Hey guys, I been having having trouble starting my RX lately. I'd turn the key and it would just click once. I'd have to keep turning it about 10 times before the engine finally starts. There seems to be no battery problem whatsoever. All my lights and electronics are fine. This only happens in the morning when I leave for work, and at the end of the day when I get off work. Seems to only happen with a cold engine. My roommate says its the ignition. Any ideas?

 

Does your engine crank and is unable to stablize? Or does it not crank at all? If it cranks and dies off it is most likely an IACV problem which a lot of us have experienced. Cleaning the IACV will almost always solve this problem.

 

From your post it seems the engine fails to turn over [the starter is not able to crank it].

I would suspect it is the starter solenoid, starter itself, battery or terminals.

The easiest to check is the posts (you should not be able to twist/turn it). Try jump start to give the extra boost needed to start in the morning .. if that works it could be the battery or the solenoid.
[Note: starting conditions are extreme and one can not tell by lights working or not .... only when the battery is dead you get no lights].

Salim

 

my battery is actually fine. Like I said, no flickering lights, bass is hitting hard, and every thing is fine. It's of and on but it's been doing it the last couple of days. I turn the key and all I hear is a click, it wont even try to start. I do that a couple of times then all of a sudden it starts with no problem. My capacitor also reads 14.9 when it starts. weird. It might just be the solenoid. How much am I looking at for repairs? BTW this doesnt happen unless it's the first start on the morning or after the cars been sitting for awhile. I also noticed a weird noise in the engine compartment earlier... like a noisy fan. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with it

 

LiqrSicc, the starter draws current in 100amps while bulb and accessories draw 15 amps or so.

The solenoid can tend to stick and one way ti fix that is to strike the solenoid with mallet (to give it a jarring blow without damaging it physically).

Once determine it is really the solenoid, then
If you have enough years/miles, then I would suggest replacing both the starter and the solenoid.

Salim

 

you're not alone LiqrSicc - i've run into the same problem recently as well...have yet to find a way to remedy it...

 

Salim, where can I find the solenoid? For some reason I had no problems today and even last night after work.


If it is the solenoid hopefully Salim's remedy will do the job!

 

Solenoid piggybacks on to the starter.

It is nothing but a huge relay along with a mechanism to engage the starter pinion to the flywheel. When released it removes the +12v to starter and pulls back the pinion.

The primary side (low current) is through the ignition switch in start position.

Follow the +12v thick wire from the battery and it will take you to the solenoid.

Luckily the starter is fairly accessible and high enough [unlike GS4 where you have to remove the top of the engine to get to it].

I think the RX starter life is close to 100k miles 6-8 yrs.

Salim

 

Makes sense... my RX is well over 150k. I havent had the problem for a few days now. Really frustrating. I dont know if the problem went away of if its just waiting to sneak up on me unsuspectedly

 

The real remedy is to replace the failing part. Tapping the solenoid is trying to pinpoint what may be failing.

When engine fails to turn over, I always propose this order .

1. Battery/terminals. Getting a jump confirms it.
2. Wires [inspection eliminates it cuts and breaks are rare (rodents)]
3. Starter/solenoid.

Salim.

[starting is the only issue I hold against automatics ... manual can be push started]

 

you might try this look at this site for starter solenoid repair....
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/instructions.html
by the way my rx has 143k miles and if it acts up on the starter this is what I am going to do. Good luck

 

Started acting up again today. I'm gonna try that guide above. I'm clueless to where the starter is. Anybody have pics?

 

See round cylinder in center of picture.

 

Closer shot.

 

The black wire leading into the starter area goes to the solenoid. Solenoid is on the far side of the starter and not visible. You may have to use the extension rod to whack it.

Salim