Modern vehicles are pretty smart and sometimes their smartness appears to be an obstacle for some drivers. There is a certain procedure that has to be done correctly to start the engine. Pressing the brake, ensuring the shifter is in P, pressing the start button, or turning the key. This is what you need to do. But what if your Lexus shows a weird message instead of starting the engine?
If you see the “Depress Brake Pedal to Start Engine” message in the Lexus, it may mean that you are doing something wrong. Alternatively, there is a problem with the brake switch or some other unit. It’s not uncommon for Lexus cars to throw a message like this when there is an issue with the 12V battery or with the immobilizer.
Here’s what I will discuss in this article:
- Why can’t you start the engine when Lexus says “Depress Brake Pedal”?
- What are the reasons for this message to come on the dash?
- How can you solve the problem on your own?
- When is it time to call your dealer or a good repair shop?
Describing the problem with brake pedal mystery
Well, you may be seated comfortably in your Lexus and doing exactly what you do every time you get into the car. But instead of hearing the engine cranking and starting, you see the chime, and the annoying message comes on the dash: “Depress brake pedal to start the engine”. In this context, the message may seem weird to you because you are now pressing the pedal just as always.
So what happened? There are several possible options:
- You aren’t pushing the brake pedal hard enough. The switch in the brake pedal should realize any touch of your foot, but the brakes on your car may be pretty stiff when the engine is off, so you may just need to press the pedal harder.
- Your vehicle may not understand that the brake is depressed. This happens when there is an electrical problem or issue with the brake switch and other components. However hard you press that pedal, the message doesn’t go away and the Lexus doesn’t start.
- Your car has a glitch. It’s not uncommon for any modern car to develop a kind of glitch in its software. Maybe, you just need to leave the car in peace for several minutes and it will start. But some other actions may be required.
- Your immobilizer is freaking out. Immobilizers in Lexus cars are pretty advanced because these cars are the number one target for car thieves. But when the immobilizer is mad, this may prevent you from starting your own car.
Behind each of these reasons, you may find several possible problems. In this article, I will try to describe as many of them as I know about.
Let’s see what reasons can lead to such an unpleasant experience with your luxury car.
Reasons for the “Depress Brake Pedal” error message
So, when this message is on the dash, you can’t start the car. You keep pressing the engine start button but there is no way you can overcome the message – it keeps hanging there on the dash screen.
Here are the most common problems with your Lexus that can lead to this issue:
1) Brake pedal switch issues
The switch itself may go bad. It’s located near the pedal and you may have hit it with your foot. Or maybe several drops of water with mud got onto it and some connections got corroded. Also, it may have been disconnected somehow.
This is the first thing you should check. Usually, when the brake switch is faulty, you will not see the rear red stop lights illuminating when you are pressing the brake pedal. Check this and then locate the switch itself and see if you can do something right there and then.
2) Battery issues
You will be surprised if you know how many weird messages and warnings may bother you in your Lexus if the battery voltage is low. This may make any electronic control module in the car suffer and go crazy. So, sometimes, the “Depress Brake Pedal to Start Engine” error message may come on the screen if the 12V battery is low and can’t start the engine.
In this case, you will need to boost, charge, or jump the battery to get its voltage back to normal. If the 12V battery in your Lexus is older than 5 years, you should just replace it with a new one. Bad batteries may still have proper voltage when not under the load. But when you are trying to crank the engine, the voltage drops and the error comes on the dash.
3) The key battery is dead
In most Lexus cars, you will not have the actual key. You will have the fob that communicates with the keyless entry system and the engine start system. But if the battery in your key fob is low, the Lexus will tell you about this. Unfortunately, sometimes, it may throw the wrong message and tell you about the need to depress the brake pedal.
Usually, the key fob battery is OK for about 10-12 months. The problem is that your fob is constantly communicating with the keyless entry system even when the car is far away. So, the charge of the battery is used much faster than in a conventional car key.
If this is the case, press the engine start button with the key fob. This will help you start the vehicle even if the key fob battery is dead.
4) Immobilizer problems
This may also be the consequence of the low battery. But sometimes, this may mean some worse problems. If the immobilizer is not working well in your Lexus vehicle, there is not much you can do.
One thing you can try is to reset the system by disconnecting the battery. I will tell you later how you can do this. Also, if your Lexus is still covered by the warranty, you should contact your dealer and explain the problem. In most cases, your car will be towed for free and the problem will be solved without extra payments.
How can you solve the problem on your own?
Naturally, you will not want to repair your Lexus on your own. You may think that your luxury car was made to be repaired in the dealership only, and you are right – this is the best choice. The best, but not the cheapest. So, if your Lexus is not covered by the warranty, you may try to avoid paying hundreds of dollars to the dealer.
Here’s what you may try:
1) Reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery
Locate the battery in your Lexus. Then, disconnect first negative, then positive terminals. Press honk to use all the stored power in your car. Now, you need to wait for 5 minutes and then reconnect the battery (first positive, then negative terminal).
Check if the engine starts now. If it still doesn’t start, you may need to check some other methods.
2) Try starting the car with the key fob
There is a chance that this misleading message comes on the dash in your Lexus just because the fob battery is dead. Instead of pressing the start button with your finger, press it with your key fob.
Even if there is no battery in the key fob at all, this will allow you to start the engine. If this doesn’t work, try other methods.
3) Look at the connections at the brake switch
The brake switch is not that easy to access and you will probably need to lie down on the floor of your Lexus to face the upper part of the pedal unit. There, in the upper part of the brake pedal, you can locate the metal cylinder with plastic contacts. This is the brake switch.
Check if the connection is OK. Also, you may take the clamp off, clean the contacts by blowing at them, deleting any contaminants, and placing it back.
You should do this only if the rear brake lights don’t illuminate when you are pressing the brake pedal.
When is it time to call your dealer or go to a repair shop?
The three steps I’ve mentioned above are the only things you can try doing on your own. Please avoid going deep into the Lexus wiring or software. You may end up having a totally broken car that will require expensive inspection and long repairs.
If you can’t locate the problem and can’t start the car, call your dealer. You may also contact a Lexus or Toyota independent repair shop if the car is not covered by the warranty. In this case, any mechanic can help you.
A professional mechanic will read the codes in all electronic modules, locate the core of the problem, and solve the issue. Of course, this is going to cost you some money.
Final thoughts
This is not that easy to understand why the “Depress Brake Pedal to Start Engine” message pops up on the dash of your car. You may try several DIY methods to solve the problem on the spot. But if you fail to locate the problem and deal with it, you may need professional help. I didn’t list all the possible issues that may trigger this message just because many of them will require professional attention.
If you have experience of dealing with this problem in your Lexus vehicle, write in the comments below. This will help others know where to look and what to repair!