My wifes 99 rx 300 with 140 k has some starting quirks turn the key and it just clicks when cold force the shifter forward or backwards and the car starts , sometimes I can turn the key all the way back off and on again it then starts, This seems to be a problem after the car sits till it cools offs
I have a Haynes repair manual and there seems to be a shift sensor, keysensor and a neutral saftey switch i would like to kinda narrow it down a bit i am capible of excuting most repairs myself
Thanks Capt Bob

 

You hear the starter click once when turning the key? If so, my money is on the starter failing. Ive done God knows how many starters on RX and ES cars..

 

Thank you I will check that out , I just wonder why the jiggiling of the shifter when it is park would give it enough voltage to start ? and this only does it when it's cold starts fine after driving at times Ican take the key and turn it all the way back to the left and 2 out of 5 it will start then. But when I do nothing but turn the key when cold it clicks like starter gone bad forsure the solinoid is clicking but not engaging the starter , I would like it to be the starter thats eaiser than tearing afart the dash on these cars , Any thoughts about a neutral saftey switch Thanks for the reply Capt Bob

 

You have a fine well tuned performance sports car looks great and I bet it runs even better
Capt Bob

 

that click you are hearing is the starter solenoid trying to engage but not...

it can be caused by low voltage to the starter, or a bad starter... check key off voltage using a voltmeter at the battery terminals, and also between the positive battery terminal and the engine as a ground - make sure your engine ground is good... (any drop over .1 or .2 volts and you've got an issue, and this is not an all inclusive test, just an easy one to do with typical household tools) if you can get to the starter easily, do the same at the starter...

so long as battery voltage is good and it is getting to the starter, then your starter is the problem... the toyota starters are notorious for the contact pad getting dirty and causing this - you may be able to partially disassemble it and clean that contact pad and get a ton of miles out of it still...