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  • Mystery : won't start every so often

    I have a 2003 Petrol Prado VX that I recently bought second-hand from a friend (I hope that was not a mistake).

    I ran into a problem where the car wouldn't start intermittently ... after driving it somewhere in town, parking, running into a shop and getting back in the car in a few minutes, it wouldn't start. Battery is fine, everything is fine. And after a few minutes (10 or 20 or 30) it will start again.

    So a couple of days ago while I was driving, for the first time ever, the engine cut out while I was driving. Again, no engine light or any indication of failure. A while later it started again and ran, no problem.

    It is currently at a repair shop, but it is so difficult to address the problem, because unless it is refusing to start _in_the_workshop_, there is no way to test where the failure is. And getting it to fail in the workshop requires driving it around and stopping in the workshop, hoping this time it wouldn't start

    This post is a desperate attempt at gathering more information or any ideas on what could be the issue.

  • #2
    Had a Prado owner with the same issue recently. Turns out the fix was to reprogram all the keys. It appears that the keys aren't all the same relative to the immobiliser.

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by amts View Post
      Had a Prado owner with the same issue recently. Turns out the fix was to reprogram all the keys. It appears that the keys aren't all the same relative to the immobiliser.
      That would have been the last place I would have thought to suggest. This is why this community is great!
      I was going to suggest some sort of fuel pump related issue?

      Comment


      • #4
        ... but if the keys were not correctly programmed, then they surely won't start the car at all ?

        My issue is with the very same key. I start the car, drive it, stop, and then the same key won't start it. And then some minutes later the very same key starts the car again!

        I must say however, that the behaviour is like that of an immobiliser that doesn't want to let the key start the car.

        Did the other owner also have the issue with the same key?

        Many thanks

        Comment


        • #5
          Yes, same issue with the same key. I'm not saying that it is THE solution but could be something to check /try.

          It didn't make sense to me either when he told me that was what fixed the problem.
          amts
          Ninja Poster.
          Last edited by amts; 16-11-2016, 05:53 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Had a similar issue with a vt commodore. Turned out to be a dicky crank angle sensor.
            1997 petrol auto, 430 000km. Still going strong.
            2004 petrol auto, 233 000km. Cracked dash and no help from Toyota!

            Comment


            • #7
              Thanks for the clues!

              Comment


              • #8
                Elaborate on "won't start: does it crank but won't fire, won't crank etc?
                HKB Electronics, manufacturer of the Alternator Voltage Booster, Silver 2008 D4D,Lifted,Underbody protection, Alternator Voltage Booster, Tiger Z winch, Lightforce DL, Air Horns, Tanami Drawers, Drop down fridge slide, Outback cargo barriers, Rotronics dual Battery system, Polaris GPS, HF/UHF/VHF, Radio speaker combiner, Long ranger water tank, Diff breathers, Inverter, Snorkel and others

                Comment


                • #9
                  It won't crank. It would almost seem as though gear lever is not set to "Park". The lights on the dashboard come on, but there is not even a 'click' when I turn the key.

                  Another clue is that this only seems to happen after the car has been driven some distance, and there is heat in the engine.

                  Still stumped...

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    First off I would check ALT fuse, AM1 & STA fuse, check for fracturing of the fuse,
                    they might test ok but have fatigue cracks that cause opens when they heat up.

                    Also check STA relay, you should here a click when you try to start the motor, circuit is:

                    +VE through ALT fuse, this goes to the AM1 fuse, then via start key contact to STA fuse,
                    then via neutral switch to relay then to ground.
                    HKB Electronics, manufacturer of the Alternator Voltage Booster, Silver 2008 D4D,Lifted,Underbody protection, Alternator Voltage Booster, Tiger Z winch, Lightforce DL, Air Horns, Tanami Drawers, Drop down fridge slide, Outback cargo barriers, Rotronics dual Battery system, Polaris GPS, HF/UHF/VHF, Radio speaker combiner, Long ranger water tank, Diff breathers, Inverter, Snorkel and others

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      [QUOTE=evoges;560443]It won't crank.
                      It's not the crank angle sensor then.
                      1997 petrol auto, 430 000km. Still going strong.
                      2004 petrol auto, 233 000km. Cracked dash and no help from Toyota!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by LeighW View Post
                        First off I would check ALT fuse, AM1 & STA fuse, check for fracturing of the fuse,
                        they might test ok but have fatigue cracks that cause opens when they heat up.

                        Also check STA relay, you should here a click when you try to start the motor, circuit is:

                        +VE through ALT fuse, this goes to the AM1 fuse, then via start key contact to STA fuse,
                        then via neutral switch to relay then to ground.
                        Thanks, I will check it. Could the above also explain the engine cutting out while driving?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Yes they could
                          HKB Electronics, manufacturer of the Alternator Voltage Booster, Silver 2008 D4D,Lifted,Underbody protection, Alternator Voltage Booster, Tiger Z winch, Lightforce DL, Air Horns, Tanami Drawers, Drop down fridge slide, Outback cargo barriers, Rotronics dual Battery system, Polaris GPS, HF/UHF/VHF, Radio speaker combiner, Long ranger water tank, Diff breathers, Inverter, Snorkel and others

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Problem solved

                            So, after 3 weeks with no car (it being at the workshop) .. and anticipating an invoice with many digits ....

                            Click image for larger version

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                            It was a faulty EFI fuse.

                            After stalling on a main road for the last time, a good Samaritan towed me to an acquaintance's workshop. The guy there found the problem in about 176 seconds.

                            My biggest lesson in this exercise taught me: "Don't assume the professionals will check something as simple as a fuse"

                            *facepalm*

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I've also been experiencing exactly the same symptoms in my 2003 V6 Prado as evoges has described. Having already replaced the starter motor and the problem arising again, I dug a little further and came across this forum. Just pulled out the EFI fuse and I would swear it was the twin brother of the one in the earlier post. Looks identical!!!

                              Click image for larger version

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                              I have just popped in the new fuse, so fingers crossed it solves my problem as well. I'll keep you informed.


                              UPDATE: It's now been over a month since changing out the EFI fuse and no further sign of a problem. Thanks evoges for your previous post which lead to me solving this problem. Like you said, none of the mechanics or auto electricians suggested checking the fuse.
                              musicman
                              Lurker
                              Last edited by musicman; 23-03-2017, 07:11 AM.

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