90 LS400 alternator warning light

[Dr. Walter Diamond, OBE]

I'm in a pickle. To wit, my 90 LS400 is displaying symptoms of a
dying alternator. Battery wont hold charge, dummy lights come on,
but go off and car runs fine if you keep the rpms in the high 2k range.
However, the idiot lights are puzzling me: In 3 other Toyotas in which
I've had alternator failure, ONLY the charge/battery light would come on.
In the LS, i'm seeing 5 different lights: The Battery, Brake, Radiator,
an Oil Can with water underneath, and what I assume is the dead tail light
indicator (picture of the car from top, with little light beams emitting
from the rear).

Or I'm a barking up the wrong tree? I've read many accounts of electrical
troubles in the LS series, so I'm open to any and all suggestions.

BTW, I certainly havent ruled out the Power STeering-pump-leaking-on-alternator
routine that is so common. There looks to be trace amounts of fluid under the
steering resevoir, although just a tad. And the car has 142,000 miles,
and I've only owned it about 3 months. Absolutely Kick Ass car apart from
this.

Thank you for your time,
Doc

[markjen]

If the battery is at all suspect, replace it first. They're relatively
cheap, easy to replace, and can cause all sorts of weird problems.

- Mark

[Dr. Walter Diamond, OBE]

"markjen" <mar...@NOSPAMattbi.com> wrote in message news:<UaQP9.498596$P31.160943@rwcrnsc53>...

> If the battery is at all suspect, replace it first. They're relatively
> cheap, easy to replace, and can cause all sorts of weird problems.
>
> - Mark

I was certainly suspicious of the battery, as its 39 months into a 72 month
advertised life. That's plenty of time to get used up by an LS. So I put the
LS battery into my 84 Celica and it started up and ran fine, no warning lights
of any kind.

I'm pretty sure I've got a dying alternator, i'm just curious why 5 different
idiot lights would come on.

Thanks for the tip

Doc

[Jeff Bertrand]

Could be shot brushes in the alternator. Of the Toyotas that I've owned this
is the most common source of weird electrical system behavior in my experience.
Toyota used to supply the brushes separately as a kit. Dunno if they still do
or if they supply them for the Lexus.

Jeff Bertrand
Ventura, CA
(remove antispam to reply)

[Johnzillah]

You can get a John Deer alternator for this car and do a rebuild with it.
They are exactly the same internal parts and will save you a bunch of money.
Take your alternator to a shop that rebuilds them and tell them that the
same parts in the alternator or those of a John Deer Tractor. I didnt
beleive it at first but a mechanic showed me .
It was 40 dollars vs 460 dollars. Works fine.

cya

Johnzillah

"Dr. Walter Diamond, OBE" <holymah...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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