RX350 Won't Start or Crank!
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: NV
RX350 Won't Start or Crank!
HELP! RX350 No Start, & Baffled!
Am a certified Aircraft Mechanic, and quite car savvy......but:
Low mileage 2011 RX350, and this. Fine & normal, parked in our garage, and on
attempted Startup this:
Normal ‘green lite’ for starting, pushing Start Button does nothing except
rapid flashing of CEL lite, Brake lite, ABS light, Battery, Tire, and even center Nav
System panel; (but no cranking). Bat voltage is 12v. Cables are clean and secure,
Horn blows, Seat adjusts, but NO Cranking! Tried other Fob, with same results.
My reliable OBD2 tester says unable to establish a link. Aarrggh, WTF??? Gimme
a hint here, & ThanX
Am a certified Aircraft Mechanic, and quite car savvy......but:
Low mileage 2011 RX350, and this. Fine & normal, parked in our garage, and on
attempted Startup this:
Normal ‘green lite’ for starting, pushing Start Button does nothing except
rapid flashing of CEL lite, Brake lite, ABS light, Battery, Tire, and even center Nav
System panel; (but no cranking). Bat voltage is 12v. Cables are clean and secure,
Horn blows, Seat adjusts, but NO Cranking! Tried other Fob, with same results.
My reliable OBD2 tester says unable to establish a link. Aarrggh, WTF??? Gimme
a hint here, & ThanX
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: NV
Kitlz: Battery has power to fully blow the Horn & adjust seat position. I'm not sure the ignition fully
turns on, even tho I get a 'green lite' indication on the start button. My VOM gives a full 12vdc reading
at the battery, and my charger was connected for 3 hours. ThanX for your quick input, I'll make a
charitable donation in your name tonight to a favorite charity (Anhauser-Busch Foundation)....not
sure what they do! Windows Up/Down is inop. ANY OTHER IDEAS???
turns on, even tho I get a 'green lite' indication on the start button. My VOM gives a full 12vdc reading
at the battery, and my charger was connected for 3 hours. ThanX for your quick input, I'll make a
charitable donation in your name tonight to a favorite charity (Anhauser-Busch Foundation)....not
sure what they do! Windows Up/Down is inop. ANY OTHER IDEAS???
Last edited by willyinnv; Aug 14, 2014 at 02:03 PM.
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,150
Likes: 1,711
From: VA
I have been doing my own car repairs for 30 years. I bet you need a battery. I have seen several instances where accessories worked but the car would not start. Almost always due to a weak battery. The last instance was a friend's Avalon.
Always try the simple repair first before dreaming up some complicated scenario. It can have 12 volts but not enough amps to start the car. You could have a weak or dead cell. Your dead power windows are a sure sign as pointed out above. If a jump start works, then you know it is the battery.
Always try the simple repair first before dreaming up some complicated scenario. It can have 12 volts but not enough amps to start the car. You could have a weak or dead cell. Your dead power windows are a sure sign as pointed out above. If a jump start works, then you know it is the battery.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 462
Likes: 4
From: NV
Like what AJS and Clutchless said, jump the car. I have this happened to me last month. The battery will operate the lights, horn, etc. but does not have enough juice to start. I jumped it with the other car and it started. I then charge it for 24 hours but still it can not start the car. I bought a new battery and problem solved.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
If the auto up/down feature is gone (also with the moonroof), start shopping for a new battery. From my experience on the 330, all accessories worked. Jump starting got me going the first time but not the second time the RX didn't start a few days later. The RX was flatbedded to the dealer where I was told losing the auto up/down feature is one way to tell the battery is on the way out. At least the new battery was free to me. And the windows and moonroof were reprogrammed.
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 787
Likes: 52
I wonder if the fact that almost every indicator of battery power works EXCEPT the starter, is a function of the computer. Maybe the computer interogates the battery's available power prior to actual startup. If it determines there's not enough available energy to start the engine, could it simply disable the start function and allow the accessories to still function so you can listen to the radio while you wait for assistance? 
My Mom jumped into her RX to make a quick run to the store, and there was NO indication of a brewing battery issue, nor had there been any indication prior to that trip. When she got in the car to go home, she had the same issue as the OP. All the dash lights worked, as did the accessories she checked. She got a jump from a very nice man, and it started with no issue. I replaced her battery, and she has had no problems since. Well, there was 1 issue. The windows wouldn't come down. Apparently they needed to be "reset" after I disconnected the battery.
My Mom jumped into her RX to make a quick run to the store, and there was NO indication of a brewing battery issue, nor had there been any indication prior to that trip. When she got in the car to go home, she had the same issue as the OP. All the dash lights worked, as did the accessories she checked. She got a jump from a very nice man, and it started with no issue. I replaced her battery, and she has had no problems since. Well, there was 1 issue. The windows wouldn't come down. Apparently they needed to be "reset" after I disconnected the battery.
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CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,150
Likes: 1,711
From: VA
That is what happened to my friend's Avalon. We were visiting them from out of town, driving around Atlanta and after lunch, the car would not start, but all or most accessories worked. He called AAA who gave a jump start and after testing the battery said it needed to be replaced. We drove directly to Advanced Auto where they installed the battery as part of the price. Problem solved.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 462
Likes: 4
From: NV
...
My Mom jumped into her RX to make a quick run to the store, and there was NO indication of a brewing battery issue, nor had there been any indication prior to that trip. When she got in the car to go home, she had the same issue as the OP. All the dash lights worked, as did the accessories she checked. She got a jump from a very nice man, and it started with no issue. I replaced her battery, and she has had no problems since. Well, there was 1 issue. The windows wouldn't come down. Apparently they needed to be "reset" after I disconnected the battery.
My Mom jumped into her RX to make a quick run to the store, and there was NO indication of a brewing battery issue, nor had there been any indication prior to that trip. When she got in the car to go home, she had the same issue as the OP. All the dash lights worked, as did the accessories she checked. She got a jump from a very nice man, and it started with no issue. I replaced her battery, and she has had no problems since. Well, there was 1 issue. The windows wouldn't come down. Apparently they needed to be "reset" after I disconnected the battery.
After jumping I went home and measured the voltage across. It was about 12.8 volts. And the car started. The next day it was dead again. I charged it for 24 hours but it will just not start anymore. Voltage was about 12 volts. I opened the topcover of the battery and peeked inside. There is fluid at the right level. I surmised the battery, being 4 years old, must be dead. And it was. I removed the battery, went to Costco and got a new one at a good price. They took the old battery too.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: NV
Hey you great Gurus! Now Fixed: This baffling problem was a Battery problem - although fully charged, and reading 12 volts on my VOM meter......1 or more cells were deteriorated, and unable to put out the required amps to engage the starter relay and cranking. The original OEM battery, tho only 2 yrs 11 months old, partially crapped out! Seems our very warm temps here in Las Vegas are hard on batteries. Mucho thanX to Kitlz. LDL, & others. Best to ya...... But - Yer Mileage May Vary!!!
Pole Position
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 26
From: GA
Everything is working fine but... It just works that way until the day it doesn't 
Took delivery of my 2010 RX450h (Watson) late June of 2009. Guess a good preventative measure would be to pick up a new battery at COSTCO (good ones at great prices). If they know how to install it while keeping power from the old one to the system in order to keep all the data in the computer chips I'll let them. Otherwise I'll let Lexus do it.
Took delivery of my 2010 RX450h (Watson) late June of 2009. Guess a good preventative measure would be to pick up a new battery at COSTCO (good ones at great prices). If they know how to install it while keeping power from the old one to the system in order to keep all the data in the computer chips I'll let them. Otherwise I'll let Lexus do it.