Recent Feedback
my 2005 scion xb battery light came on, then the VSC, check engine and trac off light came on. I drove 7 miles home at 35-40 mph, and plan to have it towed to a mechanic in the morning. what could be wrong with it? it has about 150K miles on it; transmission replaced in december.
Country: United StatesMake: ScionModel: xBYear: 2005 Already Tried: Nothing yet - similar problem a couple of years ago, but don't remember what we had done. this time, the battery light just came on, and then a minute or two later, the vsc light, check engine, and trac off came on. no discernible change in driveability.
Hello. Welcome to Just Answer. Please allow me to assist you by discussing your request in detail. Thanks
I don't see a response ??
Hi. I was waiting for you to come online.
Was any type of work done on the car right before this happened?
The last work I had done on the car was in December, when I had the transmission replaced. I had a similar problem back in December 2010.
Thank you.
Actually, after the transmission was replaced, it appeared the mechanic missed fixing a sensor or something like that, and when I was driving the car home, the lights came on then as well.
More often than not, when the battery light comes on, that indicates an issue with the voltage output from the alternator.
The car has been very noisy; the muffler was tweaked by the transmission mechanic and it doesn't sit right.
So does it sound like it could be an issue with the alternator?
Tha other lights coming on are most likely by-products of the reason the battery light is on.
it sounds like you have an internal issue with the alternator.
I turned off the car, waited a minute, and then turned the key on - the engine came on.
My husband is afraid that because I drove it 7 miles after the lights coming on, that I could have irreparably damaged the engine (!).... but you are saying this doesn't sound like an engine issue?
There may be enough voltage in the battery to start the car.
however, the computer and related electrical devices require a specific amount of voltage present; 13.8 to 14.4 volts DC to be exact.
No
I doubt the engine is damaged.
Do you think it would damage anything to drive it to the mechanic 10 miles away, or should I have it towed?
I think you have a bad alternator, a loose alternator belt, a loose wire; something that is not allowing the alternator to properly do its job
Is an alternator belt something that is generally expensive to replace or repair? I have had some belt squealing recently, even thought I *thought* I had all the belts replaced (perhaps back in 2010).
If the alternator is bad, and not producing enough voltage, note that the car will shut off once the voltage in the system drops below 10.5 volts DC
I'd have it towed.
OK, I will do that. Cars are such pains ;-).
The belt is not an expensive repair, not at all.
sorry...
Nothing to be sorry about; this car serves me well. I bought it new in 2005, and I have 150,000 miles on it. I just hate that it's getting old and needs repairs more often.
Squealing? Perhaps your belt is the issue. Maybe.
150 K? Nice.
Is an alternator for this model pricey? Yeah, I'm hoping the belt is the issue, for sure
I'm a real estate appraiser, and for a while I was driving 200+ miles a day.
They are pretty decent cars; but, you can start to expect to begin to have to do some monetary investment in it.
The alternator, if my memory serves me correctly, is about 350 dollars. Not 100% sure; I do not have my parts book here
I am not a little girl; my husband is 6'8", and we have three kids between 11 and 22, and it fits us :-).
Cool
Here is what I recommend:
$350 is reasonable, if that's what it ends up being (in that neighborhood, anyway)
get the car towed in
Have the belts checked
have the alternator output voltage and amperage checked
Hook a scan tool up to the car and have the 'codes' read (this will tell you whay the other lights are on)
350 + labour and any applicable state taxes
that would be significantly better than the scenarios I've been building up in my head! LOL
Agreed
I would doubt that there are any internal engine issues going on here.
Do you have any other questions for me today?
Thank you very much for your time! I appreciate the assistance; I feel much better :-).
You are very welcome!
Thank you for choosing Just Answer for assistance today. It was a pleasure to provide you my input on your question. I hope that my assistance will prove to be very useful to you.
If so, please choose to Accept my assistance via clicking on the Accept button on your screen.
Positive Feedback and/or a Bonus would be greatly appreciated.
Experience: 30+ Yrs of auto experience, Award Winning Svc. Manager; Just Answer Customer's Choice Award Winner