Car Wouldn't Start

[Npeckt]

Hi All

Can anyone please help.

I'm hoping to buy a GS300 (1995 M reg) very soon, and travelled 70 miles today to view it.

When I got to the dealers (he had taken the GS in as a part ex) he tried to start it but all that happened was the car turned over until the Battery was flat. He told me that the car must be choked up after the mechanics have moved it around the car lot many times without allowing the car to warm up ... in other words the car has been running on choke. He told me the plugs were sooted up, and the plugs would just need a clean and it will be fine. I am going back to the dealer next week to test drive the car (if it starts) but I am wary of buying a 'pig in a poke'.

Does any of this ring true, or should I steer clear!

All help and advice gratefully recieved, as I am a Lexus virgin, and hope to be an owner without being striped up!

Andy

[Rodders_UK]

what he said is true, on any high compression engine, if you only run it for a very short time then the engine will flood. What you don't know however, if whether he's telling you the truth or not - it could just be a pile of junk (sorry)

[Npeckt]

Thanks Rodders,

Anyone else have any idea's, or can give me a positive answer to whether I should walk away or not... I have been caught out like this before with another car, and really do not want to waste my hard earned again

Thanks in advance for your help people

Andy

[ColinBarber]

If your not sure then walk away. There are many others for sale.

[newport]

Well a car dealer that has cars that wont start is not much of a dealer more like an idiot who the hell is going to buy a car that wont start?

Walk away there is plenty out there that does start.

[MrADeveci]

Like the rest said, there is plenty others ......... a member is selling his at the mo too.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...showtopic=23647

[adz]

he tried to start it but all that happened was the car turned over until the battery was flat. He told me that the car must be choked up after the mechanics have moved it around the car lot many times without allowing the car to warm up

If he was any good he wouldn't have been put in that situation in the 1st place :duh: .

Walk away, sounds like a cowboy (especially trying to start it until the Battery goes flat!).

[Chippy 01]

Hi All

Can anyone please help.

I'm hoping to buy a GS300 (1995 M reg) very soon, and travelled 70 miles today to view it.

When I got to the dealers (he had taken the GS in as a part ex) he tried to start it but all that happened was the car turned over until the battery was flat.  He told me that the car must be choked up after the mechanics have moved it around the car lot many times without allowing the car to warm up ... in other words the car has been running on choke.  He told me the plugs were sooted up, and the plugs would just need a clean and it will be fine.  I am going back to the dealer next week to test drive the car (if it starts) but I am wary of buying a 'pig in a poke'.

Does any of this ring true, or should I steer clear!

All help and advice gratefully recieved, as I am a Lexus virgin, and hope to be an owner without being striped up!

Andy

←

What the man said is true, Andy. I actually did it to my '95 MK1 about two years ago. Her indoors wanted to get the bin out past my car, so I started her up, moved about ten feet and shut her down again.

Next morning, wouldn't start. I flattened the Battery trying, so I left it on charge and went to work. Phoned Lexus in the meantime about the no-start (omitting my little move) and they told me to try again when I got home. I did that, but still no go. Phoned again, and within one hour the car was picked up and taken in.

Next day about lunchtime I got a call saying that all was now OK.

I was told when I picked it up that the probable cause of my problem was a start up and a quick shut down which chokes the system. I blamed her indoors and drove away. Ever since then, if I need to move a short distance, I leave it running for about a minute. Never had that problem again.

Phil.

[Lexusjohn]

Walk away, no dealer worth his salt would have a car that would not start on his forcourt, especialy a lexus, and he new you were coming 70 MILES!!!!

laughable.

[Ryo]

nearly as bad as the ls400 i went to look at at sheffield.

lovely white car with full lex history, hell thais car was georgous. !!!

tried to start it , DEAD after it started , it purred ,

"it was only driven yesterday" he said, funny as the disks were rusty and there was cobwebs on arches and to look it hadnt been driven in ages :)

funny really i never bought it :)

[Npeckt]

Let me throw this into the pot.

The dealer has agreed to take in part ex an L reg Merc, with 3 weeks MOT, a broken window, and no service history!

I have been to several other dealers who wouldn't touch my car with a barge pole.

Now, as this lexus has some (maybe full) history and only a modest amout of money will exchange hands, do I look at maybe this is an opportunity to get rid of my Merc for something better (if it starts!) or do I walk away knowing I will not be able to get rid of my Merc in the state it is, have to spend money on the Merc, and know I will never be able to afford a Lexus :duh:

Help!!

Andy

[baby_lexus]

You haven't made it clear if this was a Lexus dealer, or another garage selling cars.

If it is a dealer, then surely he will give you a full years warrenty ?

[Npeckt]

Sorry, Its a small independent dealer - in no way associated with Lexus!

[newport]

Dose not sound good.

"WALK AWAY"

[Npeckt]

Update:

I have found out it was actually the lead from the coil to the distributor (king lead?) that was broken, hence the car wouldn't start.

It makes me a bit more hopeful that it was genuinely a broken down car rather than me being hood-winked.

I'm still going to take it for a test drive when it is up and running and will decide from there.

I went to see my mechanic, who normally services BMW's and Mercs, and he said BMW's flood all the time and they don't start after being switched on and off without having chance to come off choke!

Thanks guys for all your help and opinions, they are really appreciated.

Andy :)

[randyreindeer]

Go for it mate. Don't let your fears stand in the way of your dreams. If it runs and misfires then take a chance. use it as a bargaining tool to drive the price down.

My first Lex came with nothing but a set of keys. After searching, I turned up full service history and owner history. All 3 of them

[Tony9r]

I would go for it if you really like the car... when I first went for a test drive in mine, the Battery died after several attempts to start it as it had been standing for quite some time. I insisted on a new more powerful Battery before I bought it and it's been fine since - starts first time, evey time :winky:

You should get at least 3 months warranty from him anyway...