1994 Ls400 starting /stallling issues
12-18-12, 02:16 PM
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1994 Ls400 starting /stallling issues
I've been battling this thing for about 5 months now. Just when I think I got it figured out I realize I don't.
The symptoms are:
Car's starter either turns very quickly, very labored or sometimes just one click and does not turn over. Sometimes the one click issue just happens out of the blue but sometimes it happens just after the car has stalled while out driving.
Since I 've owned the car it has always either been intermittent in it's labored/fast start but only later developed the one click issue. I thought it was the battery but I no longer think this to be the case.
6 months back before the one click thing began I was out for a drive and the car stalled. I tried to start the car repeatly. I turned over fine but no dice. I towed it home and replaced the fuel pump. I then tried starting it but it wouldn't. My father in law checked to see if there was power at the fuse responsible for the EFI/starter and found the power to be intermittent. He pushed and pulled at the fuse and relays and everything in there and the car started. We figured it was a loose connection of some sort in the fuse box. The problem went away for a short period.
I then began to have the same issues and put some dialetric grease on the efi relay and that seemed to have a positive effect for a while but starting stalling issues returned. I replaced the EFI relay and that seemed to help. Never had a stalling issue for months.
A while later just as the weather began to get colder the car began to have the no start issue (wouldn't turn over at all intermittently). It got to the point that It was a 50/50 while the car was cold. I bought the solenoid rebuild kit and installed it. Before I put everything back together I tested the starter and it worked flawlessly considering how much abuse the battery had taken. That was 3 weeks ago.
In the weeks following the rebuild I had intermittent labored/ slow starts and then eventually a no start so I tried the dialetric grease thing and it instantly corrected the problem. Then today while driving down the street It died and would only click once while attempting to start. I wiggled the relays and the box and everything in there like before and it didn't help this time. I went to the trunk to check the harness in the hinge and found some really sloppy/ almost disconnected harness repair. There was one mostly severed wire and one that was falling out of it's crimped connector. I hooked them up properly tried to start the car and I got a labored start out of it. I went back to the wires in the trunk and moved them around and got a good start. I then disconnected them and still got a good start. I did some test starts and the intermittent thing is still there. Any idea's besides the starter needs to be replaced.
I was also wondering if it's normal to not be able to turn over this engine by hand.
The symptoms are:
Car's starter either turns very quickly, very labored or sometimes just one click and does not turn over. Sometimes the one click issue just happens out of the blue but sometimes it happens just after the car has stalled while out driving.
Since I 've owned the car it has always either been intermittent in it's labored/fast start but only later developed the one click issue. I thought it was the battery but I no longer think this to be the case.
6 months back before the one click thing began I was out for a drive and the car stalled. I tried to start the car repeatly. I turned over fine but no dice. I towed it home and replaced the fuel pump. I then tried starting it but it wouldn't. My father in law checked to see if there was power at the fuse responsible for the EFI/starter and found the power to be intermittent. He pushed and pulled at the fuse and relays and everything in there and the car started. We figured it was a loose connection of some sort in the fuse box. The problem went away for a short period.
I then began to have the same issues and put some dialetric grease on the efi relay and that seemed to have a positive effect for a while but starting stalling issues returned. I replaced the EFI relay and that seemed to help. Never had a stalling issue for months.
A while later just as the weather began to get colder the car began to have the no start issue (wouldn't turn over at all intermittently). It got to the point that It was a 50/50 while the car was cold. I bought the solenoid rebuild kit and installed it. Before I put everything back together I tested the starter and it worked flawlessly considering how much abuse the battery had taken. That was 3 weeks ago.
In the weeks following the rebuild I had intermittent labored/ slow starts and then eventually a no start so I tried the dialetric grease thing and it instantly corrected the problem. Then today while driving down the street It died and would only click once while attempting to start. I wiggled the relays and the box and everything in there like before and it didn't help this time. I went to the trunk to check the harness in the hinge and found some really sloppy/ almost disconnected harness repair. There was one mostly severed wire and one that was falling out of it's crimped connector. I hooked them up properly tried to start the car and I got a labored start out of it. I went back to the wires in the trunk and moved them around and got a good start. I then disconnected them and still got a good start. I did some test starts and the intermittent thing is still there. Any idea's besides the starter needs to be replaced.
I was also wondering if it's normal to not be able to turn over this engine by hand.
Last edited by adrenelin5; 12-18-12 at 04:05 PM. Reason: adding info
12-18-12, 02:55 PM
#2
Is the '94 LS400 OBD I or II ?? Is the car throwing any codes?
Have youe ever checked the ignition switch, wear and tear there could give you the intermittent stalling, poor starting, no start conditions you're seeing -- What you need is a good diagnostic, to isolate what most to least likely is cause of problem
Starter itself is not all that expensive, $140-$200, can't imagine why you didn't tackle that when you did the solenoid. But, then again, does it need a starter?
Have youe ever checked the ignition switch, wear and tear there could give you the intermittent stalling, poor starting, no start conditions you're seeing -- What you need is a good diagnostic, to isolate what most to least likely is cause of problem
Starter itself is not all that expensive, $140-$200, can't imagine why you didn't tackle that when you did the solenoid. But, then again, does it need a starter?
12-18-12, 03:14 PM
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You got me!!?
Is the '94 LS400 OBD I or II ?? Is the car throwing any codes?
