No start, no crank, dim dash lights - 1999 ES300
#1
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No start, no crank, dim dash lights - 1999 ES300
Hey guys, I have a '99 ES300. I just did a bunch of work on it, culminating in a new radiator and A/C condenser yesterday. Started it up for the first time in weeks last night with a fresh alternator and battery, and took it for a test drive. Apart from the alignment, everything else was peachy.
This morning, I tried to start it, and it was behaving very weirdly.
1. The "door open" light was flickering and getting fainter
2. With the door open, I stuck in the key, and the chime started for a half second, then stopped abruptly. When it stopped, the dash went dead. Turning it to ON, I could see the dash lights lit up, but extremely faintly...and it didn't look like it was running the light test (none went off).
3. I tested the battery, and it was good. Swapped in two known good batteries, same thing. Also cleaned all grounds, no change.
4. I waited a while, then went back out and tried again: KOEO, everything was behaving normally...chiming with door open, dash light test finished. As soon as I tried to start the car, I heard a loud click from what I assume is the starter relay, and everything went dead again. Same thing from this point on: see #2.
I checked all the fuses and relays, everything is in working order. Any ideas?
Thanks as usual.
This morning, I tried to start it, and it was behaving very weirdly.
1. The "door open" light was flickering and getting fainter
2. With the door open, I stuck in the key, and the chime started for a half second, then stopped abruptly. When it stopped, the dash went dead. Turning it to ON, I could see the dash lights lit up, but extremely faintly...and it didn't look like it was running the light test (none went off).
3. I tested the battery, and it was good. Swapped in two known good batteries, same thing. Also cleaned all grounds, no change.
4. I waited a while, then went back out and tried again: KOEO, everything was behaving normally...chiming with door open, dash light test finished. As soon as I tried to start the car, I heard a loud click from what I assume is the starter relay, and everything went dead again. Same thing from this point on: see #2.
I checked all the fuses and relays, everything is in working order. Any ideas?
Thanks as usual.
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nsghtbrwry (04-16-17)
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nsghtbrwry (04-16-17)
#5
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Thread Starter
Well, got lucky on a whim. My positive terminal looked OK, and I used a terminal brush to clean the inside and the battery post before.
However...the two cables clamped to it with a wingnut were only OK on the surface. The big one goes to the starter, and the smaller one supplies +12 to the main fuse box. I checked the resistance between the battery post and those.
starter cable: 0.1 ohms. Acceptable.
+12 to fuse box: 0.9 megaohms. LOL
Took it apart and cleaned both of them well with a brass cup brush on a drill, then put it back together.
New readings:
starter cable: 0.05 ohms.
+12 to fuse box: 0.03 ohms.
Car started like it should have.
Thanks for your help, guys.
However...the two cables clamped to it with a wingnut were only OK on the surface. The big one goes to the starter, and the smaller one supplies +12 to the main fuse box. I checked the resistance between the battery post and those.
starter cable: 0.1 ohms. Acceptable.
+12 to fuse box: 0.9 megaohms. LOL
Took it apart and cleaned both of them well with a brass cup brush on a drill, then put it back together.
New readings:
starter cable: 0.05 ohms.
+12 to fuse box: 0.03 ohms.
Car started like it should have.
Thanks for your help, guys.
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WILLYumD (04-15-17)
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Having the same issue as above. Have cleaned my battery post which ia a new battery. Wires are in great shape no. Corrosion. Same click with stater relay but nothimg happens. Ive bumped the starter with a hard object still nothing. What could this be. Car was running excellent amd just stopped cranking.
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