Help diagnose car not starting
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Petal,MS
Help diagnose car not starting
My car (98 GS 300) would not start today. When i try to start the car, all i get is a series of clicking noises. Sorta sounds like an electric lighter, but louder. All electronics(radio, lights, and windows roll down) work.
Since the radio and etc. work, can i rule out that it is not the battery? If it is the starter, is it easy to replace( bolt on and off)?
I did try to research, but after reading several threads, i didn't find anyone with the same condition.
Thanks!
Since the radio and etc. work, can i rule out that it is not the battery? If it is the starter, is it easy to replace( bolt on and off)?
I did try to research, but after reading several threads, i didn't find anyone with the same condition.
Thanks!
Steps.
Can you start the car by jumping?
Are both cables tight?
Start car - remove battery cables - does car die? If so look at alternator.
Or else just bring the thing to Autozone and let them check your battery for you!!
Jonny
Can you start the car by jumping?
Are both cables tight?
Start car - remove battery cables - does car die? If so look at alternator.
Or else just bring the thing to Autozone and let them check your battery for you!!
Jonny
I have a 98 GS3 as well and I had some corrosion on my battery clamps. My dad's 98 GS4 had the same issue last week. both times it was due to corrosion.
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: maryland
trust me dats not your battery. if it was the baterry would die instantly, you wouldnt have no ligths what so ever.
i bet when you put the key in and turn it you ear one click, your stater is not turning over, if it was the battery there wouldn be no click.
i bet when you put the key in and turn it you ear one click, your stater is not turning over, if it was the battery there wouldn be no click.
Trending Topics
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: None
Not trying to be the "know-it-all", I think a couple of things need addressed.
First, do not start the car and remove the battery cables unless you really want to see the power of electricity. Your alternator will become a bomb very fast if you do this, not to mention your computers will puke! Secondly, it is probably the battery. Simple math is that it takes about 10 amps to have your lights on and a few more to have your radio on. When you turn the key to start it, you draw well over 100 amps or more depending on the temp and other things. You might have a bad neg or pos battery cable or as another posted, a loose connection on your battery or starter. If you want to see if your battery is good or bad, put a volt meter on the battery and see what the voltage is with everything off, then turn on your lights see if the voltage drops more than a couple of tenths. Try to start it and see where the voltage goes. You have to test the battery with a real load on it not just a little one.
First, do not start the car and remove the battery cables unless you really want to see the power of electricity. Your alternator will become a bomb very fast if you do this, not to mention your computers will puke! Secondly, it is probably the battery. Simple math is that it takes about 10 amps to have your lights on and a few more to have your radio on. When you turn the key to start it, you draw well over 100 amps or more depending on the temp and other things. You might have a bad neg or pos battery cable or as another posted, a loose connection on your battery or starter. If you want to see if your battery is good or bad, put a volt meter on the battery and see what the voltage is with everything off, then turn on your lights see if the voltage drops more than a couple of tenths. Try to start it and see where the voltage goes. You have to test the battery with a real load on it not just a little one.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Lexus NX 350h: A Fuel-Sipping Secret Hot Hatch???
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Lexus Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
Top 5 Hottest Lexus & Toyotas in 2026 (Hardest To Buy)
Brett Foote
2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport Review: The Last of Its Kind Still Rocks
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: IL
I'm glad youre not my mechanic.
If could be and probably is your battery. It takes alot of juice for the battery to turn your engine, so the battery might still have plenty of juice to work the lights, windows, etc., but not enough to crank the starter.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
The battery is definitely low on voltage. Why? The charging system needs to be tested and checked to answer that. It's probably just a battery issue, dead cells or something, but there is a remote chance the alternator is not putting out enough to keep everything as it should be.
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (31)
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 6
From: All Around Our Nation's Capital
As stated above most auto parts stores will check the battery or alternator for free. But the way I always check it is this.
1: Jump start the car. If it doesnt start, check the starter.
