When I first bought my ES350, when I pushed the start switch, the starter would engage and run for about 1 second before the engine started. Now, 3 years later and the odometer at 60K, when I push the start switch for the first time in the day, the starter engages and runs for about 3-4 seconds before the engine starts. Later startups in the day, the starter runs for about a second and the engine starts. Anybody have any idea what's going on?

 

Just got off the phone with my Lexus dealer and they suggest that my battery may be weak. Car is just under 4 years old with 60K on it which the dealer states is a long time for the original battery to last, especially in Florida. I'll be off shortly to get the battery tested and will keep you all posted.

 

I would suspect the battery too. I think most cars take a little longer to start as time goes on and most owners probably don't even notice. I am somewhat conscious to this and have found that whenever it seems to be taking a little longer to start and I tell the service writer about it I get a new battery with no further questions - and that usually does take care of it. And at 4 years and 60K you are certainly about due for a battery.

Dave Mac

 

That's exactly what happened to my ES last month. There were no problems, just the starter taking longer to turn over the engine. Then two weeks ago the car just died. A jump got me going and a new battery fixed the long starting time. It's definitely the battery.

 

I took my car to a service station and had a load test performed on the battery and it failed. I replaced the battery and for the last 3 days, on initial start-up in the morning, the starter ran for about a second and the engine started right up. Problem solved.
Another comment by the Lexus service rep; he said that during engine cranking, the voltage drops off and the computer may not function at optimum performance; thus the longer than usual cranking time. Then after the engine is running and you drive the car for some time, the battery charges sufficiently so that the long cranking time disappears. But, since the battery is at it's end of life, the charge is not maintained overnight and you get the long cranking time again.
Thanks for your input Dave Mac and dreyfus.

 

Thanks for the update Lex. I tend to replace the battery about every 3 years. Just not worth the hassle of finding yourself dead in the water.