Q: engine wont crank over after car died while driving. tested starter,battery,cables,and fuses all good can any1 help?1998 lexus

asked by on January 15, 2017

car lost power then a few seconds later car died. engine wont crank over. oil light came on but still had oil in it no other warning lights came on but never started again....tested starter,battery fuses and cables still no crank...removed top timing belt cover and doesnt appear to be broken. still might be jammed up at bottom but dont think so can anyone help me please

My car has 300000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Car is not starting Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

You have an involved circumstance, with lots of possibilities, and so the most efficient thing to do, by far, will be to request a no start diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get the cause identified and then let you know of the available repair options or strategies. First, mechanical seizure of the engine itself has to be considered. That can be ruled in or out by simply turning the engine over by hand using the crank pulley bolt. The engine should turn by hand. Next, if the starter motor will turn the engine over, compression is tested because if there’s no compression the engine won’t start no matter what. If the engine turns over, compression is within acceptable limits, and the starter motor works and yet the engine won’t start, Diagnostic Trouble Codes are sought. If no Codes were stored by the PCM, the diagnostic turns to the basics of fuel, ignition, and air induction. Following that procedure, the fault will be identified quickly. Again, your most efficient option will be to simply request a no start diagnostic because the failure you experienced could result from many "equal likelihood possibilities", too many to list here.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I answer a call?
The hands free feature on your vehicle allows you to talk on the phone without taking your hands off of the steering wheel. To answer an incoming call when driving. Press the Phone button to engage the hands free mode....
Fuel bank sensor
There are a few things that can cause vehicles fuel trims to vary from normal. A vacuum leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-a-vacuum-leak) is a big thing. Broken or worn crankcase ventilation hoses and gaskets that are failing to seal can cause lean conditions....
Headlights not working?
The multi-function switch is a common fault with your Chevrolet C1500 Suburban. Sometimes the lights don't work at all. Other times the high beams will work but not the low beams. Moving the column up and down could possibly indicate...
tachometer.speedometer temp gauge not working
If cluster fuses are good, check/clean the battery ground, bot the terminal and where the ground cable connects to the chassis. If that doesn't help, then you have a bad instrument cluster and it will have to be replaced.
Will not start after sitting three days
Hello. The car has a defect in the electrical system, unfortunately, the defect causes the no-start condition only intermittently which does make the diagnostic tricky. Obviously, if the faulty electrical component would just fail outright, the problem could be found...
I currently have a 2008 BMW X3 3.0 si. It has the BMW business stereo in it. This morning I went to go leave for work and the stereo stopped working.
First check the fuse to the stereo and see if its burned. If the fuse is burned, replace the fuse and check the wiring on the radio and see if there is anything loose. If the fuse is good, then...
Hey my check engine lamp work but my Rom and speed lamps do not what could cause this
The instrument panel has quite a few separate bulbs. You may have a circumstance where some of the bulbs are faulty and need to be replaced. If you are referring to intermittent operation though and/or gauge malfunctions, the cause could...
05 acura tl wont crank till the third time trying?
If the problem occurred right after the service, there might be a connection. If the timing belt were not correct I would expect to see a check engine light, so that's probably not the case. But there might be a...
hi i own a kia sorento 08 diesel. im having a problem when taking off. when i take off the response is very slow. then it kicks in
You will need to check to see if there is any stored codes in the computer along with the normal maintenance with air and fuel filters. You may have a faulty sensor or clogged filters or low fuel pressures.

Related articles

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Cold Start Injector
Common signs include hard starting, a decrease in fuel efficiency, and engine performance issues.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Electronic Control Relay
If your engine cranks but does not start or powers on but does not function, you may need to replace the electronic control relay.
How to Buy a Lexus
When buying a Lexus, consider your budget and which model you want. You should also run a vehicle history report and take a test drive before buying.