Intermittent starting problem when parked in the sun on hot days

[GRPABT1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GRPABT1]

Hi all, I have searched and can't seem to find this issue covered here or anywhere so I figured I'd ask.

My 3.4 petrol 90 series started having an issue recently where sometimes after being parked in the sun all day it doesn't want to start. Engine will turn over, it'll kick to life for a second then die. After that it won't kick to life at all. At first when this happened, removing then replacing the EFI relay fixed the issue. Car seems to run fine otherwise. Then yesterday afternoon it wouldn't start at all despite pulling the relay and even trying a new one. Tried disconnecting the battery to reset the ecu and that didn't work. Thought maybe vapour lock so removed the fuel cap and no luck. In the evening once the ambient temperature dropped it started fine. First thing this morning it started fine and I dropped it off to my mates workshop but he couldn't replicate the issue this arvo. Hopefully more luck tomorrow.

Anyone have any insight on this issue?

[hawks667 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hawks667]

I would be looking at changing the fuel filter as a starting point..

[GRPABT1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GRPABT1]

It runs fine when started in cold weather, warm engine or cold. Finally managed to replicate the issue today at the workshop (it's been overcast) and the fuel pump isn't the issue. Gonna check injector pulse and cam angle/crank angle sensors next.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Being heat related it could be sensor related for a sensor that’s on its way out. I know a faulty crank angle sensor will not allow your car to start. Unsure about enabling it to run for a few seconds before it dies.

Little side story regarding crank angle sensors and cars not starting. I had a friend with a Jeep. The very first time I went 4wding with him we were into a moderate low speed hill climb. It was about midday in summer. Anyway, while doing this hill climb his car stopped running. The engine just bloody switched itself off and wouldn’t turn on again. It was an auto too, not a manual. I was following in my Prado. I’d be lying if I said I was beginning to regret going fourbying with a Jeep... And this was my first time out with him. What was funny was he made out as though this was the first time this had happened to him, yet he knew EXACTLY how to fix it which surprised me. He said he had read it somewhere previously and having this problem now himself made him remember. He strategically poured a cup of water down the back of the engine block from the top and gave it 5 mins to weave it’s magic before attempting to start the car again. The water had cooled the sensor down and enabled the car to start. That to me was a pretty weird thing to experience & seeing how he promptly went about fixing it amused me a little, but that was the first of many, many issues he had going on with his Jeep over the years. He was always full of excuses for the Jeep’s problems too and constantly bragged about how it was better than any Toyota or Nissan. That car had broken things and had things on the blink that I had never heard of any car having broken or had problems with before. And even funnier, he was quick to diagnose the problems correctly and fix them himself. He was one hell of a self taught mechanic, but I suppose you’’ve got to be when u own a Jeep hahaha.

Next time this happens to you, have water in a sports drink bottle handy and bend down under the front of the car on the passenger side and squirt plenty of water on the crank angle sensor then see if it starts afterwards. I’m assuming u know where to locate the sensor too.