Joe Sarkis

Vehicle: 2008 TL

Guys in the past few weeks all the electronics inside the vehicle have been going off for no reason. just all of a sudden the Navi, radio, cluster...etc...everything inside would go dark (off) and come right back on. then i noticed when i turn something on like the AC or the rear defogger that would trigger everything going off. the engine would feel light its about to die out as well but wouldn't die down. last night the same thing happen but this time the engine shut down as well. i turn the car off and back on again with the key and everything was back to normal.

where should i start?

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Make certain the battery cables are clean and tight.
Have the codes available, remove the cables, clean and reinstall.

Hardliving

I would check to see what the alternator is putting back into the battery. I had same problem with a old Camry I had. Change alternator even though AZ said good but needs charged. No problem since

Jesstzn

Just don't look at them .. remove and clean with a wire brush or emery paper .. also inspect the negative cable as far as you can see it for corrosion.

Sometimes the additional loading will cause things to happen if the grounding isn't good.

Joe Sarkis

OK, i will check the battery and cables today. Will also check for codes, hope its noting major. How would i know if it is the alternator going bad? Car has 65k miles on it now...

johnny3

Maybe a bad ignition switch, next few times that you lose the instrument cluster lights, move the switch (key) back & forth just a little & see if the cluster lights come back on.

Fulani has a TL

iTrader: (1)

Grounding problem, as stated above, check your ground from battery to the body (short cable).

Joe Sarkis

OK guys, so i checked the battery cables both ground and positive and all is fine. no dirt or rust, the short ground cable is fine as well and has a good tight connection on both ends. i replaced the battery just in case with a new one and had a shop check the charging of the alternator and it was doing a good job. i drove the car to work today and when i got to work everything went out again and the car almost turn off. i had to put in the navigation and radio code again to get them back up. i also did a scan but there were no codes, it was all clear.

so i guess next thing to check will be the ignition/key ??

Joe Sarkis

well, it just happened again and this time the car turned off. i played with the key but it didn't do anything. i had to turn the key off completely and turn the car back on. could it be the ECU?

Joe Sarkis

well, driving on the freeway this happened by the time i got home to scan for codes it all went away and no codes detected

Fulani has a TL

iTrader: (1)

How many miles on the car? My suggestion is that assuming you are under warranty, take it to the dealer and let them hassle with this electrical gremlin.

I had this happen once to me while driving a 2007 Honda Accord, car died on the highway, and then restarted by itself. Everytime I would come to a full stop the car would die, and would need a jump start. Turned out the battery had a bad cell and that fixed it.

Your symptoms are more severe as they still occur even after changing the battery. My original thoughts were that of loose cable connection, and bad battery. I wonder if you have a failing main relay. I don't know how to test that though...

Joe Sarkis

warranty is over so going to the stealership is the last resort. at this point im thinking the alternator is going bad. im just gona drive it till it dies out completely, that way i will know what the problem is.

nfnsquared

Doubt it's the alternator. Sounds more like a connection issue.

Do you have any electrical mods? Are you the original owner? Any collision damage history?

NC916

iTrader: (1)

It sounds like the alternator, had a friend and the car died out while driving on the freeway then it died and came back alive. all the lights would come on like the engine light ect... After changing the alternator everything was fixed and good to go. If you dont mind spending extra $100 or so to change out the alternator and see how it goes from there. Good luck.

Joe Sarkis

original owner, no accident or damage history. no MODs on the car, all stock. has been perfect till now with this problem. i will inspect all visible wires on the car tomorrow, hope that ends up being the issue. can someone tell me where the major junctions are so i can check the load baring wires....