I hate hate hate hate hate hate Fu$#$ing electrical issues with cars.
I posted about a month ago that I had replaced the ignition switch in the focus. Well that worked fine till the next day when I went to the store and then came out to nothing when turning the key again..... after shaking everything it did finally crank and I left it as is. (trying to start it periodically which it did sometime and not others. I was hoping to get it going again this week because my brother in law is planning on buying the lexus from me.
More research last week and another common problem with those faults is the actual ignition cylinder getting worn down at the contact point. Order one last night OEM. Re-key it to my original key. Install it start the car, turn off, start it, turn off, start it, turn off, NOTHING!!!!
Leave the charger on the battery overnight as it may be down a bit. Get up in the morning, start the car, turn it off start it turn it off, NOTHING.... WTF!!!
So I tell my boss i'm working from home and start down the wonderful electrical rabbit hole. I spend an hour googling every common problem with that year/model that "might" have anything to do with it. I replace the ignition relay with a good one, nothing.
I change the ECM diode with the one for the fan, nothing.
I check and bypass the clutch switch, nothing
I make sure the starter relay is doing something when turning the key to start, nothing.
I pull the column back apart to make sure everything is still lining up from the previous night.
I check every fuse or relay that has anything to do with it.
So now i'm left with it may being the starter.... bad news I was hoping to avoid it because of where it is on this car. Car has 240k miles on it and normally runs amazing so this is the first none PM thing i've done to it.
3 1/2 hours later, busted knuckles and looking like a coal miner I walk into auto zone and have them test it... tests good. Go to Orileys for a second test, tests good.
So now here I am, having to put the old starter back in. I decide to order new OEM batter cables to make sure something in the harness hasn't gone bad. So i'm waiting till thursday night before starting the reinstall.
I've ruled out just about everything I can think of with a no crank problem. I'm going to find and clean every ground I can in he mean time.
I HATE ELECTRICAL ISSUES, SO MANY STUPID POSSIBILITIES.