2004 Lexus GX470, for the last month experienced intermittent starting problems. Turn the key, one slight click first try... nothing after. Disconnect battery cable and reconnect, starts every time.

Then while driving a week ago the vehicle died, all electrical seemed fine, more like fuel cutoff. Now every attempt to start is the same sequence of events, first try one click. Second car turns over and won't start or if it does runs rough for a few minutes and dies. Third try, the starter won't disengage until key is turned to off position.

Possibly the ECM? Immobilizer? It's obviously not a starter problem as disconnecting the battery caused it to start and now when it does start it runs rough and then dies.

Any help would be much appreciated! I'm a car guy and do most of my own maintenance, but this is beyond my abilities.

 

How old is the battery?
Are you holding the key in the start position?

The starter is run by the computer, and weak battery voltage can cause strange things to happen (even though you have enough current to start when it does decide to).

Chip H.

 

I'll double check the voltage, I checked it when the problems first started. I'm assuming voltage isn't the issue because it died while running which would be on alternator voltage.

 

Died while running? That's different.

How did it happen - lights gradually grow dimmer until it stopped? Or all of a sudden?

Chip H.

 

What was the voltage at the battery with truck off?

What was the voltage at the battery with the truck running?