Dr. Jekyll

iTrader: (1)

I'd like some feedback from anyone who has had this or a similar problem:

I recenetly replaced my battery so I know it is not a poor or weak battery.

I can turn the key all the way to the start position, I hear a "click" and what sounds like a "phssht" but it doesn't turn over. Not even once. All the electronics work fine and the headlights don't dim, it just goes click and nothing. After several tries (8 or so) and 3 mins. it just started normally.

Any help or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

buggs384

I had similar symptoms, but on most occasions the car did not make ANY noises just would not start. My car has 60K on the clock. Turned out to be the starter.
Mine would start fine in the morning but if I made a few stops during the day and turned the car off it was a real crap shoot if it was going to start again, without me sitting there for 10 minutes trying ti get it started..
After the starter was replaced NO problems.
I also thought is was my battery and replaced that just before the starter.
Hope it not your starter $$$$ job.
Starter alone is like 300.00

Dr. Jekyll

iTrader: (1)

Damn I'm hoping it's not the starter. I was hoping it was a relay or a solenoid or something since the starter doesn't even turn the motor over, usually the starter slowly dies. It's odd how it goes click, then click then starts right up with no strain. Wonder how the starter can be bad if it still starts even after a few minutes. I'd assume if the starter went bad it'd be dead and nothing. Very odd. Thanks for your reply.

Any others?

V8_Fan

My guess is your starter contacts are worn. On the 4.7V8 (LX/GX/Landcruiser), the contacts last 80-100K mi. You can replace them yourself for about $40, or have the dealer replace the starter for $700 or so.

Dr. Jekyll

iTrader: (1)

I only have 37k miles and this morning it started right up. Saturday took 6 tries to get to the market and once I returned to the car it started right up. Very odd. My mechanic says the starter is in the manifold and quite a pain to replace. My LX450 starter was replaced at 94k miles and is still runing strong at 188k miles.

DDLexus

This issue reminds me of my 1985 Saab 900 Turbo (i owned in the late 80s). It would do the exact same thing. Sometimes it started fine, others i would have to try it several times over the course of about 10-20min. I think on my Saab, the distributor cap had a rotor with some points that were broken or damaged. Replaced that rotor and it worked fine ever since.

It definitely sounds like a starter problem. I'd take baby steps and replace the Points as Jim_Chow suggested.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

when my starter went out on my old 99 gs400 (like 800 or so to fix$$$) it would only be real bad on cold start ups at first and then it got progressively worse but cold was definitely the biggest factor. it would click a whole bunch of times really fast when you were trying to turn start it and sometimes would catch and turn over but they were pretty loud fast clicking sounds like 3 or 4 per second and the battery was good.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

Hate to say it, but it sounds like your starter is on its way out. Have it looked at before it leaves you stranded (issues manage to arise on cold rainy/snow nights for some reasons.)

Dr. Jekyll

iTrader: (1)

Well even though I live in Hawaii it has been rather cold lately, not quite freezing but colder than normal. Thank you all for your feedback, I'm not liking the sound of a $$$$ starter job though.