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Posted on Nov 09, 2010
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I HAVE A 1990 LS 400 WHEN TURNING KEY NO CRANKING AND HAVE GOOD BATTERY POWER. NO POWER TO STARTER WIRE ON STARTER SELINOD.WHAT CAN IT BE

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Duane Wong

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  • Lexus Master 6,826 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 09, 2010
Duane Wong
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It could be a bad ignition switch or bad starter wire from the starter switch, or the PNP is not adjusted correctly:

Here are instructions on how to remove and replace the PNP, but read over it to understand how to adjust:
Park/Neutral Safety Switch REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION ES300 1993-94 Models

  1. With the ignition switch in the LOCK position, disconnect the negative battery terminal. If equipped with an air bag system, wait at least 90 seconds or longer before performing any other work.
  2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  3. Disconnect the Park/Neutral switch connector.
  4. Remove the clip from the shift control cable.
  5. Remove the nut and control cable.
  6. Remove the bolts and pull out the Park/Neutral switch. To install:
  7. Install the Park/Neutral switch and loosely install the bolts.
  8. Adjust the switch and torque the bolts to 48 inch lbs. (5 Nm).
  9. Install the control shaft lever.
  10. Install the control shaft cable and torque the nut to 9 ft. lbs. (13 Nm). Fig. 1: The transaxle control shaft lever has a nut and washer to retain it - 1993-94 ES300 I HAVE A 1990 LS - 54617.gif
    Fig. 2: Removing the Park/Neutral switch - 1993-94 ES300 54618.gif

  11. Install the clip to the shift control cable.
  12. Lower the vehicle.
  13. Connect the negative battery cable.
  14. Make sure the vehicle will start only in the PARK or NEUTRAL position.
1995-97 Models Fig. 3: Aligning the neutral base line and groove - 1995-97 ES300 293716.gif
Fig. 4: Park/Neutral switch removal and installation - GS300, LS400, SC300 and SC400 300569.gif
Fig. 5: Park/Neutral switch adjustment - GS300, LS400, SC300 and SC400 300571.gif
  1. With the ignition switch OFF, disconnect the battery cables, negative terminal first. Allow 90 seconds to elapse before performing any other work.
  2. Apply the parking brake fully and block the rear wheels.
  3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the Park/Neutral position switch.
  4. Remove the locknut and disconnect the control cable from the manual shift lever.
  5. Remove the clip from the holding the control cable to the bracket.
  6. Remove the nut, washer and the manual shift lever from the manual valve shaft.
  7. Using a flat bladed tool, bend the lock washer back away from the nut.
  8. Remove the nut and lock washer from the Park/Neutral switch.
  9. Remove the two bolts and the Park/Neutral position switch. To install:
  10. Install the Park/Neutral position switch to the manual valve shaft. Leave the two bolts loose at this time.
  11. Install the lock washer and nut. Torque the nut to 61 inch lbs. (7 Nm).
  12. Using a flat bladed tool, bend the lock washer over the nut to secure the nut in place.
  13. Adjust the Park/Neutral as follows:
    1. Install the manual shift lever to the Park/Neutral switch and set the shift lever to the neutral ( N) position.
    2. Align the groove and the neutral basic line on the Park/Neutral switch.
    3. Hold the Park/Neutral switch in this position and tighten the two bolts to 48 inch lbs. (5 Nm).
  14. Install the manual shift lever with washer and nut.
  15. Install the control cable to the manual shift lever and install the nut. Torque the nut to 11 ft. lbs. (15 Nm).
  16. Install the control cable to the bracket by installing the clip.
  17. Connect the electrical connector to the Park/Neutral switch.
  18. Lower the vehicle and check the vehicles shifting positions.
  19. Connect the negative battery cable to the battery.
  20. Verify that the vehicle only starts in PARK or NEUTRAL.
GS300, LS400, SC300 and SC400
  1. With the ignition switch OFF, disconnect the battery cables, negative terminal first. Allow 90 seconds to elapse before performing any other work.
  2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
  3. If necessary, remove the front exhaust pipe.
  4. Disconnect the neutral start switch connector.
  5. Remove the control shaft shift lever.
  6. Pry off the washer and remove the nut.
  7. Remove the bolt and pull out the neutral start switch. To install:
  8. Install the Park/Neutral switch and loosely install the bolt.
  9. Adjust the switch as follows:
    1. Loosen the neutral start switch bolt and place the shift lever in the N position.
    2. Align the groove and the neutral basic line.
    3. Hold in position and tighten the bolt to 9 ft. lbs. (13 Nm).
  10. Install the nut and washer.
  11. Install the control shaft shift lever.
  12. Connect the electrical connector.
  13. Install the front exhaust pipe. Torque the front nuts to 46 ft. lbs. (62 Nm). Torque the pipe support bracket to bolts to 32 ft. lbs. (43 Nm). Torque the No. 2 front exhaust pipe to the front exhaust pipe bolts to 32 ft. lbs. (43 Nm).
  14. Lower the vehicle.
  15. Connect the negative battery cable to the battery.
  16. Verify that the vehicle will only start in the N or P positions.
---
Maybe try to press the brake pedal and run the gear shift throughout the full range of gears while the car is on level ground, and retry the starter to see if there is a faulty PNP adjustment.

Try to start in Neutral not Park, and jiggle the gear shift back and forth to see if the PNP is not adjusted right.

Good luck on this repair.

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