Engine start up and turning off issues

[Ben21 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben21]

Hi Guys,

I've had my 2010 Prado GXL for almost a year now.
Got it second hand and have loved it ever since.

I went for a trip to North Stradbroke Island 2 weeks ago for my first weekend 4wding and have had a couple of issues since the trip when the car starts and when it is turning off.

When I leave the car overnight and jump in to go to work, it takes longer then usual to actually do anything from when I press the button.
Once it has started up one time then turned back off I have no issues unless I leave the car for an hour or two then it takes its time again
All the lights come on as usual and they may take a little longer to turn off, then the car will start.
I have checked the battery and everything is fine with it so I'm not to sure what it could be (I'm not that great when it comes to car mechanics)

Also when I turn the car off there is a belt that makes a sort of grinding noise.
I may just have some sand in the engine bay still that needs to be cleaned out but thought I would ask while I'm here.
It's the last thing to stop moving in the engine as I have turned the car off with the bonnet up and I hear it for about 2-3 seconds until the car is completely off.

Any help would be great.

Cheers

Ben

[diesel69 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close diesel69]

Hi Ben,

I may not be able to help but wonder how exactly have you "checked the battery" ?
If your just checking the voltage and assuming it's ok if showing 12 volts there could still be a problem with it.

As for the belt noise I have no idea but it may well help others if you state in your post that it is a diesel even thought you have posted in the diesel engine section of the forum.

Cheers Pete

[Ben21 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben21]

Hi Diesel,

I did just check the voltage of the battery but I'm not having any other issues with any other electrical components of the car.
There could still be something wrong with it, it was just my assumption.

Also the car is a Diesel. Also an Automatic

[diesel69 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close diesel69]

I'm sure someone with more technical expertise will be along at some point, but the fact that you've said it starts fine after the first start unless left for an hour or more could indicate a dead cell. It may be a good idea to visit an auto sparky to get it load tested.

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Ben, how old is the battery and what is the crank speed like when starting particularly when the ambient temp and the engine is cold? I have had my 2010 Diesel Prado since new and only just changed the battery earlier this year. Measuring the voltage with engine off and no load is not necessarily going to tell you much. I had Toyota do a so-called load test a couple of months before I bit the bullet and decided to change it anyway and they reckoned it was ok. Winter was around the corner and I didn't want my wife to get stuck somewhere, figured 5 years wasn't a bad effort out of the original.

Can't help with the noise on stopping sounds like a different issue (if it is one that is).

[leethal1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close leethal1]

Hi Ben, i have heard that the prado' s are fitted with a 1 way clutch on the altinator, the noise you her when the engine turns off could be the clutch slipping, if it is the case you may want to get it cleaned. Someone else here might be able to provide more details on that system

[Ben21 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben21]

Hi Riv,

I Only noticed last week that I actually own the 2012 model. The dealer told me it was a 2010 and I never bothered to check to make sure he was right.
So the battery is only 3 years old. I will be taking it into Toyota as soon as I can just so I can find out what is wrong with it and get it fixed. I haven't had to jump start it at all though.

I also go it tested by Battery World and he told me that the battery is perfectly fine and just to charge it.
Now that I have done that it still drops down so maybe something in my car is slowly draining it?

I'll post up in here when I get it checked by Toyota so anyone else who has this problem can get it fixed as well.

[Ben21 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben21]

Hi Leethal,
I had a mate come over who knows a tonne more then I do about cars and he reckons it could be the alternator as well.
Either the alternator itself or the pulley that is attached to it.
I will be taking it to Toyota this week to get it checked out as well.

[Ben21 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ben21]

I got my Prado back from Toyota yesterday.
My alternator has died. Which was causing the sound when it turned off and should be the reason my battery is low.

Good thing it is still under warranty.
Thanks for the help guys

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Good news. Next time (hopefully there won't be one) you can check the charge voltage across the battery when the engine is running. If you are only seeing 12 -13V then you now there is a problem with the alternator.

[Stubby65 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Stubby65]

My 2010 diesel prado would start then shut down on its own.
Took it to a mechanic and plugged the code scanner into it. No cpdes stating the problem. Thinking this is going to be expensive i decided to change the fuel filter. When i primed the fuel into the filter i noticed fuel leaking out of the water sensor. So i bought another water sensor. Problem solved. Just letting you people know before you spend at the workshop. Cheers

[cbm8880 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbm8880]

Some startup delay is normal when cold, due to the glow plugs heating. I guess with a low battery this may take a little longer.

Glad you got you alternator done under warranty.