My Lexus LS 430 will not start, please advise..

[MotorMan]

Hi All,

I've had my first ever Lexus for about 5 months now and I love this car. 

I drove the car fine into a retail store and came back 10 mins later, unlocked the car, but when I tried to start with the key fob, there was no response, no cranking, no lights, just dead. It's obviously not a flat Battery as the car was driving fine 10 mins ago. The guy from the AA came over and checked the Battery (which was fine). He then used some cable to start the car from one of that Battery terminals. He said that there may be an issue with the ECU as he had just "skipped" the ECU to start the car. Advised to take it to the garage, which I will do.

 

Have any of the members here had a similar incident? any ideas what it could be and is this a common issue the Lexus LS 430? any advise and comments would be appreciated.. Thank you.

[cruisermark]

Its very rare for an LS to breakdown in this manner

I would advise having a look at the Battery connections, earths and electrical connections to the starter motor.

I would also get the Battery checked again - its not unusual for a weak Battery to suddenly give up like this.

I reckon it would be a simple fault to find and fix.

 

[MotorMan]

1 minute ago, cruisermark said:

Its very rare for an LS to breakdown in this manner

I would advise having a look at the battery connections, earths and electrical connections to the starter motor.

I would also get the battery checked again - its not unusual for a weak battery to suddenly give up like this.

I reckon it would be a simple fault to find and fix.

 

Thank you for replying, Yes, its very unusual for a Lexus to breakdown in this manner. I sincerely hope that it is something minor and my mechanic would check everything out including the starter motor. I will also check out the Battery connections myself as well.

[Spacewagon52]

1 hour ago, cruisermark said:

Its very rare for an LS to breakdown in this manner

I would advise having a look at the battery connections, earths and electrical connections to the starter motor.

I would also get the battery checked again - its not unusual for a weak battery to suddenly give up like this.

I reckon it would be a simple fault to find and fix.

 

I would second this. It has always been the Battery when this has happened to me. Interestingly you get no warning that it is getting flat.

[Herbie]

3 hours ago, MotorMan said:

He said that there may be an issue with the ECU as he had just "skipped" the ECU to start the car.

Hmm... maybe this guy was a snake oil salesman in his last incarnation.

[BigBoomer]

Sounds to me like it could be a problem with the relay/solenoid that the ECU uses to energise the starter motor. The AA guy probably ran a heavy cable from the Battery positive to the starter bypassing the solenoid, not the ECU.

[m4rkw]

13 minutes ago, BigBoomer said:

Sounds to me like it could be a problem with the relay/solenoid that the ECU uses to energise the starter motor. The AA guy probably ran a heavy cable from the battery positive to the starter bypassing the solenoid, not the ECU.

Yeah I don't think the car would run at all if the ECU was dead. How do the Battery terminals look? Could be as simple as needing to clean them.

[MotorMan]

5 hours ago, Herbie said:

Hmm... maybe this guy was a snake oil salesman in his last incarnation.

lol..those were his words. He said "I just skipped the ecu to start your car" whereupon I said "ok"....

[MotorMan]

2 hours ago, BigBoomer said:

Sounds to me like it could be a problem with the relay/solenoid that the ECU uses to energise the starter motor. The AA guy probably ran a heavy cable from the battery positive to the starter bypassing the solenoid, not the ECU.

Yes, that may be case, I will tell my mechanic about this possibility. The AA guy did run the cable, He did say that this method that he used doesn't always work.

[MotorMan]

2 hours ago, m4rkw said:

Yeah I don't think the car would run at all if the ECU was dead. How do the battery terminals look? Could be as simple as needing to clean them.

The Battery terminals look fine, but I'll clean them anyway, no harm in cleaning them...

[MotorMan]

I just want to say thank you for all the replies. They have helped mr in looking at the various possibilities that may be cause of the car breakdown. Thank you guys, really appreciate it!

[Mr Vlad]

I'd get the alternator checked. It may not be charging the Battery and the Battery itself might be on its last legs.