Es300 Starting Issues And Gas Smell

[montytx]

Hi Everyone,

First timer on here with a problem.

When I am starting the car acts like the battery is dead or dying. It will do this 3-4 times then the several cranks later it will crank away and start the engine. I have installed a new battery and new alternator to eliminate those issues. I am thinking the starter might have an issue but that doesn't explain why it will die sometimes during a crank cycle as if the battery is dead then the next attempt cranks up fine.

I have also tested the battery and it is fine. I jumped a wire from the pos terminal to the selonoid and the starter cranked fine. I have checked the voltage coming from the ignition and it tested fine. They only thing I can think of is the relay. I dont really see a way to test them.

I am also getting a lot of gas smell during the start up and the first minute of idle.

[blk_on_blk]

Hey Montytx, welcome to the board!

Have you checked your ground wire from the battery? Corrosion in the wire or at the contact can create odd starting behavior. Once way to ensure a good ground is to go to your local parts store, buy a new ground cable, run it in addition to your factory ground cable, and run it to some peripheral bolt on the engine. That will ensure you have a good ground and at least rule that out.

As to your gas smell, you might want to give your IACV a good cleaning. It's amazing how many problems are caused, and go away, by cleaning this troublesome little valve. There are many DIY threads on this topic on here (I even wrote one with some pictures).

If that new ground cable doesn't remedy the issue, be sure to post back.

[CUMan]

I had a very similar experience with our 94 ES about a year ago. I replaced the battery (it had one weak cell) and the starter relay, but the problem continued. We would have to turn the key on and off as many as five or six times to get the car to start. Several times, it seemed to crank, but it would shake really bad. The shaking was very similar to the "dieseling" thing that a lot of cars did back in the 70's and 80's. When this shaking occurred, it was usually accompanied by the gasoline smell.

Replacing the starter solved the problem. It would possibly have been solved by just replacing the starter solenoid; but the car had about 150,000 miles on it at that time, so it seemed to me that replacing the entire starter was a better long term solution.

Unlike some Lexus models, the starter on the ES is easily accessible, and it is fairly inexpensive.