jdog0411

I had my 1990 Lexus shipped from the East Coast to Aurora, CO and it just arrived in town today. I called up the shipper to arrange pickup and they told me they were not able to start it. It was running fine when I dropped it off on Friday, I drove it to the drop off point.

Before I go over there, is there anything obvious that would cause this? Does the alarm disable the starter or anything if the car is shipped, towed, etc? (like a motion sensor or something) I've only owned the car for about a month or so and have had no problems with it until now. Could just need a jump start or something, but wanted to pose the question.

Thanks.

steve2006

I wonder if the carrier disconnected the battery while it was being transported?
Until you see the car and check what's working it's difficult so say what has happened,if it's completely dead check the battery 1st.

jdog0411

that's what I'm thinking...I'll get over there and check it out. I would think that if they disconnected the battery the receiving yard would know to hook it back up, but who knows.

trukn1

Most carsare not shipped with their battery disconnected. Takes too much time during the unload process to hook thebatteries up on the entire load. If they set the factory alarm off, if will eventually go silent by itself, however it does activate the starter disable and they will not be able to start the car until the alarm has been reset. Even if they have they key, turn the ignition, everything will light up however it will not crank until the alarm has been reset. They need to put the key in the door and turn to the unlock position once or twice and that will reset the factory alarm. From there, if that is the case, everything should be good. Provided they did not leave your lights on or something and killed the battery.

dashan

Is it possible that the gas in the tank was drained empty? $4.4 a gallon.

jdog0411

Update: It was just a loose battery terminal. I had disconnected the battery to switch out my steering wheel a couple of weeks ago, and apparently it wasn't tight enough when I re-connected it. It must have came loose during transit. I tightened it up and she started right up. False alarm...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I love this car

deanshark

Good to hear you got it running. They should have known it was the battery just by what it did when they tried to crank it, or they should have atleast looked at it. For future reference, what trukn1 said about unlocking the door a couple times with the key is right, but on my 93 I need to do that in the passenger door. I don't know if the 90 is different or maybe just mine doesn't work right in the drivers door.

jdog0411

Ok, thanks deanshark....good to know for future reference. And they didn't even touch the car at all until I got there, so they didn't have any idea what it could be. It just had an "inop" tag in the windshield from the driver. When I opened the door the dome light didn't turn on, no power locks, etc. so I knew it was a battery issue. Glad it worked out too.

trukn1

Glad that you got the problem fixed. Seemed kinda obvious since you said that NO lights came on at all when the door was opened period.

Dean,,,,the procedure I mentioned SHOULD work in either door. My 92 is the same way tho, sometimes it will work, sometimes it will not and I have to do it from the passenger side door as well. Figure that the driver side is just worn out after all these years.