RX Won't Start
 

Hi there- I just bought a '13 RX350 with only 32k miles on the clock about a month ago- I just tried starting it this morning and it won't start. At 8am it just made a harsh clicking noise- wouldn't even try and turn over- and flashed every light and BSM/AWD/ETC failures, and at 10am I couldn't even unlock it normally. It's only been sitting since tuesday night (it's thursday morning now). I also checked the service history online and the previous owner had the battery replaced on 07/2018 and had to have it jumped on 10/2016.

My fear is that it might be a problem with the alternator, but I don't want to jump to conclusions. I'm going to place a call to McGrath of Chicago later (my selling dealer), but does anyone have any idea about what might be wrong?

Your battery is dead, it's probably going bad even though it's not that old. Check the battery voltage first with your voltmeter, if it's low, charge the battery and then it should start. Or just go to a store and get a new one.

Once it's running you can test the alternator at your local auto parts store. Or if you have a volt meter you can test it yourself.

^^ What he said. The Lexus-branded batteries are mediocre at best. My wife's 2015 RX350 is on its second one (replaced under warranty before we purchased the vehicle in October 2018). Get a much better aftermarket AGM battery.

I agree it is the battery. The alternators almost never fail in Toyota/Lexus products, but batteries often fail in winter.
Remember you are in the midwest going through the coldest arctic weather in memory, such extreme cold will make many things stop working, including it appears, your battery.

The car probably set on the lot without being used much and the battery drained down. You need a trickle charger to charge it back up to 100% and then load test it as previously mentioned. If it’s only 2-3 years old, see what brand of battery was installed, sounds like Lexus did it if you’re checking Lexus records. If it’s a Lexus battery, hopefully it can be brought back to life by charging it up. In your situation either the battery is out of charge or the battery cables are not connected tight enough or you got corroded terminals.

Since you’re already letting the dealer figure it out, just wait and see.

Thanks for the advice- I took a voltmeter and the battery is pretty much toast. I tried charging it for several hours over thursday afternoon and evening and this morning it wouldn't even unlock because it isn't holding a charge, I jumped it again and got a bunch of warning lights (BSM, AWD, Trac Off) and basically it doesn't have enough power to run things like the heating or anything else.

On the bright side, I called my salesperson and he said to bring it up to the service center and they'd take care of it at not cost as a courtesy. So things could be a lot worse :)

samething happened to me. Bought a 2015 RX and battery died the next day. Replaced the battery. Everything run fine.