Today I experienced an odd situation, pulled the vehicle out of the garage and it sounded like it was in the Start-up Mode with the starter engaged so I turned it off and pulled the key oput and the starter wouldn't shut off. So, I inserted the key put it in the on position and the engine continued to run...Very Odd Indeed. After 8 minutes of running the starter finally stopped and then I was able to turn-off the vehicle. QUESTION: Is there a module that senses the key has been placed in the off position and shuts all outputs down, espically the starter ? NOTE: The engine light didn't come on and I'm 3.5 hours to the nearest dealer........ THANKS

 

If I understand your post, the "starter" continued to turn, even when you moved the key from start to run.

A small gear is pulled out and engages to the fly wheel when the key is moved to start. This pull out is accompanied by a huge switch which pumps the current into the starter motor. As the engine catches the fly wheel is spun by the engine and the little gear free runs (the starter is spinning at lower rate). So when the key is moved to run, the solenoid brings the gear back and cuts the current to the starter motor.

If the engine is running and if you turn the key to start, you would hear of the little gear grinding against the flywheel.

So what could have gone wrong in your case, is the little gear got stuck on to the flywheel (solenoid acting up or the gear teeth just binded).

It could be a fluke or something has gone wrong with, solenoid (most likely based on your description), motor-bendix, starter gear, or worse flywheel gear.

[Lexmex posted flywheel pictures and one them has the starter in it in his something went clunk/thump]

If it happens again, and the starter keeps turning with the key off, remove battery connection to prevent starter motor burn out.

You can wing it till it happens again or take the RX to a qualified shop.

Salim

 

could be the starter solenoid on the starter is welding together or so worn that is is sticking together. The parts are cheap, but Lexus would sell the whole starter to you. Online the parts are less than $25 for new contacts. Installing them is another thing unless you are mechanically inclined.

 

Could be bad contact sticking see this fix:


http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/instructions.html

 

Here is a picture of the starter itself.

 

The problem seems more mechanical in nature ... like a sticking relucter or the bendix. If I am using the terminology correctly, the relucter is the middle piece which gets pushed out when the electromagnet is energized. There is a spring that pushes the reluctor back ... pulling in the bendix.

thomas1's postulation can be correct (bridging). But imho the above is more likely. Worn contacts would have the highest fail rate, but that does not seem to be the case here.


Replacing the solenoid covers both and replacing the starter may be overkill .. but then look at the age of RX.

Salim

 

Starter and torque converter.

 

And the one that Salim is referring to is the flywheel and starter.

 

Maybe the contacts have worn so bad, that debris worked its way into the the solenoid bore. Maybe just clean the bore of the solenoid while replacing the contacts is all that is needed. by the way the contacts are spared at the toyota dealerships. That is according to the Tundra forums. by the way LexMex, I really appreciate your pictures. If I could just figure out how to do that....I get messed up when posting pictures.

 

At the bottom of the screen where it says Quick Reply, click on the button that says Go Advanced. Then the page will refresh and turn into a new screen. On that new page go down to where it says Additional Options and below that you will find something that says Manage Attachments and this will open up a window that will allow you to add a file from your computer.