Vicqlo

Hello all, I have a 2011 LS with 23,000 miles currently. This past week, I have noticed that it is taking an unusually long time for the engine to start after I press the ignition button. The car runs perfectly, but I suspect something is potentially wrong. Any thoughts? Thank you for your input.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

First thing to check is the battery. If you have a charger, fully charge the battery and, leaving the charger plugged in, start the car.

dlbuckls10

I would start by having the battery checked.

Vicqlo

Thank you! The battery is indeed original. When I went in to Lexus for service last month, I mentioned that the battery was now 6 years old, and should probably be replaced. I believe in preventative maintenance. I'd rather pay and have it replaced than be stuck somewhere in a parking lot. But, they informed all looked fine. No need for replacement. I must say, I have never owned a car that had a battery last more than seven years. Yes, it is time. I will let you know what I find. Thank you!

roadfrog

I'll be the dissenter here (what else is new? lol).....

If the starter turns over normally, the the battery is doing it's job. It's turning the starter and waiting for the fuel and ignition to take over and then the alternator kicks in. I would suspect other issues....fuel, spark etc which could be anything from bad fuel to a computer/ECU issue. That said.....replacing the battery would be a first step ONLY because it is old and as you say, "preventative maintenance". Nothing worse than a battery that fails at the worst possible time. But I would be truly surprised if after replacing the battery, your issue goes away. Again...provided the info you are giving is accurate - that the car is slow to "start" and not slow to "turn over". They are two very different things.

Let us know how this all plays out. We like follow-ups!

Vicqlo

Good point! Yes,it is slow to start, not slow to turn over. No issues with that. I ONLY use 93 octane. Currently, I am getting 19 mpg with mixed driving. I recently took a mini road trip and averaged 25 mpg. But, I do have a lead foot. Hmm? Guess I will see what the next few days bring. I am not overly impressed with the 2 local Lexus Dealers in my area, but as the car still has extended warranty, I may just have to pay a visit.

roadfrog

If you have a code reader, you could scan for "pending codes" to see if something is amiss. Most if not all code readers (even the Carista app), have this feature. What it does is, pick up an abnormality and stores it until it's determined that it's an ongoing issue, and then trigger your SES light. In other words, there may be a code stored, even if your SES is not lit.

FWIW, I believe someone else here at CL also had a similar issue to yours. It was a recent thread. See if you can find it. I can't remember how...or IF, the issue was resolved.