Hey guys.Total newb here so please be gentle.
2006 TL 67k miles.My Five year old battery died on me yesterday just as I was pulling out of a store in the parking lot.
car wouldn’t jump so pulled battery and
took battery to AutoZone and they took a couple of hours and charged it.Put it back in car and drained immediately as I tried to start car.
went to Walmart and bought a new battery and in the way home lights on dash lit up,engine started running rough and then all lights and power went out as I was driving.Luckily it was just as I was getting home.
I have the original alternator in the car ,so I figure that is most likely the problem.
I have also heard the HFL can cause battery drain,but would it be catastrophic like this?
is there anything else I need to trouble shoot before replacing the alternator?Thanks for any and all help!

 

You likely have a loose battery cable clamp. I would replace the whole + battery cable and test again.

 

I checked and The clamp didn’t seem loose at all.
I removed the battery and am charging it with a portable charger.While the battery is charging I’m attempting to remove the alternator so I can test it.
Im stuck at the moment removing the fan.
I’ve gotten everything off connecting the fan in except for one clip with a wire in the lower left side of the fan assembly.

 

I forgot to add earlier there was small wisps of smoke coming off the alternator when the car died and the positive terminal on the battery seemed too hot.

 

ahh yeah sounds like alternator may be bad. Get a remanufactured denso one from Rockauto

 

Agreed sounds like a combination of bad alternator, plus maybe battery & alternator cables at either end don't have a good solid, proper connection.

Lookie here; the AC clutch connector that you're wrestling with, simply gets unhooked from the fan shroud.
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...ngines-986165/

 

The battery cables may be rusted internally at this age where you can't see, especially the + cable. A problem I had a few years back.
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