Have youe ever checked the ignition switch, wear and tear there could give you the intermittent stalling, poor starting, no start conditions you're seeing -- What you need is a good diagnostic, to isolate what most to least likely is cause of problem
Starter itself is not all that expensive, $140-$200, can't imagine why you didn't tackle that when you did the solenoid. But, then again, does it need a starter?
Have youe ever checked the ignition switch, wear and tear there could give you the intermittent stalling, poor starting, no start conditions you're seeing -- What you need is a good diagnostic, to isolate what most to least likely is cause of problem
Starter itself is not all that expensive, $140-$200, can't imagine why you didn't tackle that when you did the solenoid. But, then again, does it need a starter?
It's an OB1. No codes. The starter apparently is bullet proof. Considering the no start problem also at times rears it's ugly head directly after it stalling leads me to believe it's not the starter. How do I check the ig switch?
Last edited by adrenelin5; 12-18-12 at 03:21 PM.
12-18-12, 04:26 PM
#4
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make sure all of the trunk hinge wires are completely repaired properly, with the correct wires together, soldered, and then individually taped with electrical tape
this is a known problem area with the first gen LS400 and you must get it repaired like new before you go any further
the next most likely thing to check is the positive battery connection, take it apart and replace that end piece with one from the dealership - I can get you the part number, but they will recognize it at the dealership
if that doesn't work, then I would strongly suggest you replace the ECU capacitors - using the exact ones mentioned in the thread.
sure, it could be the starter, but that is expensive and a royal pain of a job to do or very expensive if you have it done, so let's rule out all the more likely stuff that costs like $20 or less first, before spending $1000!
I know some of my recommendations are a bit unconventional, but you would be surprised how many LS400's have been magically restored to running like new after these kinds of issues from the just the steps I listed above!
this is a known problem area with the first gen LS400 and you must get it repaired like new before you go any further
the next most likely thing to check is the positive battery connection, take it apart and replace that end piece with one from the dealership - I can get you the part number, but they will recognize it at the dealership
if that doesn't work, then I would strongly suggest you replace the ECU capacitors - using the exact ones mentioned in the thread.
sure, it could be the starter, but that is expensive and a royal pain of a job to do or very expensive if you have it done, so let's rule out all the more likely stuff that costs like $20 or less first, before spending $1000!
I know some of my recommendations are a bit unconventional, but you would be surprised how many LS400's have been magically restored to running like new after these kinds of issues from the just the steps I listed above!
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 12-18-12 at 04:35 PM.
12-18-12, 05:50 PM
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make sure all of the trunk hinge wires are completely repaired properly, with the correct wires together, soldered, and then individually taped with electrical tape
this is a known problem area with the first gen LS400 and you must get it repaired like new before you go any further
the next most likely thing to check is the positive battery connection, take it apart and replace that end piece with one from the dealership - I can get you the part number, but they will recognize it at the dealership
if that doesn't work, then I would strongly suggest you replace the ECU capacitors - using the exact ones mentioned in the thread.
sure, it could be the starter, but that is expensive and a royal pain of a job to do or very expensive if you have it done, so let's rule out all the more likely stuff that costs like $20 or less first, before spending $1000!
I know some of my recommendations are a bit unconventional, but you would be surprised how many LS400's have been magically restored to running like new after these kinds of issues from the just the steps I listed above!
this is a known problem area with the first gen LS400 and you must get it repaired like new before you go any further
the next most likely thing to check is the positive battery connection, take it apart and replace that end piece with one from the dealership - I can get you the part number, but they will recognize it at the dealership
if that doesn't work, then I would strongly suggest you replace the ECU capacitors - using the exact ones mentioned in the thread.
sure, it could be the starter, but that is expensive and a royal pain of a job to do or very expensive if you have it done, so let's rule out all the more likely stuff that costs like $20 or less first, before spending $1000!
I know some of my recommendations are a bit unconventional, but you would be surprised how many LS400's have been magically restored to running like new after these kinds of issues from the just the steps I listed above!
You also mentioned the positive terminal connection. Mine looks fine to the naked eye. Sure it's scratched and old but I'm curious why or how this piece could be a problem.
Last edited by adrenelin5; 12-18-12 at 05:54 PM.
12-18-12, 06:01 PM
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You also mentioned the positive terminal connection. Mine looks fine to the naked eye. Sure it's scratched and old but I'm curious why or how this piece could be a problem.
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12-19-12, 11:18 PM
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Hinge repair
link to DIY for the trunk hinge harness:
http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/lighting/bulbout.html
http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/lighting/bulbout.html
Last edited by adrenelin5; 12-19-12 at 11:22 PM. Reason: rewording
12-20-12, 11:14 AM
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I only say this because My battery light comes on during start test but does not come on anytime while driving. I checked the connection at the positive terminal and while I was able to loosen the wing nut relatively easily there was little/no discoloration to the mating surfaces. Perhaps the wing nut was the problem. If it does not improve today I'm going to borrow a battery. Also just to note I had starting issues directly after replacing the starter solenoid but after charging it on high for an hour it worked as it should. Then days later I started to see slow starts again.
12-24-12, 01:49 AM
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Merry Christmas and thanks for the help.
12-24-12, 09:11 PM
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Pulled the alternator today. The brushes were full of really gooky oil. No I idea how but I image that would cause a charging problem. Got the battery on trickle charge now. I guess i'll find out in the morning.
12-25-12, 11:43 AM
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ps pump is leaking
but it is definitely leaking PS fluid that killed your alternator!