# 1998 Lexus es300 - won't start!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lexus, 300\
**Created:** [January 26, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253 "2010-01-26T13:16:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pakisam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@pakisam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pakisam)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253/1 "2010-01-26T13:16:15Z")

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I have a 1998 Lexus ES300 with 120k miles. This morning the car won’t start. The lights seem bright and there is no clicking sound and it barely turns over. I think its the starter that went bad. I have been noticing that the car was taking longer to start, by that I mean increasing number of cranks to start over the past few weeks.  
  
 Could it be the battery?

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**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253/2 "2010-01-26T14:31:06Z")

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How old is the battery? The battery is more likely to be the problem than the starter.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253/3 "2010-01-26T14:49:59Z")

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Yes, it could be the battery. Do you have a way to charge the battery or jump start the car?

I suggest having the battery and the charging system tested. Many auto parts stores will do this free.

I’d bet on the battery before the starter.

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**Author:** ![rripstop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/65b543/32.png) [@rripstop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rripstop)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253/4 "2010-01-26T15:41:22Z")

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After you check the battery and rule it out there is a known problem with denso starters that I believe the es300 has. The contacts in the solenoid wear out. New contacts are easy to find for under $20, but you have to get them installed.

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**Author:** ![pakisam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@pakisam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pakisam)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-lexus-es300-wont-start/43253/5 "2010-01-26T22:07:19Z")

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It was the starter. Replaced it and all seems to be o.k.