Confused... engine not turning over

[91_Rusty4Runner]

heh... My 4Runner all the suddenly decided not to cold start anymore. I will crank on it and crank on it and crank on it with no result. Leave for a day or two then BAM! it start right up on the first try. Then rinse and repeat.

Before this incident, when it was cold it would hesitate when I first start driving it, but once it warmed up it would drive normally.

I did a complete tuneup on it trying to solve this problem. New oil, plugs, wire, cap, coolent, etc... (although before I changed the coolent it had air in the systems... always sounded like water in a pipe when cold). Problem still exist.

Now I am out of option. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and tested.

Oh... here is a list of problem before it started acting up... maybe some of these minor problem contributed to a major one?

1) Use oil. Head gasket is still leaking oil. Service recall used already.
2) Check engine light on and off... might be contributed to the oxigen sensor leaking or not working.
3) Hesitation when accelerating in first gear when cold. Recent though...
4) Spark plug looks to be melted a bit due to severe gap. (previous owner tuned it but never replaced the plugs. Didnt know that until I replaced them myself.)
5) Put the truck on its side for about an hour last winter. Now there is ever present oil everywhere in the intake and whatnot. Problem number one precluded this.

Otherwise the engine is still a strong puller with no appreciative lost in power... once it starts up that is.

 

[fourwd1]

EFI has a cold start injector circuit. Maybe it is not functioning properly.

 

[91_Rusty4Runner]

ok... how do I do that? Where is that?

 

[captwalker87]

not sure where the cold start thing is, but id check your ECU connections befind your passeneger kick panel. never know.

 

[mikes4runner]

EFI has a cold start injector circuit. Maybe it is not functioning properly.

I agree....pull the code from the CEL(check engine light).

The cold start injector on the 4 cyl is in the front of your intake and on the V6 its under your intake.

you did mot state your engine.

Pull the code first.


Mike

 

[91_Rusty4Runner]

Engine light not on anymore. It went out about 1,000 miles ago. It came on, called a local shop and they said that 90% of the time it was a emission related issue because of the age of the truck. Gonna cost me $50 for a lift charge for them to code it for me. Since I knew that the os had recently came loose... welll..

Now that I know where the darn cold start thingie is... how would I check it to see if it is malfunctioning? And ECU is okay. Everything works the way they are suppose to. It just wont turn over. Like I said. It seems like it will almost catch but then it just die away. Can it be a timming issue? Not sure how it can be with just regular driving, but it does turn over once in a while and when it does, it drives fine... *pulls hair out in fustration*

Edit: It has a 3vze with a 5spd manual tranny with over 150k on the engine.

(second edit hehehe)

By under the intake I hope you dont mean that it is under that mess of a log intake that cover most of the top of the engine. I'm not too keen on taking that damn thing apart again.

Someone needs to explain to me why it it that the manufacturer in some vehicle feels the need to cover the engine with the intake logs. For example... I have a 7mge that whenever I want to change my spark plugs, I have to replace the gasket on the intake too because you cant get to them without taking off the intake. And that darn thing come in three pieces!!!

But anywhoo, yeah... *crosses finger* please please not under that...

 

[Quakefire]

my truck has the 3.slow with a auto in it, and I have the same hesitation problem. There is also the possibility that your intake and throttlebody are just all gummed up, when i had the valve cover done due to a leak (i try and do most of the work myself, but pullin apart that engine scares me) my mechanic who specializes in toyotas says thats a common problem putting a flat spot in the acceleration. But i guessed it was a cold start sensor. The problem is that mine doesnt show any codes, no light, no flashing. Does the ECU have a seperate sensor for engine temp or does it use the same one as the temp gauge on the dash

But mine still has the same problem, when cold I have to be very careful on the throttle or she stalls out on me, usually the RPM will drop right down then it will accelerate. Sound familiar?

 

[mikes4runner]

Yes the air chamber:
sorry

The ECU will store the code unless it is cleared so you can still pull the code ,connect a jumper wire to the T and E1 or TE1 and E1 connector located near your fuse box under the hood labled diagnosis mine is grey colored. and count the blinks that your CEL gives you.

26 is the cold start injector



Mike

 

[91_Rusty4Runner]

Gotta go to work... but when I get back around midnight will try to code it and see what it says. Thanks again... And it could be that the throttle body is gummed up... oil leaked everywhere in the engine when it rolled onto its side.

 

[superhawk]

Okay, I had the exact problem on my 1995 TR4 with a 3.0. Try a little test.
Take the air intake off and squirt a little gas directly into the the trottle body. If the engine starts up, it may be the open circuit relay (Circuit open relay), behind the kick panel next to your ECU, behind your glove box. I am assuming that you checked all your fuel injection circuits and fuses.

This relay sends current to your fuel pump, to start your engine.

Now, the relay is bolted to the side of the truck with a ten MM bolt. Unbolt it and hold it in your hand. The best way to test your open circuit relay is to put your hand on it and turn your key on and off. (possibly turning your truck over for a short bit). You should hear and feel it clicking. I have all the manuals and there is a much more technical way to check it but, would be difficult to explain. If it is not clicking, you may have found your culprit. If it is quiet and and not clicking unplug it from the harness and carefully take it apart. Bet dollars to donuts it is partially corroded. With the top off reatach it to the harness. Now manually but gently squeeze the sides together to complete the curcuit, while doing this turn the truck over. it should start up, and stay running. Now you did not sovle the problem, you just found the sourse of your problem. Replace the relay. Call your local Toyota shop, they sell for around $70.00 to $75.00. You could find one at a local junk yard but I would recomend starting fresh with a new one.
Cheers
P

 

[91_Rusty4Runner]

Nope didnt check any fuses. Since if and when the truck started up, everything run fine with no issue except the hesistation in acceleration when cold, I did not check any of the fuses nor the Open Circut Relay. Will do though. Thanks. Going outside to CEL the sucker right now. Will post result hehehe.

 

[91_Rusty4Runner]

HAHAHAHAhahahahaha... I am an idiot!!! Forgot to mention that when I did the tune-up I had disconnected the battery. CEL resetted :xnuts: . DAMN! Going to check superhawk idea now. Will post result.

 

[91_Rusty4Runner]

Alrighty then all test done... and the result is... nada. Everything either report ok or is within operating parameters. As a matter of fact... it is running fine now. Cant wait for the next time I try to start it and it does not turn over:bash:

Thanks everyone!

P.S. Gonna check over all the connectors and wires. It is just a "little" bit rusty hehehehe.