Prado wont turn over

[08D4DPRADO Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 08D4DPRADO]

Hi,

I am occasionally (more often than not of late) having problems with the Prado not turning over.

I have a 08 D4D, Standard engine setup. Dual batteries (near new Optima for primary and brand new Redback Thumper for Alt).
Both batteries are fine and have tried both batteries in start configuration.

I turn the key....wait for a couple of seconds then turn to start.

As of late....
There is an audible click coming from the area around the Starter motor, but no engage or start.
This normally happens a few times before she starts properly.
I can remove the key, re-insert and start again and the same thing.
I have tried 'tapping' the starter motor with no change thus far.
I have sprayed with WD40 with no change thus far.
I turn off A/C, Stereo, Hema, Phone, etc..... with no change thus far.

I have spent up to five minutes before giving up on a few occasions.

It seems to be random times to get her to turn and start.
The colder (down to about 4 here in WA) or warmer the engine is, doesn't seem to alter the situation.

Any thoughts?


Regards and Cheers.

Brom

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

If your batteries are definitely ok, & you have no loose connections? Then you likely have an issue with your starter motor.

[Guest Close Guest]

Have you tried a different key?

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

If you can hear the solenoid on the starter click then could be the soleniod
contacts are kupt. Cheap repair if that's all it is, can be sourced from your
local auto electrician.

Leigh

[PR4DO Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PR4DO]

Hi Brom,

If you have spent some time in water and especially muddy water then your contacts in your starter have probably given up the ghost. I have just done the telegraph track and spent two days to get home starting the car by tapping the starter.

I had similar signals that you have had in the lead up to it only clicking once and no turnover. Get a new one fitted and keep your old one, give it a good clean and keep it as a spare. Nothing worse than being stuck in a auto with no starter.

Good luck with the problem shooting.

Cheers Dave

[SWR Banned Find all posts View Profile Close SWR]

Gday 08D4DPRADO

There is an audible click coming from the area around the Starter motor, but no engage or start.

This sounds very much like the starter solenoid is not bridging the contacts to engage the starter motor but because you are hearing the solenoid engaging we can safely say that the inhibitor switch is ok (Only lets you start in "N"eutral or "P"ark if an Automatic) and given that the solenoid does not rattle (The noise you get when battery is too weak)... You ruled this out by confirming that both battery's are fully charged.

To confirm that the earth to the engine is good then just get a jumper lead & put it directly on the negative side of the battery (The one on your vehicle) then get the other end and clamp it directly to the engine block. (Has to be something metal with no internal moving parts in it!... EG: an engine bolt).

The contacts in the solenoid will probably only need cleaning and all will be good.

If you are confident with a spanner then i would recommend that you can repair it yourself!

Read the first link below then the second link for the video.

Neither links are for the D4D but the starter motors are identical so the rebuild is the same!

Given the age of your rig i do believe you will get away with just pulling the starter motor apart/Cleaning and re-fitting! (Highly unlikely that the carbon bushes or the copper contacts are beyond repair).

ALSO!

That big red cable on the starter motor goes "DIRECTLY" to the battery so make sure that the battery is disconnected if you plan on doing the starter motor.

Don't forget that you will have to re-set your auto windows/ display clock time & enter code for radio if it is code locked.

Click on link below

Starter motor rebuild. with lots of pics

How To Repair Toyota Prado (90 series) Starter Motor

Cheers

[08D4DPRADO Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 08D4DPRADO]

Skywalkerrun.
Thanks for an exceptionally detailed response. Will give this a go. Thanks all for your assistance.

Cheers

Brom.

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

That video, I believe he says to remove a brake line. Is that meaning to disconnect it? Or just undo the bolts holding that bracket so it can be moved slightly?
I want to do this tomorrow but am not confident in bleeding the brakes by myself.

[joel231 Find all posts View Profile Close joel231]

that video is for a 90 series prado not a 120, so i very much doubt you would have to remove a brake line, plus doing this can lead to all sorts of different dramas such as having to bleed brakes etc. you should be able to pull out the starter motor fairly easily, not that i have done one, but im sure its not that complicated


Cheers Joel

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

that video is for a 90 series prado not a 120, so i very much doubt you would have to remove a brake line, plus doing this can lead to all sorts of different dramas such as having to bleed brakes etc. you should be able to pull out the starter motor fairly easily, not that i have done one, but im sure its not that complicated


Cheers Joel

I have a 90 series. You can definitely see a brake like in the way but I'm not sure if it can just be moved enough or not.

[J Janke Member Find all posts View Profile Close J Janke]

If you desperately need to get it going you can try giving the starter motor a tap while someone attempts to start it. Be very careful doing this for obvious safey reasons. As a field technician I have been able to get machines started doing this as it sometimes helps the starter solenoid close it's contacts properly if it and or the starter is on it's way out.

Please be very careful if you wish to do this and I take no responsibility if you choose to do so.

Jamie

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

Mine does work but it gets very lazy. Sometimes it starts first time, other times it will not even give a click and then next turn only just turn over enough to start the car. I think it just needs a good clean and it'll be good as new.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Both links that SWR put up have been very helpful

[Walky88 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walky88]

on the 90's you DO NOT have to disconnect the brake line. undo the bolt and gently bend the pipe. That is what i did when i rebuilt my starter motor.

on the 120's can't remember sorry.

[Hogey66 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hogey66]

Starting problem on the 120 surfaced today. Turn the key and nothing, no click, no dulling of dash lights, just plain nothing. Had a new starter about 6 months ago and hasn't been near deep water since. Wiggled the relay in the fuse compartment after checking battery terminals etc and it then started but dropped out momentarily while cranking before starting. Thinking it may be dodgy start relay, or key as the battery in the key has been too weak to operate the central locking for quite some time. Anyone with any other ideas?