2004 GX470 Dies, won't start - HELP!!!!
06-15-18 | 02:25 PM
#31
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Already replaced, and ordered some more 20A to have on hand.
I checked a few other fuses and about 75% of them look like this. The ones that did not look like this had both prongs worn, like the right side prong in my pics.
I wonder if the "connections misaligned" on your invoice is in reference to the female connections in the fuse box. I am going to use a flashlight and check if anything looks obviously wrong.
I checked a few other fuses and about 75% of them look like this. The ones that did not look like this had both prongs worn, like the right side prong in my pics.
I wonder if the "connections misaligned" on your invoice is in reference to the female connections in the fuse box. I am going to use a flashlight and check if anything looks obviously wrong.
06-15-18 | 07:00 PM
#32
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 755
From: NC
It's possible the connector has gone bad and you've got a bad connection now. See if you can get a good (really good) photo of the fusebox where the fuse plugs in, compared to another fuse position which is known-good.
Chip H.
Chip H.
01-20-19 | 08:37 PM
#33
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Update:
My issue appeared to be the cheap no name battery. It looked new, but I should have been more leery, and taken my own advice that I always give regarding electrical issues; test/replace the battery first. Replaced it with an Interstate, and have had no issues for over a month. I already disabled the seat belt audio alarm, which I had previously given up on. Yay!
My issue appeared to be the cheap no name battery. It looked new, but I should have been more leery, and taken my own advice that I always give regarding electrical issues; test/replace the battery first. Replaced it with an Interstate, and have had no issues for over a month. I already disabled the seat belt audio alarm, which I had previously given up on. Yay!
01-20-19 | 09:04 PM
#34
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: punjab
Hello All,
I've lurked on this forum every time I have a problem with my GX, but have never joined or posted until now. Our 2004 GX has been a great car, but is suddenly doing a number of strange things - like not start. When I say it won't start, I mean you can turn the key, the dash lights up, the steering wheel adjusts, radio goes on, etc, but then NOTHING! No solenoid "click", no starter noise, NOTHING! Does not crank at all. The car just turned 60,000 miles, is in great shape, lives in the garage and has never been in an accident.
After the first couple of times it did this, had the battery replaced, as it was getting close. and then the car started again. Until the next day. No rhyme or reason as to when it would do this. It might start 10 times in a row, then NOT start for a while, then magically fire up instantly, even after several key turns. I wiggled the key, tried a different key, shifted to Neutral, wiggled the shifter to try to rule out security interlock, bad ignition switch and shift interlock. No dice.
Did some more research and thought it might be the starter relay - banged on it and it started, so replaced that part. Didn't solve the problem. It also began to randomly die while idling (in park, or in drive). Sometimes it would re-start, sometimes not. The times it has done this, it typically dies after running or 15-20 minutes, but NOT ALWAYS.... Sometimes it will die once, then be good for the rest of the day. Sometimes it re-starts immediately, after a few minutes, or more recently only after sitting for a few hours..
So basically we can't use the car. Took it to a local Lexus shop (not dealer) and they charged $60 to do a diagnostic, but couldn't figure it out. They asked if the car had been wrecked or had parts replaced to give them a starting point for further exploration; told them never. Now they want to charge $120 an hour to keep trouble shooting, so I told them no. Figured I'd pull the battery cable to reset the ECU and see if it would drive a bit to re-learn codes before taking it to the dealer if I can't figure it out.
So, has anyone here had this problem, or have any thoughts? I'd prefer to spend my own time on this instead of paying a fortune for their time. Any ideas are GREATLY appreciated! Sorry for the length of this post, but wanted to be as complete as possible. Thanks in advance!
I've lurked on this forum every time I have a problem with my GX, but have never joined or posted until now. Our 2004 GX has been a great car, but is suddenly doing a number of strange things - like not start. When I say it won't start, I mean you can turn the key, the dash lights up, the steering wheel adjusts, radio goes on, etc, but then NOTHING! No solenoid "click", no starter noise, NOTHING! Does not crank at all. The car just turned 60,000 miles, is in great shape, lives in the garage and has never been in an accident.
After the first couple of times it did this, had the battery replaced, as it was getting close. and then the car started again. Until the next day. No rhyme or reason as to when it would do this. It might start 10 times in a row, then NOT start for a while, then magically fire up instantly, even after several key turns. I wiggled the key, tried a different key, shifted to Neutral, wiggled the shifter to try to rule out security interlock, bad ignition switch and shift interlock. No dice.
Did some more research and thought it might be the starter relay - banged on it and it started, so replaced that part. Didn't solve the problem. It also began to randomly die while idling (in park, or in drive). Sometimes it would re-start, sometimes not. The times it has done this, it typically dies after running or 15-20 minutes, but NOT ALWAYS.... Sometimes it will die once, then be good for the rest of the day. Sometimes it re-starts immediately, after a few minutes, or more recently only after sitting for a few hours..
So basically we can't use the car. Took it to a local Lexus shop (not dealer) and they charged $60 to do a diagnostic, but couldn't figure it out. They asked if the car had been wrecked or had parts replaced to give them a starting point for further exploration; told them never. Now they want to charge $120 an hour to keep trouble shooting, so I told them no. Figured I'd pull the battery cable to reset the ECU and see if it would drive a bit to re-learn codes before taking it to the dealer if I can't figure it out.
So, has anyone here had this problem, or have any thoughts? I'd prefer to spend my own time on this instead of paying a fortune for their time. Any ideas are GREATLY appreciated! Sorry for the length of this post, but wanted to be as complete as possible. Thanks in advance!
01-21-19 | 12:34 PM
#35
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: TX
Sorry all, thought I'd provided the end of this story.... After the problem stumped our mobile mechanic AND the local Lexus only independent shop in town (after having the car for almost 2 weeks and $300+ grrrrrrr) we broke down and had it towed to the Lexus dealer. The problem did indeed end up being a loose connection to the ECU as a couple of folks on here suggested, but nobody else could find (including me 
). Turns out things were fine when the car was cold, but when it warmed up, there was enough thermal expansion to cause the wiring to disconnect itself. Was a relatively inexpensive fix considering what they charge for their diagnostic time.... Haven't had a problem with that issue since.
). Turns out things were fine when the car was cold, but when it warmed up, there was enough thermal expansion to cause the wiring to disconnect itself. Was a relatively inexpensive fix considering what they charge for their diagnostic time.... Haven't had a problem with that issue since.
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rjfiore1
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