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1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues


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hombre
New User

Oct 6, 2009, 10:05 AM

Post #1 of 6 (5544 views)
1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues Sign In

1994 Lexus ES300, 3.0L engine, 187k miles

The last 3 mornings, my Lexus has been very slow to start. Turn the ignition, nothing happens- no clicking noises, just silence. Dash lights work. This will happen for first 3 or 4 attempts. Then car will start up normally.

I live in Los Angeles, so it hasn't been particularly cold in the mornings.

Throughout the rest of the day, the car will start quickly and normally.

Took it to a Pep Boys this AM, they ran a check on the battery and said the battery is fine, fully charged. Also terminals look clean, no buildup, still have plenty of protective grease. They said cables/connections look ok, but did only a cursory inspection from what I could tell. Rep told me he "thinks" it's the starter, but couldn't be sure. I asked him if it's the starter, why I only have the problem first thing in the AM, and the rest of the day it cranks/starts fine. He didn't really have an answer.

He quoted me $285 to install a new starter. The thing is, I dont' want to throw down $300ish if he can't tell me that it's really the issue... is there a better way to isolate the problem? Thanks in advance for your help.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 6, 2009, 11:17 AM

Post #2 of 6 (5537 views)
Re: 1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues Sign In

Sure, you can isolate the problem but it's going to require troubleshooting the circuit while the problem is present.
It could be a starter, could be the ignition switch, could be the neutral switch, could be a relay or any wiring connections in between.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hombre
New User

Oct 6, 2009, 12:25 PM

Post #3 of 6 (5534 views)
Re: 1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues Sign In

Thanks for the reply.

Any idea why it would only be occuring first thing in the AM? The car is parked outside but as I said I'm in LA and it's still 60+ degrees at night, so I can't imagine that would be a factor. But would the fact that the car has been inactive for 12+ hrs when I start it up in the AM have anything to do with it? I usually need to start it 4-5 times throughout the day, it has been starting right up with no problems.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 6, 2009, 12:41 PM

Post #4 of 6 (5530 views)
Re: 1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues Sign In

It's just a contact issue somewhere that weathers from sitting. It really doesn't matter when. It doesn't change how it is approached.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



hombre
New User

Oct 6, 2009, 1:25 PM

Post #5 of 6 (5525 views)
Re: 1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues Sign In

But if I can only check the circuit "while the problem is present," then basically you're saying I have to wait around until the car won't start at all, then get it towed to a garage and checked out? I don't like thinking that everytime I drive the car I could get stranded someplace.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 6, 2009, 1:28 PM

Post #6 of 6 (5522 views)
Re: 1994 Lexus ES300 starting issues Sign In

You may not like the situation but those are the cards you were dealt. You can just start throwing parts at it but that will get very expensive, very fast.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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