Trouble Starting

[jc74]

Hi there,

I am new to this and "just a girl" so I just want simple info that might help me figure out if there is any advice for my car not starting. Its a GS430, 2001 model. We've had it for almost 3 years. It started acting like the battery was dead and after recharging we eventually got a new one. My hubby had it checked out at the dealership and I assume they looked into all the other possibilities - alternator, starter, etc...

So after having the new battery for awhile (and now he's off doing military duty for a year) it has started doing the same thing of dying...or maybe its not the battery?? My dad recharged it a couple times. Eventually it starts acting like its about to die again..

It starts out like it is having a hard time starting but eventually starts...the next day it will just turn over and over but never start, the next day it will just go "click click click" and the next day it won't start at all. Yesterday my sister jumped it for me and after that I had no trouble starting it 3 more times after having driven it around doing errands. Also this morning it started just fine.

I'm wondering if 1) since I mainly just drive it around town to do errands or drop off my preschooler if its not getting enough miles to really recharge? Hubby says that doesn't make sense and shouldn't be the problem...dad says it could be. Or my new theory is 2) do I need to just insert the key, wait for the steering wheel to come into its place and THEN start? I did that all day yesterday and today and it started fine. This may sound like some dumb girly theory but I don't know?? the manual doesn't say anything like that but maybe they're assuming I'd know to do something like that. Most of the time I just stick the key in and start it and not wait for the steering wheel to get positioned. Does that make a difference?

I also took it to get an oil change at a Toyota dealership about a month ago and so they checked the battery, and I figured all the other options too, and didn't find anything.

Anyone have any advice besides "take it to the mechanic"? Obviously I am headed that way but if there are any little nuances that you all know about or think could be the prob that I could tell the mechanic...that would be great!

Thanks!!

[TurboGS300]

Hi there,

I am new to this and "just a girl" so I just want simple info that might help me figure out if there is any advice for my car not starting.

←

Sounds like it could be a loose or corroded battery cable or connection! <_< Enough of this boring automotive talk and let's get to the fun stuff.

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes

I'm exposed

And it's no big surprise

Don't you think I know

Exactly where I stand

This world is forcing me

To hold your hand

'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me

Don't let me out of your sight

I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite

So don't let me have any rights

Oh...I've had it up to here!

The moment that I step outside

So many reasons

For me to run and hide

I can't do the little things I hold so dear

'Cause it's all those little things

That I fear

'Cause I'm just a girl I'd rather not be

'Cause they won't let me drive

Late at night I'm just a girl,

Guess I'm some kind of freak

'Cause they all sit and stare

With their eyes

I'm just a girl,

Take a good look at me

Just your typical prototype

Oh...I've had it up to here!

Oh...am I making myself clear?

I'm just a girl

I'm just a girl in the world...

That's all that you'll let me be!

I'm just a girl, living in captivity

Your rule of thumb

Makes me worry some

I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?

What I've succumbed to Is making me numb

I'm just a girl, my apologies

What I've become is so burdensome

I'm just a girl, lucky me

Twiddle-dum there's no comparison

Oh...I've had it up to!

Oh...I've had it up to!!

Oh...I've had it up to here!

Yes I despise that dork gwen stefani and that's as simple as it gets :chairshot:

[jc74]

So, good news is that the only problem was the positive cable attachment was not the right size - it was just a smidge loose and too thin of metal. Not loose as in "needs to be tightened" but actually too big just a tiny bit. I'm surprised Lexus and Toyota never caught that. My dad saw it the day before I took it in and then after they tested everything they saw that too and were able to fully charge the battery and voila, all better. And only $59 spent. PHEW!!

Thanks for getting that song stuck in my head! :cries:

[SKperformance]

Good to hear.

It is not that out of tune to wait for the wheel to finish moving as it is a high power motor set.

I also wait for mine to finish moving or my SRS light stays on.

[jc74]

What is the SRS light?

Turns out that was not the problem, my car was dead again Friday night. The shop tech guy looking at it said he had a '95 Lexus and it had an intermittent problem of the dome light staying on even with the door shut. So he said that it must be something like that that's draining the battery and now its' a matter of catching what that is.

Any ideas? (which is why i ask what is the SRS light?)

Thanks!

[TurboGS300]

What is the SRS light?

Turns out that was not the problem, my car was dead again Friday night. The shop tech guy looking at it said he had a '95 Lexus and it had an intermittent problem of the dome light staying on even with the door shut. So he said that it must be something like that that's draining the battery and now its' a matter of catching what that is.

Any ideas? (which is why i ask what is the SRS light?)

Thanks!

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Supplemental Restraint System aka airbags and that's not your mother in law! Did you check both cables for looseness, geek! Also if the dome light was staying on it should be somewhat obvious, as the car would be lit up. <_< Maybe trunk light or under hood light, if it has one.

[jc74]

Okay well the car has been back in the shop for two full days now, going on a third tomorrow, and NOTHING has been found. GRRR i'm so frustrated.

So still no ideas??? Is it common for these cars to need a new battery every 1 1/2 years or so? that seems awfully frequent.

[jc74]

Okay we know the problem now!!! If anyone has a GS430 and having similar problems, here is the answer! (Which I was hoping to find myself when I came here!!)

After 3 days sitting in the mechanics shop never "acting up" for them, I finally made a communication breakthrough with him. I didn't know why it was acting up for me when they came to pick up the car (for the 2nd time) and then they proceeded to take it to the shop and CHARGE THE BATTERY AGAIN!! Then sit there and wait for it to act up again!! I told him over and over it will start slowly, then each time (after DRIVING IT) and starting again it would start slower and slower 'til eventually it would just "click click click"

So after my dad already went round and round and I also thought I had explained the symptoms clearly, and 3 full days sitting in their shop, I got through to him that it needs to be DRIVEN in order for the battery to run down. Here he was sitting there waiting for some intermittent thing to happen in between driving it, to draw down the battery. I said NOOOOOOOO it has to be driven, of course its not going ot act up with a full battery just sitting there with their testers on it.

Ahhhhh so finally. he took it home overnight and sure enough it cranked slower nad slower 'til it died on him in the morning. Oh NOW they see it is the alternator after all!!! their static testing would have never shown it to be hte alternator since it is too sophisticated and wily I guess. So they went to get a new alternator and that one is on backorder with Lexus, so they found one in NY which should be here Monday (tomorrow) and finally get my car back and working after a week in their shop, plus in their the week before. 3 weekends in a row carless.

LExus would have never found this problem either since htey do their testing the same way. we had already taken it to them over a year ago with the same prob but ended up with a new battery. well that only bought us time. this was pre owned as well so I bet the new owner had traded it in for hte same mysterious problem.

WELL ITS NOT MYSTERIOUS ANYMORE!!! I hope anyone running into the same issues finds this nad can tell their mechanic that is IS the alternator!!