Hi all, hope you're enjoying your M.D. Weekend
Me, not so much...

2007 LS460 with 72K miles
Hearing 1 click
Searched through the forum here and heard it could be the battery so I replaced it this morning.

Still doing the same thing; When I get into the car, the 'green light' comes on, power is fine, etc. but when I go to push the 'start button' all I hear is 1 click from the engine bay.

My understanding is that if you hear a click, that means the solenoid is working.

Anyway, thoughts? Could it really be the starter? Do they really go out with only this many miles?

Please help as it's sitting in a poor spot of our driveway!

 

Yes, it certainly could be the starter. But it could be the battery or the battery connections. It's easier to start with the battery.

 

I would think that your starter is bad.

 

Like I said, I changed the battery

 

Sorry, my advice was not good.

 

I have gotten bad brand new batteries twice in the last 20 years, so it's possible. But with the age of your car, it's possible that cable connectors are loose, corroded at battery, starter, ground cable. Free battery check at auto parts stores, just be sure you've charged the battery as it must have a full charge to properly test, otherwise the parts store can charge it to properly test it. I've found that battery clamps sometimes are still loose on the post even when fully tightened. Aluminum foil folded up 6-8 times is often enough to make a shim. Baking soda in water can clean the clamps and a battery post/clamp cleaner work great. Follow the positive and negative cables from battery to where they attach on the car and check corrosion and tighten. If you can get under the car to visually inspect the positive cable to the starter, you've done all the easy stuff. This leaves possible starter replacement. Hope you're able to do this yourself and find a simple connection issue. An OBD 2 reader can give you codes to reveal other possible issues. Auto parts stores can do this. Lexus and Toyota are computer centric and require Techstream software (specific to Lexus/Toyota products) to diagnose and repair many issues, so an affordable alternative to Lexus dealer is Toyota dealer or in this case a japanese friendly repair shop who has Techstream software. Perhaps another member can confirm if starter issues require techstream but better safe than sorry. Let us know how it goes so we can learn from you.

 

I would have said battery as well. I have 175k on my car original starter and alternator. Replaced duralast battery today after only three years use. Its the gold edition. Its also hot in florida. Hope this helps.

 

There’s no point speculating because you need to get the codes read. Get a cheap code reader or a proper one like blue driver or whatever it is

 

Since you've installed a new battery and still no go, the first thing I would check is the starter ground and connections. Sometimes a good cleaning of the ground connection is all it takes. From what you describe, it sounds starter/solenoid related.

 

Just a heads up, I doubt this happened to you but it happened to me -
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...w-battery.html