Hookedongo

My SC2003 will not start, no sound. Lights and bells all working. Took it in and repair shop put new clamps on battery which worked the first time thinking I was not making a connection. Now can,not get it to start with or without battery hookup.

Harold57

Did the shop do a load test on your battery. It sounds like it may be too weak to start.

Hookedongo

Yes, they did, so did the tire shop! Can it be a starter or something like that? Electrical!? Will have to have it towed at this point!

Harold57

It could be a whole lot of things. It could be bad connections to the starter, a bad relay, a bad starter. My best guess is a bad connection somewhere. Start with the cheap and easy stuff and move on to the others after ruling them out.

When you turn the key, do you hear any noise at all or just lights? What do you hear? Does it ever work or just always dead since it started acting up?

Hookedongo

It did this 2 times previously. There is absolutely no noise when I turn the key. The 1st time I had my husband hook up the battery charger (showed it was at 100 percent, and just started within seconds then. Did that on 2 ocassions and then took it to the shop. They felt the clips holding the battery down were not allowing the the battery and engine to make a connection as it worked after that. It was fine a couple of times after changing the hold down clips, then we left town for a few days. Came home and the engine is dead again, hooked it up to the charger, which still shows 100 percent, and is not helping it to start or even try and make a noise or turn over.

PsykotiK

sounds like your starter is going

Hookedongo

Hookedongo

Thank you, Harold for all your concern and thoughts. I will run it in or send it in actually and see what happens.

Harold57

This is most likely a bad connection somewhere. Whether it is dirty contacts or loose contacts (like a bolt coming loose), it is hard to say until you narrow down where the disconnect is. You or the mechanic will have to follow the path from the ignition switch down to the starter. The ticking noise is likely to the be solenoid attempting to engage, meaning that it is not receiving enough power to make that happen, which further confirms a bad connection.

Hookedongo

Thank you, based on what has been happening, that sounds very logical to me. Fortunately I have a fantastic and honest repairman in Tulsa who has specializes only in Lexus and Toyota’s. You have been very kind!

Harold57

It sounds like he is an excellent place to start! A good and honest mechanic is hard to find.

Jabberwock

I'd be willing to bet it is the battery if the battery is more than a year or two old.

Hookedongo

Harold57

Yes, everything will appear healthy but the starter either won't kick or you'll only hear clicking or it will not make any sound at all if the battery is too low.

bobster99

It is usually the simple things.
I would have the battery load tested.

If you live in a warm climate, like Miami, batteries have a 32-34 month life span
I know of 200K mile 430's with the original starter working just fine.