open a few doors - basically do anything but start the truck right away - the SG3 will turn itself on.
9/10 times when the SG3 is on before I start the engine, the engine will sputter out and not start on the first try, almost like I'm not holding the key in the start position for long enough time. But it always starts fine on the 2nd try.
Well, today this happened again - the SG3 was on before I started the engine, I tried to start the engine, then the starter sputtered (like it was about to not turn over) and then there was a long whining sound and it finally roared back to life.
My question is this: do I have a bad starter? Or is the SG3 hogging the power by turning on the truck's computer and thereby diverting the necessary cranking amps away from the starter?
My current fix is to unplug the SG3 whenever I park and then plug it back in after starting the engine.
Lastly, I have the Scan Gauge 3 (SG3), which stays plugged into the OBD2 port at all times. Looks like this.
The SG3 is pretty good about only turning on after the engine is started, but I've noticed that sometimes when I unlock the truck and open a few doors - basically do anything but start the truck right away - the SG3 will turn itself on.
9/10 times when the SG3 is on before I start the engine, the engine will sputter out and not start on the first try, almost like I'm not holding the key in the start position for long enough time. But it always starts fine on the 2nd try.
Well, today this happened again - the SG3 was on before I started the engine, I tried to start the engine, then the starter sputtered (like it was about to not turn over) and then there was a long whining sound and it finally roared back to life.
My question is this: do I have a bad starter? Or is the SG3 hogging the power by turning on the truck's computer and thereby diverting the necessary cranking amps away from the starter?
My current fix is to unplug the SG3 whenever I park and then plug it back in after starting the engine.
