hankster2

1999 Lexus RX300. Good Battery, meter shows 12.25 Volts. Acts like weak battery but Horn & Lights work fine.
But when trying to start, dash lights flicker, starter clicks, it acts very much like a low charged battery.

fastnoypi

check your cables, they may be corroded on the terminals on the starter end. Otherwise you might just have a bad battery cell with not enough CCA's.

salimshah

Please read "having problems start here mega thread" .. one of the sticky thread.

Salim

lexina

Sounds like battery problem to me. A bad battery can still run lights, horns, radio, but won't be good enough to start. The voltage alone does not provide enough battery information that it is a good battery; like A23 remote battery, it is 12v.

Baetke

The contacts inside the starter solenoid are a common failure item on these starters. If you have the time, you can find the contacts online and replace them yourself. Otherwise rebuilt starters from NAPA come with a lifetime guarantee. Check the voltage at the starter stud, not the cable, to see if you are getting at least 10 volts under load. If not, measure at the cable to eliminate corrosion between the cable and the stud as a possible culprit. If both of these voltages are ok, then you need to fix or replace the starter. Its not a difficult job for the average DIY-er.

ukrkoz

Yeah, voltage means squat for starting, you need amperage. Simple check. Jump start. Does the vehicle start fine then? I'd start with cleaning cables/posts. Making sure all connections are clean and tight there. Though I had to replace starter on our then 99RX. Went bad at around 120 000 miles. Not that hard, only careful as coolant line has to be disconnected, so don't drip coolant onto starter.

tranft

Baetke

I installed a reman NAPA starter about 5 years ago and have had no problems with it. It came with a lifetime guarantee and is easy to install so I am happy with my decision.

salimshah

Please make sure if you really need the whole starter. Check the sticky threads and look up the DIY for solenoid. If you are handy the repair is less than $25 and you keep every thing practically original.

Salim

tranft

Australian

It is going to be the battery.

hankster2

It was the starter. Battery & Alternator checked out fine. Replaced starter and no further problems. In my experience if the horn blows load the battery is good enough to start a car.

salimshah

Usually it is the solenoid .. which gets worn out with time. I have yet to see the actual starter give up on RX. When you replaced the starter, it comes with the solenoid.

Salim