2: Jump start the car. If it runs fine untill you shut it off, then it wont start when you go to start it back up, check the battery. The car will run off of the alternator once it is started but the battery wont hold a charge after shut down.
3: Jump start the car. If it runs okay for a while but it dies while running, check the alternator. The car will run for a while off the battery alone but it will run it out and shut down.
Oh yeah, Im a newbie to this site. But trust me not a newbie to cars or Lexus.
Hope this helps a bit.
1: Jump start the car. If it doesnt start, check the starter.
2: Jump start the car. If it runs fine untill you shut it off, then it wont start when you go to start it back up, check the battery. The car will run off of the alternator once it is started but the battery wont hold a charge after shut down.
3: Jump start the car. If it runs okay for a while but it dies while running, check the alternator. The car will run for a while off the battery alone but it will run it out and shut down.
Oh yeah, Im a newbie to this site. But trust me not a newbie to cars or Lexus.
Hope this helps a bit.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 556
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I'm going to go with the battery also. The rapid clicking your hearing is the solenoid in the starter trying to engage, there is enough power for the magnetic solenoid to energize and pull in but when the connection is made to spin the starter the battery becomes so drained that the solenoid releases. Once the load of turning the starter is released there is enough poser to energize the solenoid again, hence your repeted clicking.
Start with a fresh battery and then have the electrical system perfoemance tested to see if the battery is faulty or if there was something else to aid in the batteries demise.
Hope this helps.
-Bill
Start with a fresh battery and then have the electrical system perfoemance tested to see if the battery is faulty or if there was something else to aid in the batteries demise.
Hope this helps.
-Bill
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Petal,MS
Thanks for all the help guys!
It was the battery. I forgot to mention that i was still using my oem battery. That sucker lasted 8 years and 2 months! I kinda hated to see it go after lasting this long.
I took the battery out and let autozone do tests on it. The battery didn't even have enough juice to do the test. So i had to leave my battery there for them to charge it and then test it. Came back an hour later when the battery was charged and it failed the test. I have just finished installing the new battery and the car starts like a champ!
It was the battery. I forgot to mention that i was still using my oem battery. That sucker lasted 8 years and 2 months! I kinda hated to see it go after lasting this long.
I took the battery out and let autozone do tests on it. The battery didn't even have enough juice to do the test. So i had to leave my battery there for them to charge it and then test it. Came back an hour later when the battery was charged and it failed the test. I have just finished installing the new battery and the car starts like a champ!
Very informative thread here.....
I went to go remote start my car today, and all it'd do is click...I was like WTF!!!!!!!! I'm having the exact same problem. Car is a 99 GS3.
I popped the hood and saw some corrosion on the battery. I'm going to try to get rid of it, if not i'm going to take it out and take it to autozone.
Lucky i found this thread. Glad i'm apart of this forum. Its so informative haha!
I went to go remote start my car today, and all it'd do is click...I was like WTF!!!!!!!! I'm having the exact same problem. Car is a 99 GS3.
I popped the hood and saw some corrosion on the battery. I'm going to try to get rid of it, if not i'm going to take it out and take it to autozone.
Lucky i found this thread. Glad i'm apart of this forum. Its so informative haha!
Very informative thread here.....
I went to go remote start my car today, and all it'd do is click...I was like WTF!!!!!!!! I'm having the exact same problem. Car is a 99 GS3.
I popped the hood and saw some corrosion on the battery. I'm going to try to get rid of it, if not i'm going to take it out and take it to autozone.
Lucky i found this thread. Glad i'm apart of this forum. Its so informative haha!
I went to go remote start my car today, and all it'd do is click...I was like WTF!!!!!!!! I'm having the exact same problem. Car is a 99 GS3.
I popped the hood and saw some corrosion on the battery. I'm going to try to get rid of it, if not i'm going to take it out and take it to autozone.
Lucky i found this thread. Glad i'm apart of this forum. Its so informative haha!
Well time to diagnose what's causing my start problem. Thanks again fellas!