sometimes starting 1KZ-TE

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:?: My '98 Prado 95 with 1KZ-TE stats brilliantly... but only some time between the 5th and 15th time I turn the key. Can anybody give me a hint as to how to solve this?
- When turning the key, it lights the glowplug symbol in the dash, you can hear it click (bendix? starter relay?) and as soon as it should start rotating it stops doing anything, symbol switches off etc.
- When I return the key to 'off' and back to 'start' it will try again over and over, so it is not the immobiliser.
- When it does start (it always does) it does so immediately, within two rotations so it's not the battery, starter motor or glow plugs.
- it started doing so one or two weeks after I removed some poorly installed custom wiring. I now wish I had not, but as they say, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

I would take it to the Toyota guys immediately if I did not want to know how it works. On the other hand, I'm not going to install a D-4D just to know how it works . Any ideas?

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

Sounds like the contactor in the starter motor to me.
When you turn the key to on, the coil in your starter motor forces the contactor to close. The contactor will have the big heavy red cable feeding through it and if the connection is bad the contact will not make and the car will not wind over no noise, nothin.
By you turning it off and then back on, the contactor will break and then make again, which might hopefully make a connection that will suffice.
Eventually the starter motor will not start, and you then have to push.
Your solution is to go and see a good auto electy and expect to pay lots of cash.
The recond one will have new contacts, bearings etc which is all you would need as these are the consumables.

Just my opinion anyway.

[Mick Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mick]

If it's only done it since you removed the 'custom wiring' i'd be checking the plugs are in correctly in that area and that the wires are ok - the insulation may look ok but the copper may be fatigued and broken from being played with. Check this by trying to pull the wires through your fingers with one hand whilst holding the other end secure with the other hand - like trying to stretch the wires out (not too hard though mate!)
If one splits in half, there was your wiring fault!
Also the ignition switches in these have more than one set of contacts inside them. So one set of contacts in the key switch could be ok, but the set next to them may be stuffed. Need a wiring diagram, test light and a bit of know how to prove if the switch is good or not.
Failing all that mucking around or if couldn't be bothered, take it to a reputable auto sparky like plucker suggested.

All the best,
Mick

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

On the older 'cruisers the starter had a smallish set of contacts and a round solenoid driven plunger, which can rotate so that the contacts are always touching in a 'new' spot each start. If the Prado starter has a similar setup it may be that there is a burnt/melted/dirty area on the plunger.

The fix was an aftermarket contator set-up with bigger contacts and a beefy plunger which could handle the current. Around $20 in the mid 90's for a kit, but haven't replaced one recently.

Also check your battery earth and engine earth points.

I pulled 23m of 'custom' wiring out of a V8 Hilux....and everything still worked!!

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

Yeah true battery connections could be loose also the big leads on the starter motor could be loose.