Key turned to ON position.

Key turned to START position with no crank, just 1 click sound
I’m having a heck of a time diagnosing this problem. She won’t crank over until multiple tries and sometimes I get lucky. I turn the key and all I get is 1 click and a blackout dash, with the bottoms row of lights on. I’ve already replaced the battery & alternator, I really don’t want to to replace the starter. I’ve brought it to the local Auto Parts Store and they said the starter was good. Ive cleaned the battery contacts and about to check the starter contacts. But before I do that, I thought I ask if anyone else is having this problem?

BTW, when she does start up the battery is at 14v with a load it’s at 13v and some change. I’ve attached a picture of the key in the ON position and when it’s in the START position. I tried to upload a video but it wouldn’t take it.

 

Having gone to the trouble of removing the starter, did you replace the contacts and plunger?

 

sounds like bad starter solenoid or ignition relay

 

Your RX appears to have 140K miles. If the starter contacts and plunger are original, look no further. Replace them.

 

Ditto, you won't believe how nasty the inside of your solenoid will be.

 

You mentioned that the starter is new ... was the solenoid replaced too?
You can test if the solenoid is good/bad by jumping the secondary contacts. Just use a thick conductor [see how fat the battery cable to the solenoid is]. A god fat screwdriver can be used, but be aware that sparks may fly and you have to make a solid connection and not just the thin tip making the contact.

The battery clamps should be checked. You should not be able to twist the terminals on the post. Might as well check if you have lost lead/copper on the terminal [it happens on the underside ... the one you can't see till you remove the terminal]. Check the battery health too. A few rX have large parasitic draw [search] and can deplete the battery quickly.

Autos shops should be able to test the starter and battery on a bench for you.

There are other safety things, but start with the battery, terminals and solenoid. Incidentally the life of the contacts has noting to do with the milage .. it gets worn a bit every time you start.

 

It was the starter! I should have started there instead of replacing the battery & alternator. It’s been 20 years since I’ve had to troubleshoot a non-starting car.

Thanks guys for your help!!!

 

TY for letting us know what solved the problem

 

Did you replace the whole starter or just the contacts? I just did the contacts on my 2000 es300 with 170k miles last night in the driveway. Not a bad job at all (lots of youtube tutorials). Only took 2 beers to get it done! My one contact was good but the other was missing 2/3 of the copper thus, the intermittent starting issue. Started giving me problems this past spring, researched it, bought the contacts and plunger for $7 or so but never got around to replacing it. Yesterday morning, took 10 key turns to get the starter to engage so figured it was time, especially before winter set in.

$7 and an hour of my time is all it took....

 

I did the whole starter. I’m not sure if it was just the contacts but decided to just get it over with.

 

I have a starting issue with my 2000 RX300 ...I believe my dashboard goes completing dark - no warning lights. And, I don't get a click. Takes about a second for the dash to come back. Another half-second for the multi-display. I don't have any accessories on when attempting to start.
Bench tested the battery and starter. Both passed. I do hear my fuel pump in Park and Neutral, and don't hear it in R, D, 2, 1.
I think there's a short. Maybe the alternator.
So, I replaced the alternator, about 7 days ago, thinking it could be the short. It started! For three days.
Now I have the same symptoms.
When I replaced the alternator (it did have a bad voltage regulator) I made sure my battery was fully charged by putting on my trickle charger the night before. This rebuilt alternator flickered interior lights. The previous one did not.
I checked all fuses related to the starting and charging system, except one: 140A that I haven't figured out how to get out.
I'm going to drop in the refreshed battery and see if it starts. Then test it to see how much voltage drops after the start (attempt). If it starts I will check voltages at battery and alternator.

 

It seems the battery is not putting enough voltage and certainly not enough current.
why? Could be bad battery, loose calmps, bad wire.

Why is the battery weak ... there could be dying battery or a draw or not enough charge being put out. Most of the shops can check charging. Bench test of individual components can also be done (you did that),

Salim

 

I’m still having an issue. As stated before I’ve replaced the battery, alternator and starter on this car and 3 weeks ago I left the car at the airport for 2 weeks & it had a dead battery. I jump started it and got home. It sat in the garage for 5 days and the battery was dead again! I recharged the new battery and took it to AutoZone for a starting system check and it was fine.

Something else is going on with this car and I’m lost as to what it could be.

 

Look for parasitic draw (search). Once armed with the knowledge .. RX going into sleep mode .. you can start pulling fuses to isolate the offending circuit.

Typical culprits are light left on.
after market accessory
Window relay.

Salim

 

I was reading this post hoping to find answers to mine. I have a 2000 rx300 with 212,000 miles. It's been a great car! But recently have ran into the same issues. Alternator was replaced 2 years ago, timing belt and water pump all of that was done. However now this past week, I have went to advanced to have them check my battery and alternator and the report was good nothing wrong. So finally after days of dealing with my car not starting after sitting overnight or longer then 6hrs. I have to do the same thing keep trying to crank and normally it'll start after about 7 or 8 times trying to crank. So today I took it to my mechanic how just called and said everything is checking out fine in fact it started right up for him. So he is going to keep it over night to see if it doesn't crank in the morning. But he said they checked the battery, alternator and starter and everything checked out good. So he too is puzzled. I will say I never have changed the spark plugs and the owner prior to me, I don't see where they had a repair bill of the spark plugs being changed? So could that maybe be the problem? Any other suggestions as to what it could be? I will say my mechanic works on Lexus and Toyota's only so I'm hoping he'll be able to find the problem.