Prado 120 ignition failure

[Morgancs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Morgancs]

Have had 2 mechanics try to resolve this with no luck so coming to the internet
There’s a few similar posts that either don’t have solutions or the solution didn’t work for me.
2004 120 series auto petrol V6
When car is at operating temperature it won’t start. It has no issues starting from cold. The problem is now occurring more often than it used to. When it happens I have to let the car sit for 10-20 minutes before it will start. Turning the key to ‘start’ clicks but does not attempt to crank the engine.
I have a wire from the starter relay that I can touch on the battery and it will start the car, therefore I don’t think it’s the starter motor.
I’ve replaced the starter relay and the problem persists, so I don’t think it’s the relay.
I can jiggle the gear stick and I can hear what I think is the neutral safety switch click (as it should?).
I’ve tried both keys and the problem occurs with both. Neither key is original though.
I’m not sure how to test the ignition switch but that seems like the only point left in the starter circuit, also not sure why it would be affected by heat when it’s not in the engine?
Appreciate any help!

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Morgancs

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Morgancs Hey, did you resolve your issue? I have 2004 v6 petrol auto. Very similar problem. Never had any issues until now. Drove short distance (from cold) stopped and started okay. On return short journey stopped at servo and filled up and then would not start. Battery good, alternator good, all instrument lights and headlights but no cranking. Tried to start in P and N. Pushed 10m from bowsers. Started. Drove home parked and then attempted restart - nothing again. Waited 10 mins and then it started. I’m thinking neutral switch but ……

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Morgancs Hey, did you resolve your issue? I have 2004 v6 petrol auto. Very similar problem. Never had any issues until now. Drove short distance (from cold) stopped and started okay. On return short journey stopped at servo and filled up and then would not start. Battery good, alternator good, all instrument lights and headlights but no cranking. Tried to start in P and N. Pushed 10m from bowsers. Started. Drove home parked and then attempted restart - nothing again. Waited 10 mins and then it started. I’m thinking neutral switch but ……

hey don’t know if I’m replying right, but it ended up being a kill switch that had been installed by a previous owner but done very poorly so when it was warmed up the wiring would disconnect and not allow the ignition to turn over. When it cooled back down the wiring seemed to reconnect and it would start. It looked like a little black box with lights jammed into the space around the fuse panel under the steering wheel.
A very similar thing started happening about 2 months after the mechanic removed the kill switch, but it was immediately after I took it through the OTT in cape York so I’m thinking that was more about water damage because the starter motor was replaced and it was fixed. That was about 12 months ago and no issues since. Cheers

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I have similar ignition failures with my 2008 Prado 2,7l petrol. I use a wire from the starter relay to the battery to start the car. I changed a new starter motor, starter relay and most of the fuses in the fuse box. I changed the battery 3 times, each time a larger and higher ampere one (the last battery diagnosis shows a good working battery). I also removed and tested the alternator on a test bench, it works fine. I changed the Steering lock- switch rotating (start and stop). The only solution I found so far is to attach permanently the wire from the starter relay to the 12V pin inside the fusebox (connected directly to the battery). Does this have any side effects on the onboard computer ECU?