car wont stop cranking

Asked by ledfootdee Feb 25, 2015 at 11:32 AM about the 2002 Lexus GS 300 RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

hey i am new to this don't even know if i am asking for help in the right place but here it goes. i woke up to a dead battery today when i went to jump start the car the minute i put the jumper cables the car started cranking on its own with no key in the ignition. so i then took the jumper cable off went in the car and put the key in the ignition and put it in the on position i then went to jump the car again and again the car started cranking the minute i put the jumper cables on now the car started but still keeps cranking. ok now i took the wire going to the starter off and obviously the car stopped cranking and its still running but i have no dashboard lights but when i put the car in drive the dashboard lights come on and then when i put the car back in park the dashboard lights turn off again and the car shuts off. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

4 Answers

4,385

The starter solenoid may be stuck; gently tap on the starter motor in the hope that it will unstick it. The electrical malfunctions are either related to the starter wire you unplugged, or maybe the car alarm is malfunctioning too? Lock and unlock the car using its key in the drivers door.

1 people found this helpful.
130

I know this post was from 2 years ago, but the exact same thing just happened to me, so I figured I would post the solution here for any other unfortunate soul that runs into this problem.. This is Not an issue with the starter, as posted by Chris, the problem is with your ignition switch. Basically it is sending the signal to "Crank" the engine all the time, regardless of the key being on or off. The quickest way to confirm this (and a temporary fix for the problem) is to remove the Starter fuse from the fuse panel by the drivers side parking break peddle. It will be labeled on the back of the cover, but mine was the bottom row, 2nd from the left. Once removed, plug your jumper cables back on, and if the starter does not start cranking, the ignition switch is 100% the problem. As for a temp fix, just turn the key to the run position, then touch the fuse to the slot it came out of, once the engine is running, remove the fuse, and you will be up and running. A new ignition switch is $40-$50. Your welcome! :)

13 people found this helpful.
20

Shraids is right! Thanks. I change out starter, starter relay, and then change out the ignition switch and the ignition switch was the problem. How i diagnose my issues? Well I pull the starter relay plastic cover off and the ignition switch keep sending power to the relay telling the starter to engage all the time without the keys. Basically it was hot all the time. When you look at the relay you can see the contact close, which the relay contact suppose to be be open. It only contact when you start the car, and if stay stuck together then the ignition switch is bad. Well hope this help solve some of ya issues and headaches.

2 people found this helpful.

Hey my Lexus gs300 will crank and run for a second and die and my blinkers,head lights,dash light,speed odometer,interior lights, radio,clock and ac,controls don’t work what’s causing that

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