The DavidCyrus Blog of Wisdom

1999 Lexus RX300 Won't Start?

Try this before you tow it to a dealer

One of the most wonderful Christmas presents we've ever received was a 1999 Lexus RX300.


It was given to us just when a family car was truly needed, and has served us well. It is not, however, without its own costs. Parts and labor on a Lexus can be expensive, so when the car has some trouble, I try to apply my limited mechanical knowledge toward fixing it at home on the cheap.

The latest trouble was perplexing. I could not get the car started. Turning the key would strongly crank the motor, and occasionally the engine would catch and rev for a half-second, but then it always died. Pumping the gas pedal did nothing.

During the work week we had to abandon the Lexus for our utilitarian Pontiac Sunfire, and we heard reports from our son that the Lexus had started right up for him. However, upon returning from work, it was the same old story for me- Dead On Arrival.

I gave it one last try this past Saturday. Upon advice from friends and Internet forums, I removed the air intake hose and squirted carburetor cleaner into the throttle body, hoping that this would loosen up a stuck "something". The Lexus still refused to start, so I called AAA for a tow to our local Lexus dealer for service.

When the tow truck arrived, the driver seemed to be one of those experienced mechanics that enjoyed diagnosing car trouble without lifting the hood. At least, that was the attitude he radiated to me as he approached the Lexus. "What seems to be the trouble?" he half-quipped. I had fully explained my situation to AAA and to his towing garage, over the phone a half hour before; he seemed to be taunting me.

I was holding the spare key that we would use to take the car out of Park, so instead of explaining, I hopped into the drivers seat to give him a demonstration. The Lexus started right up and purred like a well-oiled Japanese luxury SUV. Stunned, I turned it off, retried, and vroom! Once again, it started flawlessly. Embarrassed, I sent him away, but I still wanted to get the car checked out, even knowing it would cost a premium at the dealer. Further advice had told me to (a) purchase and add STP engine treatment, (b) fill up the tank with Super-Premium gasoline, from Mobil (who apparently use the best gas filters) and (c) keep the engine running throughout this process.

After all this was done, the car seemed cured. I waited a few hours to recheck, and low and behold, suddenly it wasn't starting again. Talk about dashed hopes.

But now I was suspicious. Why was this car randomly alternating between easy and impossible starting schemes? The only thing that was changing between attempts was the driver, the time of day, ...or maybe the car keys? Was that it?

The key was the key. The plastic housing surrounding my Lexus key had recently broken, and I had taped the housing tight with aluminum duct tape. This taped key was the only one of our set of three that couldn't start the car. After peeling off the tape, the key now starts the car fine.

I have no additional information to explain why this worked, other than what I've written above. Go Figure.