V6 - Intermittently hard to start

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

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

My guess is that it could be a bad earthing point - especially when you said that it gets worse when its hot and that the the error message said that there was no ECU present.

If one of the sensors or wiring to the senors were crook, the ECU should come up with a fault relating to that sensor.

Best of luck sorting the problem out

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

Good news. I've got my Prado back.

The service centre could only test when the start circuit faulted - so it took a little while to find the problem.

They
- checked the start circuit from ignition to ECU
- checked the electrical connectors between ECU and ignition
- checked the electrical connectors between ECU and motor
- checked the wiring harness through firewall
- checked the EFI fuse, relay and circuit to ignition
- checked the auto trans switch
- checked electrical connectors ECU to instrument panel
- checked electrical connectors from engine bay to ECU
...... and found a loose wire in one of the connector blocks to the ECU.

One wire, loose in its crimped connector, was making partial contact.
The connector was fixed and now the car starts.

Cheers
Chippy

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

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

Finally an answer. I bet you are happy that something wrong was found and now all is good. :lol:

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

Good news. I've got my Prado back.

The service centre could only test when the start circuit faulted - so it took a little while to find the problem.

They
- checked the start circuit from ignition to ECU
- checked the electrical connectors between ECU and ignition
- checked the electrical connectors between ECU and motor
- checked the wiring harness through firewall
- checked the EFI fuse, relay and circuit to ignition
- checked the auto trans switch
- checked electrical connectors ECU to instrument panel
- checked electrical connectors from engine bay to ECU
...... and found a loose wire in one of the connector blocks to the ECU.

One wire, loose in its crimped connector, was making partial contact.
The connector was fixed and now the car starts.

Cheers
Chippy

Great stuff. I bet that is a relief it is over. Just a question though, who pays for the parts that were replaced that weren't the cause of the problem. Is there any come back there.

[jarrah7rally Member Find all posts View Profile Close jarrah7rally]

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

Chippy,

Excellent news - bet your glad to rid of that loan camry/corolla.

I hope the right price is charged for the delays etc, esp if they started replacing bit & pieces as a trial & error process.

As is often the case simplest things usually cause major dramas.

[teztinkv6Prado Member Find all posts View Profile Close teztinkv6Prado]

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

Great to hear the bus is back on the road Chippy

The symptom you describe, "Heaps of electrical power .... but no noise. No spinning over - No CLICK" kind of reminds me of the situation where people use non genuine keys in 100 series cruisers. The genuine Tojo key uses a coil to energise the internal chip in the key that disarms the factory immobiliser. The cheap non genuine ones use a battery and when the battery starts to go flat, guess what! intermittent to start with, then as the battery gets flatter, eventually the car doesnt start at all using that key.
I know the prado uses a replacable shell type but for those who use a "non genuine" service key style, this maybe something to consider.
If your car wont start occasionally and you have bought one of these style keys, if you have another key, try using the other for a while and see what happens.

Nothing like having the problem in your hand (so as to speak)

Terry

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

if you have another key, try using the other for a while and see what happens.

Hi Terry,
I think you may have diagnosed my problem. I have 2 keys and I marked them. Then I drove around for a couple of months on one key. Absolutely no problem with starting. Then I started using the 2nd key and within a few starts, the problem returned. Swapped back to the 1st key for another few months and never had a problem. Swapped to the 2nd key and the problem is back. Will try and change the battery in the 2nd key and see what happens.

[teztinkv6Prado Member Find all posts View Profile Close teztinkv6Prado]

Re: V6 - Intermittently hard to start

Andrew,

No problems, glad to be of help!

Let us know how it all goes.

Cheers
Terry