mdenman

Sorry if this is discussed before. My 1999 with 107k beginning to have starting problem on a daily basis vs once every couple of weeks a few months ago. This is the current situation for past 2 weeks.

1) During 1st startup after overnight (>90% of the time) or after the weekend (100% of the time), when you turn on the ignition, instruments panel light up normally but engine won't start. Sometime I hear a click sound and sometime no click sound.

2) Switch off ignition and try again. It usually works on 2nd or 3rd try but sometimes 4th. So far the car will start after multiple tries. Strange thing is I notice if you hold the ignition longer like 2-3 seconds vs the normal 1 or less second, the engine will start turning and starts.

3) This problem does not happen after you drive for like 10+ mins i.e. car is warmed up. I can start multiple times on 1 turn and not holding whenever I test it.

I have a 2nd new battery installed about 6m ago after 1st new one died in 12m due to some defective cell. Both from Lexus. When I was in Lexus for 105k service last month, they cannot reproduce this problem (at that time it happens once every 1 or 2 weeks). Battery terminals are tight. Did not hit the box behind the positive terminal like the other poster.

I would like some opinion before paying Lexus $1k to change out the starter or search for a Toyota independent shop. I noticed other threads point to possible fuelline problems.

Thanks.

I think you have a bad set on contacts on your starter, you can pick them up for less than 30.00 at you friendly toyota dealer (same as land cruiser) taking the starter out is about a 3-4 hr job complete and i would suggest any competent mechanic can do, it if not yourself. There are plenty of instructions with pictures on the internet. 1k is absolutely ridiculous.