Maintenance Discuss common Lexus maintenance questions here.

Car won't start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-21-06, 08:47 PM
  #1  
carrionl
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
carrionl's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Car won't start

I took the car (2001 IS300) to a local Valvoline place for an oil change. The girl doing the job got oil all over the engine compartment so she decided that she had to do a "flush". She sprayed the engine compartment with some blue liquid and then hosed it down. I drove the car back home. But this morning the car would not start. The starter and engine turn, but the engine will not start. Any help will be appreciated.
Old 05-21-06, 09:29 PM
  #2  
meZoom!
Super Moderator
 
meZoom!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: California
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

My guesses are:

1. Water/Oil/Blue Stuff choking somewhere on the intake side, where the engine needs to breathe
2. The pressure from cleaning the stuff off was too strong and moved/tore something delicate....ignition wire, electrical....something

For #1, start taking apart some of the easier intake piping and see if any moisture residue is in there....especially closer to the plenum. I'd doubt it would really get in there unless she REALLY cleaned the living daylights out of it.

If the engine is cranking but not turning on, I'd keep cranking for several seconds and see if it sputters on eventually. Might take many tries though.

BTW I'm guessing the blue stuff is degreaser.
Old 05-22-06, 12:14 AM
  #3  
PERRYinLA
Racer
 
PERRYinLA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,964
Received 13 Likes on 12 Posts
Default ..and if it still won't start.....

Those quick-lube places hate to accept liability for anything once you drive the car off their property, but this may be a less disputable case of cause-and-effect.

Give the shop manager a call or visit (preferably when the perp is on duty, too) and see if they'll accept some responsibility and help you out. All general complaint-submission rules apply.

It's a long shot, but worth a try if nothing else is working.
Old 05-22-06, 07:50 AM
  #4  
Pearlpower
Lexus Fanatic

iTrader: (2)
 
Pearlpower's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: California
Posts: 7,075
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

I would first start by cleaning out all electrical connections with compressed air after disconnecting them. Disconnect the battery first.
Also the I6 on these cars are prone to getting water in the spark plug holes and grounding out the plugs. Removing the plugs and cleaning the water out will cure this if this is part of your problem.
I ran into the same thing in my SC300 after washing the engine until I started to cover all connections with bags and placed towels over the plugs. Never an issue again.
Lee
Old 05-22-06, 12:14 PM
  #5  
sonyman
Lexus Test Driver
 
sonyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: International
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

I personally wouldn't do anything until I had called the store to complain.

Scott
Old 05-22-06, 01:55 PM
  #6  
Dx3
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Dx3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Posts: 10,681
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Don't ever bring your car to these morons. You can get an oil change for basically the same price at a Toyota dealership.

I would call them and raise hell.

Jonny
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bluecraigy
Hybrid Technology
4
04-05-19 04:04 PM
peterls
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
3
01-26-16 01:20 PM
Brabusx2
GS - 3rd Gen (2006-2011)
0
10-30-15 03:35 PM
xion0374
RX - 1st Gen (1999-2003)
10
07-22-15 09:21 AM
carrionl
Performance
1
05-22-06 12:00 AM



Quick Reply: Car won't start



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:00 PM.