Starting issues with 90 series Diesel Prado!!

[jammin1612 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jammin1612]

Hi, I have read through a lot of the posts about starting issues and have recently pulled out starter and cleaned up, replaced contacts etc but still having the same issue. It does not happen everytime but especially when cold in morning and evening. It is not the clicking of a starter but sounds like the starter all the same. Today after several attempts it started to turn over but then it would not spark? I replaced the fuel last week with Alpine diesel and was working fine (still a bit hard to start in the morning). Glow PLugs were done last year. It is extremley cold in NSW where we live but other cars start fine, mine is a KZ - TE 95 series diesel prado with $190k on the clock. The You tube is a short bit from trying to start this monring, you can hear the starter sound then later it turns but no ignition.

Any advice would be helpful.

Cheers

[reida1991 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reida1991]

Hey mate,

Mine did exactly the same thing a month ago. Problem was buggered clutches in the starter motor. Needed a new one and problem solved. Cost me $700, but this was in Canberra, so I'd expect you'd pay a bit less in a regional area.

In regards to it not turning over once you get the starter to engage, maybe the starter hasn't got enough go in it or the battery is knackered, it sounds very slow turning over if you know what I mean.

All the best.

Reidy

[reida1991 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reida1991]

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...te-right/page3

Here's the thread

Reidy

[jammin1612 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jammin1612]

Thanks for all the advice, dropped off at auto electrician today to check starter motor and glow plugs etc. Will let you know the outcome. I don't think the Prado likes this weeks overnight temps of -9 and -8 deg c
Cheers
Ben

[jammin1612 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jammin1612]

Hi, yes it was the clutch in starter motor. They advised they do quite a few in the 4cyl Toyota's. He said see how the starting in cold weather goes in relation to glow plugs etc so will wait till next week when the minus 5's are back. Cheers

[jammin1612 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jammin1612]

Well the story goes on, I went to start the car a few days ago with a -3 deg start to the morning and it would not go, it turns over but no ignition. Took to auto sparky and he tested the next morning although not as cold 2 deg C but he said the timer seemed to be short so if I counted an extra few seconds (6-8) after the light goes out it would start and did for him.
Next morning was -7 deg C and I did what he suggested and counted but still would not kick. I could smell diesel coming though the exhaust and my thought was glow plugs but took it back last night and my mechanic checked it today and has pulled out glow plugs and said they seem fine. He took back to sparky and tested. He is stumped but admitted he is not a big diesel specialist and we don't have one he knows of in Armidale (apart for trucks and tractors) so suggested trying when in Sydney next week. It only happens in the morning when cold, he thought maybe partly to do with Alpine Diesel but still, once it warms up it is fine for the day.
I now need to find a Diesel Mechanic/Specialist in Sydney that can at the least diagnose the issue, I am sure if the mechanics up here know issue they can work on it if it can't be done while in Sydney. Will be staying on Northside but open to names of good mechanics in Sydney for this. Cheers Ben

[rogerramjet Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rogerramjet]

Just wanted to know if you have fixed the problem. Mine is doing the same thing, hard to start on cold mornings, a puff of smoke when it starts. And then fine for the rest of the day. Any info would be helpful.

[gregor2013 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gregor2013]

I had the same problem

Problem fixed by replacing Glow plugs with genuine Toyota Glow plugs which where cheaper than the after market ones anyway. I have attached a photo

Glow plugs HKT Cp-22 on top genuine Toyota one on the bottom of photo
The HKT draws almost twice the current heating up and does not glow as bright at the tip and wastes a lot of energy heating way up the shaft

Another problem i had was air entering the system at the Fuel filter primer which allows the fuel pump to siphon back the tank over night a quick check of this problem is to before you start your engine form cold push the primer nob until it is quite hard to push down if after this your starting problems get better then look for air leaks.

hope this helps

1kzte VX Prado 315000 km