Guys, I'm pushing around 210 XXX KM on my 92 LS. This is her first winter and she's strugglin'!
I'm hoping it's a bad battery, but it sounds like a starter issue. Let me know what you guys think:

After not driving it for a day, I go to start the car and all I hear is a click when turning the ignition fully. All the guages light up and the battery seems to be working fine. I turn the ignition three or four times.....same...click click click. Then I wait a minute, try again, and it starts up. A little bit wheezy though.

Its been doing this for about 2 weeks now, whenever I don't drive it for 24 hrs. However, if I drive it for a bit, then turn off the car for a short period, it starts up with no problems.

Could it be I have a bad battery and starter.

Let me know if you guys have had any similar issues with your LS's.

Thanks

 

Click...Click...Click = You Need a New Starter...

 

This JUST happened to me not 2 days ago in my SC. Same EXACT symptoms as you describe, word for word. My battery was fine, turns out that there is a bolt on the starter for the SC that holds the connection from the battery. That bolt comes loose on SCs and has gives them trouble starting. I tightened that bolt by half a turn and it solved my starting issues. I don't know if the LS has a similar problem, but maybe you want to check the connection on your starter that comes from the battery?

 

Well I popped open my hood and there was dried up battery acid everywhere!!! I had just taken my battery out 5 months ago, so is it normal to collect so much over such a short period of time? ....anyways, I cleaned all the acid off, and reconnected everything. It starts easier now, but still a click the first time. Then no problems.

I'm starting to think that it could just be a loose bolt. NYCLexSC: where exactly is the bolt on you starter that was loose? I think this is probably my problem as well.

Thanks

 

The actuator is likely the problem but since this entails removing the starter, it is easier to replace the whole assembly. After 200K miles, you are doing well considering how many times it has started the car over the years.

 

PM'ed, hope it helps. Maybe someone in the LS forum can point in you in the right direction to find the starter in your LS.

 

NYLexSC: thanks for the PM with the detailed photos!

I think my starter is buried deep within the engine though. I could be in trouble.

 

I've done as much as I can for you on this issue, best of luck!

 

yeah you would have to remove the intake manifold to get to the starter

 

Well guys, I cleaned up my terminals and went in for a AVR test today. The symptoms I previously described had dissapeared. The AVR tests came out fine . Everything is running strong. All they concluded was the terminals are corroded. I'm leaving the car as is now...I might sand the terminals down a bit, but cleaning them seemed to have fixed the problem.

 

Can you post more info on this mysterious bolt that comes loose?

Its 15*F here in NYC and I have a dead 91 LS400 sitting in my driveway that I self diagnosed to be a starter issue after reading and searching this forum.

Any help youw be greatly appreciated.