Just drove 4 hours with my dad to pick up a 03 Lexus es300 . Drove perfect during test drive, started just fine. Got it home, tried to give a test drive soon after, and now it won't start.
Not a battery issue. Starter is spinning I believe, but that's about it. Is there anything common with these that might be effected after the 2 hours of driving?
Please post video of attempt to start. Hard to determine the meaning of “starter is spinning I believe”
In reply to AngryCorvair :
Good point. I'll get one soon. Thank you
Was the car driven home or trailered home?
If driven, was it all daytime driving? If the alternator is bad and you have headlights on it might not make it home but if the driving was daytime the car may run until you try to start it again.
The battery in the Lexus could be so drained that it is hampering jump starting. Take the battery connectors off the Lexus battery and try jumping with just the clamps hooked to the Lexus connectors which then means the Lexus will only be running off the other car's battery.
Car was driven home, all day time driving. no headlights.
I think you might be on to something with the alternator/battery. When I try to start it, the instrument lights go off. Tried leaving a charger on for awhile, plus the jump pack, but no difference.
The battery in the Lexus could be so drained that it is hampering jump starting. Take the battery connectors off the Lexus battery and try jumping with just the clamps hooked to the Lexus connectors which then means the Lexus will only be running off the other car's battery.
Or clamp the Lexus cables right to the jump pack by passing the Lexus battery which will have the car running on jump pack only.
Trying that next time I go out. Thanks
Edit: tried connecting straight to jump pack, and same thing.
Is it a serious jump pack or just some Walmart Brand? It may not be enough. A jump pack intends to get something out of the existing battery too.
Turns out it was starter. But alas, the problems aren't over.
After replacing the starter, it idled perfect. After sitting for a few minutes idling, it now won't start unless you give it gas. It's idling so low that it just kills itself. Why would it run worse after running fine?
When the battery goes completely flat it loses its adaptive tune. I had an ls400 that did that - after the battery died it would die when stopping at traffic lights. Drove it around for a bit and it straightened it out. No further problems for years after that.
ES 300, so its still got a idle air control. It's the squarish passage in the throttle body.
This engine uses a little magnetic drive idle air control valve. When the valve get a little sticky, the mag drive motor doesn't have the ability to move it. Disconnecting the battery when servicing the starter makes the IAC motor drive itself to a factory programed setting it hasn't used in a long time. This is occurred because the the computers learned values has been reset. This previously unused position in the IAC valve is inevitably carbon coated. Now the valve is stuck.
As part of this fix, while you're in there, clean the throttle body. It will help throttle response and is good general maintenance.
Fear not, the fix isn't hard, or expensive.
Take the intake boot off, and out of the way. Below the throttle body you'll see a rectangleish black motor with two screws. Remove the motor, do not loose the small gasket! The screws are tight, don't strip them. Might recommend you break them free with needle nose voice grips.
Once the motor is off, you should now see the brass colored idle air valve drive pin sticking out.
Now, to clean the IAC, You'll need to do this while it's running. Engine won't like to run with the MAF plugged in with the intake off....but, if you unplug the MAF and cycle the key a couple times it will set a maf code, and run on a base tune well enough to get under the hood and manipulate the idle valve and throttle to keep it running while cleaning it.
Locate the idle air port inside the throttle body on the bottom of the throttle bore. Its squarish and before the throttle plate. With engine running, Spray cleaner in pulses, while manipulating the IAC valve in both limits of travel. It should only turn 1/2 to one revolution. You'll be able to keep the engine running easily by moving the valve. You'll feel the stickiness at the limit each way. It will only be slightly sticky by hand..... But remember, the little motor doesnt have much twist, so it doesnt take much.
Don't spray so much or long that you get the cats too hot. You'll be able to tell by smell or visually if they really start to overheat.
Shut it down, disconnect battery and reassemble. By the time you get everything back together you should be able to reconnect battery and it will have cleared all the codes.
Wow - that advice is definitely worth more than you paid for it.
Thank you so much for the help. I searched Lexus specific forums, and found nothing helpful. I love this forum.
Drove it for 20 minutes, and was still cutting out. I'll try the patented TGMF solution tomorrow.
Awesome advice! Hope it works for you.
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