Last week, while driving on the highway, the engine light came on, I lost all power from the gas pedal, I rolled to a stop and shut off the car. When I tried to crank it back up the starter engages and it sounds like it is trying to start but the starter stays on as if you are holding the key turned all the way forward, trying to continually start the vehicle but it will not start. Any ideas on what is going on here?
Again - I put the key in, turn it as you would normally to start the car and turn it slightly back as you would with a normal start but the starter stays on/engaged until I turn the key all the way back to the off position and the vehicle will not turn over.
this is a first...

 

Maybe an issue with the ignition switch? I only say this because you say you turn it back slightly when you normally start. You should not have to turn it back, it springs back. So turn to start for that brief moment and let get. Its should spring back as the auto-start operates. I suppose the starter itself could be an issue too, the solenoid may be sticking in the starter. That is not a common issue that I have heard of. So maybe two issues.

 

Also this:

"...as if you are holding the key turned all the way forward, trying to continually start the vehicle..."

The LR3 has an electronic ignition. You don't hold the key forward, it's a flick of the wrist.

 

I think that’s why he prefixed that with “as if”, basically saying that starting is engaging but not shutting off. I don’t think they key is being held.

Had another thought, I was hung up on the starter but will add the truck will keep the starting going for a longer duration as it waits ignition. So let’s say you are out of fuel, it will keep cranking on its own until it starts or maybe after X number of seconds? So you may have fuel delivery issues, a sensor disconnected, etc...

 

ok - correction, youre right, it does spring back - and after it springs backs, the starter is still engaged (trying to start the engine) and the only way to stop it is to turn the key all the way back/off

 

correction - the ignition system is functioning properly. it turns forward and kicks back slightly as it is supposed to BUT the starter continues to be engaged/trying to start the engine and the only way to stop it is to turn the key all the way back/off and the engine never turns over.

 

you are correct - the starting is engaged but not shutting off and the key is not being held. as if the starter is trying to continually start the engine without me holding the key and it never turns over and you have to turn the key back all the way to disengage the starter. this has never happened before on any vehicle i have ever owned

thank you !

 

It because its trying to start, that is all. So it keeps turning over until it senses the engine is running. Usually this is an RPM value. So if the truck is not starting, the issue is not the starter but the fact you have an engine that will not fire up. Fuel/spark/air.... you have to look at those and consider issues like unplugged MAF sensor to bad crank sensor, etc.