01 LS430 won't start one day the next day...it fires up. Has this happened to anyone? Turn the key everything lights up but won't turn over. I let it sit for a day and it fires with no issues. Turns over great for about a week then boom it won't turn over. I am taking it in but would love to get some feedback before they (mechanic) takes me down the rabbit hole.

 

Welcome to the forum. Please provide more information on what you were seeing when it wouldn't start. i.e., was the starter motor turning the engine over but it wouldn't start? Turn the key and nothing? etc...

 

Sounds like the solenoid on the starter is defective and not engaging properly. Please take a look at Post #43 on the post below...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...r-motor-3.html

 

If all the lights come on and it doesn't turn over chances are your starter is going bad. Does it click when you turn the key and it doesn't start? Make sure all your battery connections are clean and tight too.

 

I am on it thank you for this link to the thread!

 

The lights as well are on and it does not turn over. Is it possible for the starter to be going out and then engage a day later? On it@connections!

 

The starter solenoid serves 2 functions:
1. It thrusts the starter drive gear forward to engage the flywheel.
2. It closes the electrical contact and supply power to the starter motor directly from the battery (via large cable connected to the battery's positive terminal), and turn the engine over.

With time, the contact (mentioned in Item 2 above) is worn sufficiently where a good solid engagement becomes unreliable. Without good contact to the power source, the starter motor will not turn.

 

sounds like it's time to replace the original starter

 

The starter can be rebuilt, pretty easy, see this video. This is what I would do if mine ever goes out. Save some $$ too. Getting the starter out of the car is the major pain.

 

Replace your knock sensors at the same time you do the starter. Unless you enjoy taking your intake manifold off...

 

I was lazy with my Nissan so yes, it's possible for a starter to not work in the position it's in, then work the next turn of the key. Rather than wait a day, try again consecutively. My issue was different on my Nissan--starts where the pinion doesn't fully retract and get a grinding sound. Every time it does it, is bad obviously. Eventually, gets worse and worse to failure. I actually put up with it 3 years and then it failed.

On a replacement starter, I experienced what you did. Eventually the solenoid burned completely out, which made me do the job a second time, and a third time. All under warranty but it was my own labor--simple job on my Nissan. Since it's not so simple on the LS430 I likely would not DIY, that's just me, these days replacement parts are not the greatest...

 

This may sound like a silly question, but are you using the actual remote key, or the spare key?

when I bought my 01 last year, the owner only gave me the spare key. Drove the car home, but had a hard time starting it after I turned it off. The next day, it wouldn't even start, much like the symptoms you're describing. Other days, it'll start with no problems. I never had the starting issues again once I received the original remote key from the previous owner. Maybe has something to do with ECU programing on spare key? Good luck.

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The behavior you describe is exactly how my ‘92 SC was acting and the cure was replacing the starter. This was just last year so a 27 year run was pretty good...

For grins, do check your battery cables as 430s are rough on the battery.