Starter Motor Relay?

DamianT · May 8, 2009

Hi all,

When my father in law thrust the keys to the now my LS400 in my hand, he said that the problem it had for not starting was the MAF.

However, when I try and start it, the starter motor 'werrs' for about 3 seconds then stops. My first thought was starter motor, my mechanic suggested the starter motor relay. My questions are, if I have a faulty starter motor relay, what would the symptoms be, and how would the MAF effect the starting?

Ta...

Damian

ROYT · May 8, 2009

If the Battery is good and it does'nt crank the engine over, sounds like a duff starter to me.

wildybeast · May 8, 2009

if you have a faulty relay then the symptoms are possibly as you describe.the maf shouldnt stop the engine from turning over.small wire to the starter should be constantly live when key in start mode.or at least more than a few seconds. disconnect it and check its live constantly.also you could run a +wire (fused)from Battery to the starter to see if it will turn over for a short while.then you can eliminate the starter and try the relay.

steve2006 · May 9, 2009

if you have a faulty relay then the symptoms are possibly as you describe.the maf shouldnt stop the engine from turning over.small wire to the starter should be constantly live when key in start mode.or at least more than a few seconds. disconnect it and check its live constantly.also you could run a +wire (fused)from battery to the starter to see if it will turn over for a short while.then you can eliminate the starter and try the relay.

Good in theory but have you seen the location of the starter on the LS400 under the intake manifold between the V.

When the starters normally go you get the click click but no action, my money is on a duff starter.

Have aread of this article on testing the starter on the car.

http://www.lextreme.com/dx-starter.html

DamianT · May 13, 2009

Even though it's a '93 model, do you think that as the engine warning light has appeared, one reason for the difficulty in starting could be a 'fail-safe' thing?

Just a thought,

Ta...

steve2006 · May 13, 2009

Even though it's a '93 model, do you think that as the engine warning light has appeared, one reason for the difficulty in starting could be a 'fail-safe' thing?
Just a thought,

Ta...

Arr the engine management light is now on this alters things a bit, first I would "pull" the codes to see what they say then go from there.

It could be a duff crank angle sensor but get the codes first.

Proceedure link below.

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/intro/codereading.html