Starter or battery?

[aedgington]

Need some advice here, because I'm just a couple of months away from being out of warranty.

02 LX w/ 46K

current battery looks like a cheapy the p.o. put in; autcraft group 24f

symptoms:

a "click" and no start; like the battery has no juice.
then either we jump it or it starts after that just fine.

this sounds like the starter/contact problem people have mentioned, but no one has mentioned having the problem w/ mileage as low as mine.

what do ya'll think? replace the battery, or just take it in to the dealer?

i'm hesitatant to take it in because it's the kid-mobile & our other car is a 2 seat convertible. i'd have to do some vehicle borrowin' if i drop the lx in the shop.

 

[mobi-arc]

I'd start by replacing the battery with something of quality. It's quick, cheap, and you don't have to be inconvenienced without a truck. If that doesn't solve the problem, then drop it into the dealer's lap for warranty attention.

Need some advice here, because I'm just a couple of months away from being out of warranty.

02 LX w/ 46K

current battery looks like a cheapy the p.o. put in; autcraft group 24f

symptoms:

a "click" and no start; like the battery has no juice.
then either we jump it or it starts after that just fine.

this sounds like the starter/contact problem people have mentioned, but no one has mentioned having the problem w/ mileage as low as mine.

what do ya'll think? replace the battery, or just take it in to the dealer?

i'm hesitatant to take it in because it's the kid-mobile & our other car is a 2 seat convertible. i'd have to do some vehicle borrowin' if i drop the lx in the shop.

 

[jp213a]

current battery looks like a cheapy the p.o. put in; autcraft group 24f

Group 24F is the standard size. A Group 27F is a little larger with more cold cranking amps (CCA) and fits fine. I'm running an Interstate C27FXHD (commercial, extra heavy duty) that cost $75 plus tax. Be sure the terminals are clean.

 

[ATLcrusher]

Why don't you just have the battery tested? If it's not bad (and presumably it is the starter), and your Lexus is under warranty, they should be able to provide you with at least an RX as a loaner...

 

[Augie]

Most likely its battery, but when you force it to start with low voltage battery it would burn the starter contact.
Get your battery checked ASAP before its too late.

 

[Pskhaat]

Sure? Isn't 27F the norm on LCs?

 

[Pskhaat]

Sounds classic starter to me.

 

[100 TD]

Starter, Starter.
If it starts on the second or third try, definetly not the battery, check battery connection though. Report it to dealer now and get in in writing, it will continue to fail if it is not a crook battery terminal

 

[aedgington]

apparently it was the starter. replaced under warranty.

odd @ 46K

 

[Pskhaat]

Good to hear. At least you should theoretically get about 80k out of this one. It was most likely the ``starter contacts'' but good you got the whole starter.

 

[ATLcrusher]

Most dealers won't mess with replacing the contacts - it's just too much labor to take the whole damn thing apart again if anything goes wrong. So they replace the whole starter.

Glad you got it taken care of.

 

[aedgington]

After all the warranty work I've already gotten done, I'm debating on whether or not they'll bleed my AHC system before I get out of warranty, or just try to full blown murder me.

 

[Pskhaat]

Don't feel bad, auto and home warranties are IIRC the most profitable products in an insurance companies portfolio.

 

[ATLcrusher]

It's not like they don't get paid for warranty work. Different rates of course depending on manufacturer and/or source of warranty.