3.4 V6 wont start.

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

So parked the vehicle on an incline last night, nose down, for bout 4 hrs. when it tried to start, it just turned over but would not start, almost like there was no fuel in the vehicle, i then remembered i have a spare tank (new vehicle to me) and flipped the switch, the pump ticked like it was dry, then it went quiet indicating its pumping fuel. about a minute later i pressed the accel pedal, turned the key and about 3-4 seconds later she started. drove home, about 25km.
i left the fuel pump on and by the time i got home main tank/dash gauge was showing half.

tried to start this morning and it wont start.... there is fuel in the tanks but it wont start. Again it turns over but wont start and sounds like it not getting fuel....

Being new to EFI what are the factors that will stop fuel flow?
im also now suspecting that this is the cause of my "power loss" fuel starvation....

vehicle had done high mileage, 350 000, so what are the things that need changing...??
im not sure when the timing belt was done, but ive ordered these parts. so this will be done soon. i read somewhere a while ago before i bought this vehicle about a chap who's engine wouldn't start because the timing belt had "jumped/slipped" due to the belt tensioner breaking? how common is this?

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

Sounds like fuel pump failure

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

I have not yet started on the vehicle, but is there another way to the pump other than dropping the tank? like a "mad hole" in the load bay? also, how would i check the pump? un plug it and run power strait to it to see if it switches on thus bypassing the immobilizer? cause it could be that cutting power to the pump? when the key is in the ACC position, should there be a hum/sound from the pump that is distinct when you listen at the under side of the tank. if yes, does it switch on only few a few seconds then quiet un till the car is running? i tried last night to hear if there was a sound but head zip! would tun ignition off on and listen, nothing. leave ignition on and listen at the tank, also heard nothing... so just wondering if these pump is supposed to be heard?

[Octane94 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Octane94]

with the prado 120 there is no hole in the floor you have to drop the tank out. not sure with 90 series.

hopefully it isnt the fuel pump failing but it could be a pickup thats all blocked up.

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

so i got my wife to sit in the car, and i climed under the tank, she switched the car to "ON" and all i hear was a VERY faint "click-click" but that could also be the Click click i hear in the drivers foot well, think its the immobilizer clicking, or what ever clicks when you turn the key ON.
there is no vibration, no WHIZZZZ/humming sound nothing.... is this normal?

i checked on a 120 (1994 model 4ltr V6) as she turned the 120 to ON, i heard the pump WHIZZZ immediately. im assuming this is what should happen on the 3.4 as well?

i then undid the front nut off the fuel filter, the fuel started trickling out fairly quickly.... and when the engine was cranked, there was NO difference in the fuel trickle... as i understand it, the fuel pump is a high pressure one and the fuel should squirt out there when the engine is on or being cranked??

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

Ok, so it NOT the fuel pump. Dropped the tank to get directly to the pump, applied direct power to the pump and it started an idled fine. When I checked that there was power to the pump, I mistook it for power to the sender unit for the fuel gauge… 
That is why I thought it was the fuel pump and not no power…. But the sender unit is getting power from the same harness…..

So… in the EFI system… what would cause NO power to the pump? I have replaced all the fuses and it’s not there, are there relays in this power line that I can check?

Does anyone have a/the electrical fuel wiring diagram for this vehicle…… or know where the fuel pump relay sits in a 1998 prado 3.4 V6??

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

the type of fuel system toyota use is one where the alturnator has to be charging for the fuel pump to work,it requires fuel pressure to start when cold>>

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

Flat battery.. Or is it??

So been driving my Prado all day- must have stared her at least 15 times! this afternoon i try and there is just one big "click" it does not click click click like flat battery... tried to jump, nothing- so i got towed back home- while at a robot, i tried again but this time there was the click click click like it got some charge being towed, but i was in neutral. its an AUTO. right, so park it at home try start, just the big Click! i then undid the battery terminals, hooked a fresh, big battery to her and nothing... just a loud CLICK! so i found the starter motor- (mission) and put my hand on it. When the ignition was turned i could feel the "click" vibrate from inside the stater..... its a sharp loud CLICK- not the low Clunk noise... and the click can be felt on the starter- it quite a violent shock-

im leaning toward starter being tired because there is power getting to the Starter... its just not swinging the motor......

think im assuming correctly? Anyone else had this issue with the Prado 95 series?

Next question- can someone with a manual please scan and send me the pages of how to get the starter out.... look like the entire intake manifold needs to come out....

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

Rossy, so are you saying that it wont start if the alternator is not working?

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

Quite often starter motors can be woken up with some shock treatment - firm hits from a steel bar or a tap from a hammer.

I've removed the starter motor from my car twice, both times from underneath.
- first time was with original exhaust system, and only the steering coupling needed to be disconnected.
- second time I had the pacemaker extractors, and they were in the way, so had to be removed from the block, as well as the steering coupling

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

If battery is ok and the starter was working it is most likely the solenoid contacts.

Try bridging the starter (big terminals) with a screw driver, if the starter spins the
contacts are faulty.

The contacts can be purchased cheaply for an autoelect.

Cheers
Leigh

[madmac187 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close madmac187]

I would be 95% the starter. I had it go twice on me and it sounds like it. The clicking is a symptom of it and it can feel if you do these other things that it starts then but that's not the case it's random. Take it out and go to a sparky or go straight to a sparky with it. I know there is nothing worse than it not starting and when you are on your own, you won't be able to bang the starter and turn the key. By the way go through footwellif taking it out.

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

I got the starter out, was fairly easy- used LONG extension (bars joined up) and a goose neck connector for the angle- both bolts came out in under 5 min- took me longer to get the dipstick for the G box and break line out the way- left the power steering lines in place too.
Anyway.... got it out and notice something odd.... so i opened it and this is what came out......

So nope.... not the contacts..... they were fine.... so now full starter rebuild!

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

MadMac- what do you mean go through the footwell??