shark13

Hello,

Lately I have been noticing that if I have my AC on while driving and then shut the car off, it won't start back up. It's only when I put the ignition in the "position" without starting up that I can turn the AC off and then the car starts up.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and possibly know what is going on.

Thanks,

salimshah

Search on IACV and clean it out (or have it cleaned out).

After that (if it does not make an impact), tell us the rpm with and without AC at idle after the engine has reached operating temp.

Salim

shark13

I don't think I was descriptive enough. What is actually happening is that when I go to start the car there is nothing. No starter engagement, no lights on the dashboard...nothing. My wife is actually the one who felt it was related to the AC but after driving it myself I don't believe that is the issue. It seems to be related to the steering wheel. Unless the wheel is in the perfect place (usually center) it will not even attempt to engage.

I have had a problem like this with my old F100 and had to replace a mechanism near my feet on the drivers side where a rod from the ignition was connected. I can't imagine that a 99 RX300 has a rod and I am at a loss how to deal with this issue.

Any ideas on what the problem is? How difficult would it be to fix myself?

gazi001

How old your battery?

salimshah

I think it is gnd problem. Was any work done in and around the dash?

Best option would be to go to the dealer. They will be expensive $$$/hr but they might be able to find the problem in less time ... because they would know where to look for gnd.

Salim

shark13

I am not sure how old the battery is. It is at least 3-4 years old I would say. When the steering wheel is in the correct position it starts right up without hesitation at all.

Salim...I assume gnd means ground problem? I must say that is the last thing I was hoping. Has anyone else seen or heard of this happening to the Rx300's?

gazi001

Check your battery voltages before you take to the dealer.

salimshah

I have come across at least three threads with ground problems.

Salim

gazi001

It could be Salim.

shark13

I forgot to reply to the first part of your question Salim. Other than me working on a few servos on the passenger side not work as been under the dash. We haven't had any issues for several months after that work.

If it is a ground issue...is the idea that somewhere within the steering wheel a ground has come loose?

salimshah

First: It MIGHT be a ground problem. There is an equal chance that it is a 12v problem. The only pointer is that a section of electronics goes dead.

Since the ground is run through chassis there are number of ways that it completes the circuit and there are number of weak loops. That is why the manufacturer still puts in ground straps.

If you can trace the ignition wire you can put a voltmeter at it and the other end you need to clip to engine gnd ... and move it to steering area gnd. Or even measure voltage between steering area ground and engine gnd.

I would recheck the mulitwire ground at the top of the intake head between the firewall and the engine. I think I listed the number of wires in knock sensor DIY. [If you did not undo it, just make sure it is secure].

In some ways you are lucky as you have a condition in which you can reproduce a failure as that might help tracing the problem. If was a totally random thing it would be hard to trace.

Salim

salimshah

The key word is 'could'. I wish we could be sure.

Salim

shark13

Does anyone by chance have a detailed schematic of the RX300 steering wheel column? I have looked online but they don't seem to explain the relationship of where the wiring is in relation to the mechanics.