Am I just unlucky?

[Hondo]

So... (2008 Lexus LX570, 218k miles)


Went to the car wash this morning, and in the process of cleaning out my interior I accidentally moved the transfer case switch into the 4-Low position.

Upon restarting the truck, it was definitely in 4-Low, and no matter what I tried, I could not get it into High Range. I had this issue over Christmas while in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it eventually cleared up while starting the truck a day later. Drove my truck home slowly, repeating the process to get my 200 back into High Range with no luck.

Later in the garage, I removed the cupholder and with the truck off, ignition completely off, I disconnected the two white plugs that reside below the cupholder and then reconnected them for the off chance that there might be an electrical connection issue. Fast forward a little bit, and the transfer case shifts out of 4-Low and is now in normal operation. (The disconnecting of these connectors made no change in the transfer case shifting issue)

Now, my bigger issue is that my truck is now having a no start condition! When I go to start all I get is a decently loud click under the hood. Louder than a relay click, and likely the solenoid? I'm not sure if the two plugs that I disconnected and reconnected tripped any sensors, and this is an easy fix, or am I just unlucky enough today to have my starter go out in the garage (extremely lucky perhaps?)???

Anyone got any input on if the wiring on the two plugs in the shift console, under the cupholder would cause a no start condition?

I did spend several hours getting Techstream operational on my laptop again (Windows 11 update kept the old version from working) and was unable to find any trouble codes stored in the system.

 

[bloc]

How old is your battery?

 

[Hondo]

As part of my diagnosis I replaced it today, given that batteries typically only last about two years here in Phoenix and its in that time frame...
Brand new Interstate Batteries MTP-27F made zero change in the condition. New battery tested at around 12.4 volts if I remember correctly.

 

[bloc]

That is some seriously bad luck if both things went bad at the same time.

Did you happen to check voltage of the old battery before turning it in? I wonder if it going out could have burnt the contacts in the starter and caused it to fail.

 

[Sandroad]

If the truck started and ran normally in high for even a couple times after you messed with connectors, I'll guess the starter is going out. If it never started again after you messed with the connectors, for sure do that again and make sure everything is clean and tight. But basically the no start symptoms seem like the starter.

 

[Markuson]

Can’t know for certain, but….
—If you’ve never changed the starter, you’re way past the normal fail age/miles…

 

[RET2]

I'm a bit perplexed about the mileage issue with starters. Mileage IMHO can't be realistically related to failures. A unit that is driven 2-10 miles a day vs a freeway commuter will have a gazillion more cycles?

 

[Markuson]

I'm a bit perplexed about the mileage issue with starters. Mileage IMHO can't be realistically related to failures. A unit that is driven 2-10 miles a day vs a freeway commuter will have a gazillion more cycles?

My feference to his truck’s age and miles wasn’t meant as a direct cause and effect…but more that its generally true that high mileage vehicles (as a group average) have cranked the starter a lot more that (as a group) low mileage units.

I don't know how much corrosion and time correlate, but I’d wager its a factor (among others, no foubt).

As for me… Both my 100 series and my 200 series’ starters both went out at similar range of age/miles. Its not 1:1 I’m sure… and correlation isn’t the same as causation.

But I do think its pretty unusual to find 14 year old units in that range that haven’t been through a starter swap…

 

[bloc]

I'm a bit perplexed about the mileage issue with starters. Mileage IMHO can't be realistically related to failures. A unit that is driven 2-10 miles a day vs a freeway commuter will have a gazillion more cycles?

Sheer speculation, your question is a good one: Starter is nestled in a very hot little nook between the engine block and exhaust manifold.. maybe heat contributes to the contacts failing?

 

[Hondo]

Battery tested at 10 volts, but the acid test for each of the cells tested normal. The electronic tester indicated a bad cell. I'm guessing the starter likely is dead and did just randomly die, unrelated to me disconnecting/reconnecting those small wire connectors.

The start cycle seems to be making it through all steps, including the louder click I'm hearing which is probably at the solenoid. Not certain, but its possible that the starter holding that crank cycle may have pushed the battery to its death.

Looking up into that crevasse where the starter is buried it appears to have a white sticker which is non-factory. I purchased the truck in December 2020 at 185k, and wouldn't be surprised if it had been previously replaced.

 

[Hondo]

Parts ordered for starter replacement, as it seems likely that its dead. Thankfully it happened in the garage and not on the road.

 

[RET2]

10 volts? That's a bad battery?

 

[Markuson]

10 volts? That's a bad battery?

Def bad at 10… But He had the same non-start with a new battery.

By the way, @RET2 … I still have this handed-off starter sitting in my garage for you.

 

[RET2]

Def bad at 10… But He had the same non-start with a new battery.

By the way, @RET2 … I still have this handed-off starter sitting in my garage for you.

Oh yeah? Well I still have your Fumoto in my barn so take that.

 

[Markuson]

Oh yeah? Well I still have your Fumoto in my barn so take that.

Oh yaaaa? Well I still got your rock warrior caps too… Take THAT!

Note to you g folk… (this is how we “fight” when we’re old… lol)