Hi Everybody Im New And I Need Help

[LadyLex]

Hi Every body I am new to this site and It's great that I found it.

I own a 1996 es300 and I am having a problem, I hope someone can help.

here goes:

2 weeks ago Im at the gas station I shut the door, pump the gas and open the door back up the alarm goes off (first time in a year) so I shut the door lock it with the key and open it back up the alarm goes off I start up and keep it moving. Now over the past 2 weeks my car is doing strange things. Like the security light is blinking really dim, sometimes I try to start the car up up and everything lights up and then I turn the key to start the car and NOTHING it doesn"t start it goes dead as if there is a battery problem, so I get out lock the door, unlock it and try again, nothing happens at this point I turn the key in the door to unlock again and then it starts. It has now come down to me not locking my driver door at all for fear of the car not starting.

Do you think it is the battery or the factory alarm????

Ps

for the past few months a lil light comes on the dash board with a picture of a little orange car with lil lines coming from the back of the car I can't find my owners manuel and this has me stumped it firgures every time I take it to the dealer it's not on the dash board and they are looking at me like Im crazy, any suggestions????? Im thinking maybe a small light is out and I can't find it......

[Steve]

Hi Lady Lex.. Welcome to Lexus OC

The picture of the orange car usually means there is a fault with the lights.. ie bulb has gone etc.

Now with the problems you have I am wondering if it is a earthing problem you have.

One way to see is to start the car.. then press the brake pedal and ask someone to see if the brake lights are working correctly. If all the other rear lights come on with the brake lights then it sounds like an earthing problem. (ie. indicators and reversing lights)

If the brake lights are normal then I am not sure what the problem is.. but my suggestion is worth a try... this way you can sometime diagnose it.

Good Luck! :)

[Rodders]

You might wnt to try resetting the electronics (there's computers and stuff in there! :D ) - disconnect the battery for a few minutes

remember to take a note of your radio code if you have one!!

[zeta]

now that's a wierd predicament...

the orange light steve covered.

but i would have to say the dim security light would be battery problem. and it may also be resetting your factory alarm, so it goes off without warning. this would also cause your car not to start. try and see if you can find a place that'll test your battery for you and check how much juice you have in there. if the battery isn't getting charged, it could be the alternator.

[AWJ]

Welcome to the club! These guys are hott! With TWO T's. ;)

[Lexus_Rex]

moved from: General Discussion

[zeta]

thanks, man... i didn't get to that yet... just resolved as mod. :D

[LadyLex]

sorry I haven't posted an update but it was a battery problem thank goodness the problem is resolved....

Thanks for all of your help

[zeta]

that's good to hear. at least it wasn't anything more. a battery can be replaced pretty inexpensively... good thing it wasn't anythin' mechanical. :)

[howie]

I'm curious, If the battery was bad how the heck did the starter turn it over?

[SKperformance]

the actual root of the problem may have been the alternator not keeping the battery at proper voltage

works ok sometimes but if it is left at idle it doesn't keep up the voltage 14.4 it DROPS TO 11.3

[zeta]

lol at least it wasn't something stupid like what i did. my corner lights (first flip on the light switch) were on, so it usually turns off when i open my door. yeah well it decided not to this time, so my battery went down to like 0 voltage. it took a 5 minute boost charge from my mom's RX to get it to even start up. pretty sad. but i got a new battery, because i didn't trust my old battery after already falling down to no voltage. better safe than sorry.