Jump started the battery wrong
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
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From: WA
Jump started the battery wrong
The vehicle has the push button ignition (as opposed to a 'turn-the-key' ignition).
Just arrived in Seattle from SLC and accidentally left the headlights on for 2-2.5 hrs and the car wouldn't start. Tried jumping it and noticed that we accidentally cross-terminalled the battery for appriximately 20-30 seconds. We then hooked it up correctly and all the lights and systems turned on but it never cranked to start the engine. We got a jumper pack from napa and hooked it up but got the same result - lights and systems came on but never cranked. We've checked into the fuses but don't know which fuse(s) specifically to be looking at. I understand the starter relay is the one highlighted in red here. But, how do I tell if its blown or okay? Anything else I should look into?
Through the course of this, we've had it hooked up (correctly) to a jumper battery and tried to start the car 10+ times and now even some of the main systems don't turn on. Could this be a Lexus security feature/immobilizer?
Thanks
Just arrived in Seattle from SLC and accidentally left the headlights on for 2-2.5 hrs and the car wouldn't start. Tried jumping it and noticed that we accidentally cross-terminalled the battery for appriximately 20-30 seconds. We then hooked it up correctly and all the lights and systems turned on but it never cranked to start the engine. We got a jumper pack from napa and hooked it up but got the same result - lights and systems came on but never cranked. We've checked into the fuses but don't know which fuse(s) specifically to be looking at. I understand the starter relay is the one highlighted in red here. But, how do I tell if its blown or okay? Anything else I should look into?
Through the course of this, we've had it hooked up (correctly) to a jumper battery and tried to start the car 10+ times and now even some of the main systems don't turn on. Could this be a Lexus security feature/immobilizer?
Thanks
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 310
From: TX
It is very unlikely that you damaged your car by cross-connecting the jumper battery.
These cars can be very difficult to jump start unless you follow the correct procedure.
I won't get into how to jumpstart your car as that involves lots of explanation.
I suggest the easiest and most reliable thing for you to do is remove the battery from the car and take it to a battery dealer to have it tested and fully charged. Charging may take several hours.
These cars can be very difficult to jump start unless you follow the correct procedure.
I won't get into how to jumpstart your car as that involves lots of explanation.
I suggest the easiest and most reliable thing for you to do is remove the battery from the car and take it to a battery dealer to have it tested and fully charged. Charging may take several hours.
Last edited by jmcraney; Oct 18, 2018 at 06:26 AM.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: WA
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: WA
Unhooked the old battery and let the car sit for 30 minutes then dropped in the new battery. All the lights and systems turn on and appear to be fine. But, the car is still not cranking to try and start the engine. We also replaced the battery in the key fob and the button ignition turns green like it should start. Pulled out the starter relay and that appears fine. Any other things to try?
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: WA
Alright. Got it to start so I wanted to post an update in case this ever helps anyone else.
It seems that once the good battery was connected and booted all the systems up that it thought it was running. We found out because the key fob wouldn't lock the doors but the car was beeping due to the key being out of range. So we got back in and 'turned off' the car. Then we got out and the key fob was able to lock the car. Then we unlocked, got in and started it as if the problem never occurred. Thanks for the help and ideas.
It seems that once the good battery was connected and booted all the systems up that it thought it was running. We found out because the key fob wouldn't lock the doors but the car was beeping due to the key being out of range. So we got back in and 'turned off' the car. Then we got out and the key fob was able to lock the car. Then we unlocked, got in and started it as if the problem never occurred. Thanks for the help and ideas.
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