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Pages: 1

The LS died on me

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Posted by: V-8

I think my LS is cursed. First a bad accident, now it stalled.

Heres the story:

My GF and I were heading to a concert. It was raining pretty hard out. I was driving for about 30 miles, and my traction light came on, then the ABS light came on. Twoseconds later, they went off. Then they both came back on. When they came on the second time, the informatin center said 'Check Traction Control".
Than my stereo (aftermarket) tiurned off and on repeatedly, and it wouldnt turn off, so i took the faceplate off. My dashboard lights turned off, headlights were flickering, and my wipers started slowing down.
I took the next exit, and pulled over, and turned the car off.It wouldnt start back up.
Called AAA, and it got towed to the nearest L/M dealer. Which the service dept is closed on weekends!!

Any clues what could be wrong? Im guessing alternator, and a dead battery.

Only mods are:
Aftermarket stereo (deck,amp,subs)
HID headlights

Ill call the shop tomorrow morning, but any guesses now would be helpful.

-Chris

Posted by: Motts

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-8

I think my LS is cursed. First a bad accident, now it stalled.

Heres the story:

My GF and I were heading to a concert. It was raining pretty hard out. I was driving for about 30 miles, and my traction light came on, then the ABS light came on. Twoseconds later, they went off. Then they both came back on. When they came on the second time, the informatin center said 'Check Traction Control".
Than my stereo (aftermarket) tiurned off and on repeatedly, and it wouldnt turn off, so i took the faceplate off. My dashboard lights turned off, headlights were flickering, and my wipers started slowing down.
I took the next exit, and pulled over, and turned the car off.It wouldnt start back up.
Called AAA, and it got towed to the nearest L/M dealer. Which the service dept is closed on weekends!!

Any clues what could be wrong? Im guessing alternator, and a dead battery.

Only mods are:
Aftermarket stereo (deck,amp,subs)
HID headlights

Ill call the shop tomorrow morning, but any guesses now would be helpful.

-Chris

sounds like an alternator.. I hope you took the aftermarket stuff out.. I dont know if that would be under warranty with all of that stuff in..

Posted by: mholhut

Could be your alternator... not the first one to go.

In all that rain, something might have gotten down into the PCM connection area and caused problems.

Posted by: DLS8K

Not to keep repeating what everyone else said, but it sounds like your alternator. It is a job you could do yourself in less than it takes to drink a couple beers. Best of luck, though. The other thing you'll be needing is a battery I think because when your alternator quits working the car gets its power off of the battery......and with your subs/amps hooked up, it probably didn't take long to drain it. Just a thought or two.

Posted by: Lincolnpimpin

Ya thats what would be my guess is the alterntor.

Posted by: 2k2ls

same thing happened to me.....alternator.

Posted by: 2001LS8Sport

Throw a charge on the battery, and check the voltage to the battery with the engine running just above idle and everything shut off. It should be somewhere around 14 volts. Then start turning things back on. With just the factory items on, it should still be charging close to 14 volts just above idle. If the voltage dramatically drops when you turn all your stereo equipment on, you don't have an electrical system that will handle the requirements you need and an upgrade is necessary.

You need to remember this is a "quick check" of the alternator. A true test would check volts AND amps...which is what I would recommend having done.

Posted by: V-8

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2001LS8Sport

Throw a charge on the battery, and check the voltage to the battery with the engine running just above idle and everything shut off. It should be somewhere around 14 volts. Then start turning things back on. With just the factory items on, it should still be charging close to 14 volts just above idle. If the voltage dramatically drops when you turn all your stereo equipment on, you don't have an electrical system that will handle the requirements you need and an upgrade is necessary.

You need to remember this is a "quick check" of the alternator. A true test would check volts AND amps...which is what I would recommend having done.

That sounds fine. But i cant do any tests NOW, the car is 30 miles away, and i have no way of getting to it!!!

I have had the same system in my past 3 cars, not ONE problem. So i doubt its requiring too much power.

I called the L/M dealer today, they havent had a chance to look at it, but they suspect the alternator as well. They had to push it into the garage, it was completly DEAD!

Posted by: doncorleone77

It's your alternator. My LS did the same thing for months & it drove me crazy, I tried everything & finally I had my alternator rebuilt & haven't had any problems with my car since then.

Posted by: V-8

well the dealer called me. It was indeed the alternator. It was completly dead.

Posted by: lsbit

Quote:

Originally Posted by DLS8K

It is a job you could do yourself in less than it takes to drink a couple beers.

WOW. Are you sure?

Posted by: DLS8K

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsbit

WOW. Are you sure?

Well, you know, depending on the size..........