lionj

Hi,

I have a 1992 sc400 and it's giving me problems starting, sometimes it starts and just cuts right off, I start it again it stays on for 3 seconds and cuts out, anyone ever experience this?

MadMaxSC400

my car is intermittently hard starting also, but if it's going to die it does it before it ever really gets going. Do you have any intake mods?

lionj

no, I have no intake mods. on my vehicle

Claw

You both need to replace your fuel pump ECU. This is a common problem with SCs.

Claw

You can confirm that this is the problem by following this procedure;

http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/star...wers4.html#Q96

To summarise, next time it won't start, put the jumper in the diag port and if it then starts you can be sure the ECU is screwed.

MadMaxSC400

My startup problems are worse when it's cold, and if the car's been sitting for a few days it acts like it's not firing on all cylinders... I think it's an ignition issue.

XX400

MadMax it's probably your lifters, the oil drains out of some of them causeing it not to open that valve. The car idles very rough until it warms up and the lifter fills with oil this has happened to my car if I don't use it for a couple of days.

MadMaxSC400

hydraulic valve lifters, eh? I wonder if that is a replace the seal type problem or a machine shop type problem.

Taka

I have starting problem as well.
when I turn the key, A/C, radio everything is working. but it doesn't start the engine.
No sparkling sound at all, it's just silent.

Is it same problems you guys have?
what would be the problem. fuel pump ECU?
hydraulic valve lifter?

I use my car everyday and it sometimes gives me this problem and I wait for 10min then it starts no problem.

XX400

Lifters would have to be replaced with new ones. Not worth it IMO. It really only happens if you let the car sit for a couple days with out starting it. This is a common problem with lexus 4 liter v8 I was told by a mechanic at the dealer, but lexus keeps it under raps so as not to tarnish the image. It should start fine just idles rough as hell and make some funny noises until it warms up and the lifters presurize with oil.

VQT

How many miles on the car? Do you know how to check the trouble code? Does the check engine light stay on?

MadMaxSC400

No engine light. It's actually much less of a problem now that the car sat for a few days. Weird.

lionj

I got 100,000 miles on it and no I don't know the engine codes, can you help? thanx , oh also the engine light does not stay on.

VQT

Get a paper clip; straighten it out and stick in TE1 and E1 port in the trouble code reader. The reader is under the dash above the left knee. Open the cap and you'll see TE! and E1. There is another port in the engine bay.

After stick the paper clip in turn the igntion on, do not start the engin. Start counting the number of time the engine light flash. Notice the pause between flashes. 23 mean two fashes stop then 3 flashes.

Post the code in the forum, someone one will let youknow what is it or buy a repair manual to fix it yourself. Recommend buy the manual because ther are soo much info. that it is hard to help throught the forum.

VQT

[QUOTE][i]

Give the car a tune up. Change all spark plugs, wires, caps and rotors.