Intermittent starting issue
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: WA
Intermittent starting issue
Hey guys, I'm super stumped here and hoping somebody might have a easy fix for me. I'd like to also point out that I have been searching for days on here and haven't been able to come up with a fix. I've found multiple threads where people to have similar issues yet not one seemed to be resolved.
The issue- Intermittent starting/no crank. Seems to only happen after it has been driven for a while. Once you let it sit for roughly 30 min it starts right back up. I let my babysitter drive it and the other day it died on her while running for roughly 20 min. It died and wouldnt start back up until about 40 min later.
So far all I have done is replaced the car battery. I have also bypassed/jumpered the starter relay to make sure it wasnt a starter issue. Starter works fine. I believe I can also cross out the issue of it being a ignition switch. When I am having the issue I test power at the STA fuse and still have 12v so I think I can rule out it being an ignition switch...
What else is left? ECM? Park neutral switch? If it was the park neutral switch would it really do it only once the car warms up and would it cause the car to die?
Any help would be appreciated
The issue- Intermittent starting/no crank. Seems to only happen after it has been driven for a while. Once you let it sit for roughly 30 min it starts right back up. I let my babysitter drive it and the other day it died on her while running for roughly 20 min. It died and wouldnt start back up until about 40 min later.
So far all I have done is replaced the car battery. I have also bypassed/jumpered the starter relay to make sure it wasnt a starter issue. Starter works fine. I believe I can also cross out the issue of it being a ignition switch. When I am having the issue I test power at the STA fuse and still have 12v so I think I can rule out it being an ignition switch...
What else is left? ECM? Park neutral switch? If it was the park neutral switch would it really do it only once the car warms up and would it cause the car to die?
Any help would be appreciated
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,645
Likes: 813
From: NC
It's interesting that it died while it was running. If it weren't for that, I'd say the starter is going bad, as the starter on the 2UZ-FE sits in the valley between the cylinder banks, so it gets a fair amount of heat, and heat-soak sounds like part of your problem.
So the "died while running" is either a separate problem, or a symptom. Take a look at your battery cables, especially the ground wires. Sometimes they'll get corroded in the middle of the cable under the insulation, so feel for any lumps.
Chip H.
So the "died while running" is either a separate problem, or a symptom. Take a look at your battery cables, especially the ground wires. Sometimes they'll get corroded in the middle of the cable under the insulation, so feel for any lumps.
Chip H.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: WA
I dont think you understand. Or maybe I dont. For instance im sitting in the truck right now. It will not turn over/crank with the key. If i apply direct 12v to the starter it turns over. That would mean its not the starter correct?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 13
From: Alaska
Are you putting both Positive/negative onto the starter terminals? If so and its starting then I think like mentioned above you need to look at the positive and especially the negative cables that attach to the engine block (negative cable) that cable being slightly messed up will cause you all kinds of issues--especially when its HOT, cause the resistance goes way up.
My friend had a toyota truck (older) and his did the same thing, installed a new starter (no good) then he went to looking at cables and found the Negative degraded. After replacing this cable he has no issues, yes his truck acted up only when hot, would start fine when cold...
My friend had a toyota truck (older) and his did the same thing, installed a new starter (no good) then he went to looking at cables and found the Negative degraded. After replacing this cable he has no issues, yes his truck acted up only when hot, would start fine when cold...
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: WA
I have all 3 keys. Im letting it sit now and currently it wont start. Im gonna give it another 30 min and will see if it will start with one of the others. One thing I do know is the security light turns off when the key goes in the ignition only with one of the keys. The primary one we use.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: WA
No codes and now im stuck at the auto parts store. Maybe the neutral safety switch? If it is bad will it still show what gear it is in on the dash? So when i am experiencing the problem and try and turn it over the dash lights dont go out. I thought I read somewhere that if the lights dont go out that it indicated the nuetral safety switch is bad.
