Hi all,

I have been having some longish term problems that have grinded to a halt in the last couple days.
Let me set the scene!

Few months ago, started getting the battery light coming on and off at random.
After a while, the car wouldnt turn over so i had the battery replaced and tested the alternator to see if it was charging the new battery and it was.

The next day, the battery light came on again and started doing it things where it would randomly come flick on for maybe a few minutes, or a couple of milliseconds on and off and this kept happening.

After a while, some of the other dashboard lights such as the traction control and others would also now randomly come on and off. there was no consistency to when or how long they would do it for.

from there, the air circulation (recycle) type light would turn itself back on after these other lights flickered on and off and it would also stop the air flow from the fan through the internal vents and almost reset itself. I also noticed that no matter what happened, everytime i turned my car on, the recycle air light would have turned itself on.

the last couple things i noticed was that if i tried to pulse the high beamers on, they wouldnt work, and if i tried to click them on to leave them on, they also wouldnt work but they would also turn off my headlights!

Then, yesterday morning, i walked towards my car and the unlock button on my keys would not work. no respose. i manually unlocked the car and only the drivers side door unlocked, there was no central locking working and the car did not even click the starter motor. all of this after the car starting everytime since i had the new battery.

Could it be the ECU computer?
I dont think it would be the alternator if the doors wont even open... surely it cant die that much and ive had flat batteries before and opening the doors was never a problem.

I would really appreciate any help or if anyone has had this happen to them.
Im extremely poor at the moment having just bought a lease for a place and this is the last thing i need!

Thanks in advance,
Ben.

All of the symptoms you describe tell me that the Alt is over charging, now you may have fried some fuses but either way the first thing you need to do is change that alternator.

ECU does not control most of the parts you are having issues with, it controls the engine and trans, the BEM controls some of the other parts, climate has its own control ECU.

Generally a battery light means your alt is not charging or is over charging, while the battery also may be defective, the alt is what triggers that light, the pick up for that light is in the back of the Alternator

I agree. It is definetely an alternator issue. Check the fuses and change as necessary. If they blow again, replace the alternator

Yep. malfunctioning alternator overcharging. Had it happen to my car and got it replaced under warranty. My headlights actually became much brighter when they were on. You will need to check the fuses in the cabin and the fuses/fusable links in the engine bay (next to the battery). If like mine, when your battery dies, you won't even be able to lock/unlock with the key (Happened again last Friday when I did a quick stop to get dinner, came back, unlocked with remote and car wont start).

Please do not replace fuses and then IF they blow get a new alternator, replace the alternator and do the fuses at the same time, if you get a spike into the ECU then you WILL be up for a new ECU and that aint cheap lol

as mal said.

Fuses dont blow on there own theres a reason why they do so get to the bottom of that 1st

thanks a lot for your responses.

hmmm not good. ill take it into the garage tomorrow then and have them check out the alternator and see if they can figure it out.

was going to take it to the auto-electrician but alternator probably should go straight to the garage.

"Few months ago, started getting the battery light coming on and off at random."

Left it a bit long.

A quick check with a multimeter would have located the problem quickly.

I've seen alternators act up often enough to know the first few blinks of that light means the alternator needs to come out and be replaced with one from the wreckers or a reconditioned unit from an auto electrician, as soon as possible - within the next few days at the most. Before other problems result from that. Still, you know better now. lol

I always have to turn the key twice to unlock all doors, one turn opens drivers door; second opens the rest. it behaves the same with the remote one press does drivers one more for the rest. no one has said that it only unlocking the drivers door is normal so now im beginning to think something is up with mine lol

I always have to turn the key twice to unlock all doors, one turn opens drivers door; second opens the rest. it behaves the same with the remote one press does drivers one more for the rest. no one has said that it only unlocking the drivers door is normal so now im beginning to think something is up with mine lol

That is normal. It is to prevent car jacking. That is, if you are the only one, say a vulnerable female trying to get to your car at night in a poorly lit carpark, then pressing the remote once or turning the key once will only open the drivers door which mean only you can get in and then lock the door.

Just checked my TL and one turn of the key in the door only unlocks the drivers door....a 2nd turn ulocks the other 3.

bad news....
i couldnt jump start it.

while it was connected, the electric doors worked again and i could open the boot, but couldnt get her running.
all sorts of crazy flashing happening on the dash....
the audio screen constantly flashed, came up with some 'CODE' thing expecting some code to be put in...
put it on the radio and the radio worked but still, the screen showing the station was flashing on and off constantly....

just wouldnt turn over. i could hear it click but nothing more than that. something is seriously wrong with the electronics.

why are you trying to start it. DONT. UNTIL YOU GET THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND FUSES REPLACED.

so i could drive it to the garage!
i cant really afford towing ....

could it be a failing ignition switch?

why are you trying to start it. DONT. UNTIL YOU GET THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND FUSES REPLACED.

This. the wreckers have enough magnas

Probably nothing wrong with the electrics other than a very flat battery and jumper leads not up to the job.

"I can't afford a tow truck. I've got a problem with my car, been evident for months but I've ignored it. I need to take it to a mechanic to get it fixed. It won't start because it has a problem. I can't afford a tow truck."

Going around in circles.

Options.
(1) Leave the car where it is and take public transport or buy another car.
(2) Make your way to the wreckers somehow, buy another alternator, put it in yourself. In the meantime put the battery on a charger.
(3) Get a mobile mechanic to help you out. They do house calls.
(4) Find a kind friend or neighbour who can help you.

Probably other options.

got it started and got it to the auto-electricians.
just needed better cables and used the land cruiser battery.

was the alternator, was charging sometimes and sometimes not and it may have been overcharging in the past.
$240 is pretty good i reckon.