At 203,000 miles my 02 was ready for a timing and water pump update. I was happy the changes went without incident. Three weeks later after driving the car to several destinations I returned home. I needed to go out, so I got in and turned the key and no crank. All of my lights stayed lit (and didn't dim as I turned to key to the starting position), all of my instrument lights lit, everything seem normal except the missing sound of the cranking, I was getting a fast clicking like a almost dead battery. I tried using a jump pack, my wifes car. No change. I had the battery tested. A 3 and a half year old diehard. 585CCA, seems good. Voltage test was 11.8. So back to the car. As a note, the starting prior to this wasn't the least bit sluggish. The starter relay up by the battery made it sound each time I turned the key but nothing else. I opened her up, pulled the starter, tried to jump it and nothing so I replaced it. Its all back together turned the key and you guessed it, a fast clicking noise as before. I pulled the battery and bought it over to the auto parts store for an over night charge. Tomorrow Sunday I will pick it up and try it again, but it bugging me. So I figured let me post and see if anyone had a similar experience and what they discovered to fix it. Curious if anyone believes a bad ground could cause this. FYI I used my jumper cable from the negative battery terminal directly to different part of the engine incase the main ground wire was bad.

Update I changed the battery, still nothing more than the fast clicking which is the same sound you would hear if the battery was all but dead. Should I have it towed to lexus because I dont know what else I can try or check.

 

whack on the starter with something (if you can), and while your there make sure everything looks good.