I called autozone and asked if they loaned scanner/ code readers and they said no
I got one from Walmart, Hyper Tough.

 

Today I tried retrieving codes from the Lexus. I plugged up to the OBD2 port and was able to pull a couple of codes, P0171, P0300, P0172, and then all of a sudden the instrument panel lights started flashing as well as the center screen and it was making a steady clicking sound. I then turned the key back to off and removed my scanner and tried to start the car but it wouldn't do anything. All it would do when I would turn the key was flash the instrument cluster and center screen lights and make the clicking sound, but when I try to start the car there was no clicking at all. So, thinking I had a weak battery, I jumped the car off with no problems and started the whole procedure over again and had the exact same results, retrieving codes and the lights start flashing and clicking, won't start. Frustrated, I just closed it all back up and will deal with this tomorrow. Anyone have any ideas why this is happening? Thanks for any help.

 

Do not be tempted to hot plug in the scanner. Key out of ignition and then connect the scanner. Turn the key to run position and then scan.

Another odd thing is that if you can retrieve error codes, your Check Engine light should have been ON.

Follow the owner's manual to see if the CEL comes on when you move the key from Acc -> run {before clicking forward to start}

Has any one worked on the car .. specially the ground connections in the engine bay. Folks have reported problems when the OBD scanner started providing the ground connection.

One last thing ... the scanned errors can not be trusted if the battery is weak [sensors do not put out enough signal with a weak battery].

Salim

 

Okay. Check engine light is on. I first plugged the scanner up and then turned the key to the run position. The scanner synced up and retrieved codes and then started doing the weird lights flashing and clicking thing. When I unplugged the scanner and tried to crank the vehicle, it was like the battery was dead, jumped it off and it started up right away. I then shut the engine off, cranked it right up again with no problems and started the procedure all over again with the same results. I don't think the battery is weak, haven't had any problems cranking up the vehicle. I've had this vehicle since the summer and no one has worked on it since I have had it. With 281,000 miles on it, I am sure it has been worked on in the past. I will continue looking at it all when I get home from work today. Many thanks for your help.

 

Re: cowling removal https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ml#post8946710

 

I think this car has a mind of it's own or is possessed, or maybe all of the nonsense that happened when I was retrieving codes was all from a dying battery?
Keep in mind that no one has been driving the RX for a little over a week now.
So, I got home from work today and was going to try to check codes again and found that the battery was dead, or at least dead enough that the engine wouldn't crank, so I jumped it off, no problem, started right up, running great. I noticed that the check engine light was off so I decided to test out the car and sure enough, it is running better now than when we first got the thing. I can hit wide open throttle and it just takes off, no hesitation, no bogging down, way up on power. I drove it around the neighborhood and then came home and parked it and started working on a little project with the SHO. The RX had sat for about an hour or more and I needed to move it, jumped in, went to crank it up and the battery was nearly dead again. I jumped it off, and went for a long drive. I figured maybe I didn't let it charge enough the first time. On this drive I really got on it from a stand still at wide open throttle and again, the car had loads of power, didn't bog down at all, actually was really quick. When we first got the car, it would bog down at wide open throttle, not anymore. I don't know why is is running so well, I didn't do anything to it, I didn't clear any codes, would clearing the codes make it all reset itself or something? I don't know what happened to make this thing run so well, but for now the check engine light is off and it is running better than ever, go figure. I'm going to check it in the morning and if the battery isn't dead, then I will drive it to work a few days before turning it back over to the wifey.
If anyone has any explanation for this, please share, and thank you all for your help.

 

How old is the battery? You can get the battery checked at Advance Auto or similar stores. Watch the video below for how to check your alternator.
Assuming the alternator is good, if the battery is more than 2yr old I would probably replace it anyway, especially if the wife is primarily driving the car.
If the alternator is bad you may have to also change the battery regardless of age as it might have been damaged.

 

Not sure of the age of the battery. My Dad gave me this vehicle this past summer. I know it had a dead battery from sitting for a couple of months, he had gotten a newer RX and this one sat until he gave it to me. When I picked it up, 4 hours away from where I live, he had jumped it off and had let it run for quite some time to charge up the battery. I haven't had any issues with the battery, the vehicle was driven daily until the "bogging down" started, it has sat for a little over a week now. If the battery is dead in the morning, I will replace it.
I just want to know how or why this vehicle is running so well now and not the least bit of bogging down like it was doing that got it parked for a week? Boggles my mind.

 

Update, checked the vehicle this morning and it cranked up right away, looking like the the battery just went down from sitting for a little more than week. I will look for a date on the battery today, may be time to replace it.

 

So, this thread has taken a turn now. I have yet to check the date of the battery, but the vehicle is performing very well now. It starts up fine, runs fantastic and I don't know why or how it fixed itself, and I know it sounds ludicrous, but that is what seems to have happened here. I had purchased a new TPS sensor thinking that was the issue, today I returned it for a refund. So far so good, no check engine light yet, and running stronger than ever. I will update this if and when anything changes. Thank you all for the help and advice, I appreciate it immensely.

 

Once an error code is set and not clear out [by itself with fresh information] or by OBDII the computer maps the engine to a safe zone. One of the safe zone is what we refer to as limp mode .. where essentially the vehicle is drivable but shows enough signs that a visit to a shop is needed.

All of the above makes us give the advice to reset once and then go from there.

Salim