harrylime

It may be unrelated but I have starting issues with mine and strange behaviour with vsc lights etc. the consensus on here seems to be that the LS is very sensitive to voltage drops / battery condition. As it has just turned a fair bit colder where we are, no doubt the battery is suffering a bit

I also spoke too soon. Went out yesterday for another run of 20 miles or so. Would not start this morning. Just a click and then a whirring sound (solenoid?)I'm trying to avoid lexus labour rates. I've dropped off the battery at the lexus dealer and they have given me a new one, as it was under warranty. This is conditional on their testing the battery overnight. If it turns out to be OK, I have to return the new one. Quite trusting of them, I thought. If the battery is OK, I will ask a local auto electrician to check out the alternator. If that checks out, I'll get the starter contacts replaced. I've had a quote from a local Porsche specialist to do the starter at £160 labour instead of the £360 plus labour quoted by the main dealer. Bit more reasonable, I think. I thought about this garage because I assume that working on Porsches demands some care, attention to detail and cleanliness. Not happy with Lexus labour rates, which are just plain greedy. For 4 hours labour at Lexus I can get a skilled carpenter or electrician for over three days. Ridiculous

I have car batteries for other projects, over 8 years old, and no problems. The Morris Minor ignores it's battery when not left at night. This was the reason in the good old days, my dad used to run a cable out of the house to a parking light he hooked up to the window of the car. If had used his car battery, he would have had the same issue that we Lexus owners now have with the security systems working 24/7. Maybe a doberman would be a better bet, leave it in the LS overnight, disable all the electronics and see if anyone dares steal anything!!! I remember my Dad having a little white and red parking light hooked on his window. I'm pretty sure that ran off his battery. He also used to put a blanket over the engine overnight. One car was a Triumph Herald, and the other a Hillman Minx. I can still remember the registration number of his previously owned Ford Prefect VDV 539 and his Ford Zephyr Zodiac GPR 963. This is almost 50 years ago. I often can't remember where I left my car keys or what I had for dinner yesterday. Strange. I have also been fancying a Morris Minor lately for pottering about, but a standard one. getting hard to find a decent one without paying silly money. I had a Traveller once, full of character and loved the raspberry sound the engine made when changing gear.

Been out again for a 15 mile run, and it's running like a Swiss watch. I'm starting to regain confidence and belief that it really is just very sensitive to voltage drops. I have had the battery tested at an accessory shop = simple voltage check, but I intend to take it to a auto electrical shop for a proper check. I appreciate ll the feedback guys, I get very low when my car doesn't work properly. Still crossing fingers and everything else that the starter is fine.

I just checked the voltage with the engine running and it was 14.3 volts. Hopefully that means the alternator is OK. It could be a faulty battery cell, I will get it checked

It has started now half a dozen times without problems., went out today and drove it around the block. It seemed fine except for my dash lighting (indicator needles etc) going out for a few seconds. If it turns out to be the battery it will be a right result, because I had resigned myself to a new starter at close to £700

Brian Many thanks, you could be right. As I said I have had it charged, but perhaps she needs a good run. It will be a slightly nervous one, half expecting a starting problem or the car going into limp mode. we'll see.

looking at the colours, is it being used as a taxi?

I replaced the battery around 10 months ago, with one from a Lexus garage. When it failed to start (around a week without use), I charged it on trickle with my CTEK charger. It would only click but not start. It is now showing 12.3 volts. It will not help that I keep going out to try it to see if it starts. It has, around half a dozen times. What befuddles me is having two apparent faults at the same time. Failure to start, with just a click, and then the check engine and VSC lights coming on / with total lack of power (I was not aware of the limp home mode so did not try the gas pedal all the way down). At the moment it is starting every time, so not sure what to do. I had resigned myself to having the starter out, but that has disappeared for now. I have removed and cleaned every fuse in the main fuse box, as I recall someone else trying that.

posted the other day about my ls400 not starting. It appears to be the solenoid contacts or starter. Went out today just to see if it would start, it did. Decided to take it around the block just to keep it moving, while it was running. After a hundred yards or so dashboard lights came on- check engine and vsc off. At the same time I lost all throttle response. The engine was running at idle speed. I stopped and put it in Park and the engine started racing 1500 rpm or so. I stopped the engine and restarted it and nervously drove it the few hundred yards home, during which time it seemed fine. I got one of these instead of a Jag because of perceived reliability. I am starting to lose faith now and once I lose faith in a car, it's gone. It may be something simple- but has anyone experienced this before?

thanks Brian, appreciate it

thanks Colin

Can anyone please advise on how to remove the panel surrounding the ignition switch on my 99 ls 400? It must just clip on, but I don't want to use too much force

does anyone know how I can find the part number for a 1999 series 4 starter motor please?

good point- does anyone know how I can find the part number for a series 4 starter motor?

I just rang a Toyota dealer for a quote, they came in at the same price exactly

Hi Phil, I think ghat's my main worry. The sterile environment of the lexus showroom appeals to me, but they just quoted £360 plus vat in labour plus £200 plus vat for a reconditioned starter. He figures an hour at £90 plus vat to dismantle the starter, test it and change the contacts so a recon starter seems the way to go.

The problem is I don't have access to my garage and I'm totally tied up with a house renovation. I also cannot find a definitive guide to what is involved. I need step by step instructions generally. I will call Lexus Sheffield but I may also have a chat with my local small garage to see if he is comfortable with it. While this work is done, is it a good time to change the spark plugs as well?

whatever happens, I'll make sure I have a spanner handy for quick disconnection. I remembered this morning that there is one in the car toolkit, but yesterday I would have been furiously searching through the garage while the starter ran on. Shows how upset i get when my baby is not working

tried to go out yesterday, Lexus would not start. Tried it later it would start. Turned off, repeatedly failed to start. Everything lit up, but just a click when I turned the key further. i charged the battery for six hours on trickle (although it showed 12 volts plus), and is only ten months old, just to exclude the battery. It would not start. tried again and it did, then it would not. I'm sure you're getting the picture. The last time I tried, the starter churned , and kept turning, without the engine starting even though I had fully turned off the ignition. Thinking that something would self destruct if I did not stop it, I was about to run into the house to try and find a spanner, but wiggling the key finally turned it off. Has anyone experienced this, or have any idea what the likely problem is? I have had a Lancia which had countless electrical problems, but to get this on my Lexus is worrying and disappointing. I would appreciate any help or advice at all