I started having issue 2 days ago. My wife got gas and car wouldnt turn over or anything. I tried another key and did a couple other things and it didnt start. I then moved shifter a little in park and it started right up. It was fine for 2 days and did same thing today, but now wont start again and wiggiling shifter isnt working. is there a sensor for the shifter or what tells it its in park? where is it located as well?

 

need help please

 

There is a sensor that allows you to remove the shifter out of park, but it shouldn't really affect the start up.

Just so you know, the 98-00 GS400 tended to have starter problems. Your car may or may not have this issue, but it's worth looking into.

 

what problems where those? a new starter was put on at lexus at around 30000 miles ago or maybe more. never had any issues since i have owned it.

 

I've never heard of any past GS starter issues... but...

There is a "Park/Neutral Position Switch" which is on the right side of the transmission. This is located where the actual shifter's linkage connects to the transmission. It determines the gear selection made and informs the ECU.

It seems moving the shifter may have been just purely coincidental.
I also would doubt this to be your problem if you/she hasn't experienced weird shifting characteristics while driving. Try starting it in "Neutral" gear... if it doesn't start, it supports my doubt.

Your recent starter replacement would be my first suspect. I'm curious...did you replace the starter for these same symptoms?
When you turn the key to "Start" you got nothing? Meaning the engine didn't crank or move at all.... not even a "click"?

No"click"... then do you/she have a lot of keys and or a heavy key chain trinket?
If so... your problem could be a worn out ignition switch.

Choritsu-shi

 

the starter was around 3 years ago before i purchased the car so i dont know symptoms. but is far from a recent thing. wont start in neutral. the battery is only couple months old. i replaced it thinking it was the issue when my fuel pump died. it was time for a new one anyways. has a few things on key chain but i wouldnt think any more than normal. im leaning towards ignition though. no wierd shifting issues. after it got towed my wife tried to start it again and said radio wouldnt come on and lights were dim. wouldnt lock with remote either so maybe the battery is the culprit. or she ran it down trying to start it, but the starter wasnt even clicking she said so wouldnt be using any power. I got on charger now and will try that in the morning.

 

98-00 GS4 starters were known to wear out, but since yours is relatively new, I will assume that's not the problem. Let us know how the car starts once it's off the charger. If it starts to act up again, I would check the battery's voltage (after it won't start) and the charging voltage.

 

ok after charging all night it started. i let it run for a min and shut it off. then tried to start it again and it turned over and over like fuel pump was out, but then if started. then was fine next time. wierd.

 

Sounds like the starter is crapping out. My first one went out at 65K, and exhibited the same symptoms you're describing here.

 

I really dont think its the starter, cause once i charged the battery all night it started like a champ. Im really starting to think i got sold a bad battery. Its only 3 or so months old. After it was on charger and started right up. The car sat from 8am till 3pm and my wife tried to start it and it wouldnt click or nothing. Im going to test voltage at the battery when I get off. then put on charger again and if it starts and the voltage was low I will go get it swapped out.

 

You should go get the battery swapped out tell them you took it to another store and they charged it for about 30-40 mins and the car started right up, now it doesn't. They'll probably trickle charge it for a bit again but you should just have them replace it.

Have you checked your air filter under the hood, checked the maf sensor/cleaned it? Do that to rule out anything.

Next issue would be to check that you're getting spark -- just remove the spark plugs and check them and reinstall, next up is fuel - when you turn the car to the 'on' position check that the pump is priming/pulling fuel. Next check your fuel sending unit in the trunk behind the upper back pass driver side seat. Make sure that its working by unplugging it and then using a multimeter or some sort of test light. One prong should get constant power when the key is in the on position and another prong should get power only when cranking. Don't crank for 50+ times because that will kill your battery.

You can also check that the pump/sending unit is working by pulling the rear seat and removing the power/sending unit cable and attaching your multimeter or test light to the terminals. I believe the two rear most terminals/prongs need to be constant on one when the car is turned to on and then intermittent power to the other prong when car is cranked.

If your car is running and then dying then you might have alternator issues or grounding issues. Remember the battery is only to start the car not to run the car -- thats what the alternator is for. If your alternator is dying it will cause your battery to drain excessively.

Finally make sure that you have enough gas in the car. My tank was empty because my floater had taken a **** and my car died; killing my fuel pump and fuel sending unit together.

 

It seems more like a battery "related" issue.... not necessarily the battery itself. You shouldn't need all 12 volts to start a car... may just be a bad or loose connection.

How do your battery connectors look? Are or were the connectors corroded? Are the cables "stiff"? If so, do you remember if your old battery looked kind of "puffy"? In other words the sides of the battery kinda bulged out. This is a sign of a battery being overcharged and is usually due to poor connections. The alternator thinks the battery is low therefore continues to overcharge the battery and eventually kills it.

With bad connections, you'll also get inconsistent starting problems.

Choritsu-shi