04 GX470: Crank-No Start (3 Viewers)

[itgogitrev]

My 04 has developed a crank-no start issue. It’s had a fair amount of maintenance performed over the past 2 years. Below is everything that’s been checked/repaired

- New fuel pump + strainer (08/2025)
- Battery replaced (04/2025)
- VCGs, axles, plugs checked (03/2025)
- Timing Belt + water pump (07/2023)

No codes are shown in my cheap handheld reader. Tank has 20+ gallons in it. Engine will start briefly with starting fluid, but dies in a few seconds. Fuses for EFI have been replaced and relays have been swapped; no change in starting.

I can’t imagine a fuel pressure regulator would cause it to not start at all, am I wrong? Which pins in the relay need to be jumped to check to make sure the pump is functional? I tested both the old and new pumps with 12v and both work; however, the old one was noticeably noisier.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

 

[fjc-man]

When did the no start issue first happen?

 

[Stonefoot72]

Have you tried a different key? Could be a simple immobilizer chip issue.

 

[itgogitrev]

fjc-man: Started in mid July after it sat for about 4 days in a heavy rainstorm. It wouldn’t start for a few days, then it intermittently started 1 day, then it was fine until last week. Coincidentally, I hadn’t driven it for about 4-5 days.

Stonefoot72: I tried both keys and there is no change. One has a relatively new battery as well.

 

[Rednexus]

You can check for fuel pressure by replacing the banjo bolt on the fuel rail with one that is threaded to accept a 1/8" NPT Schrader valve. Then, you can check pressure using a common fuel pressure gauge. I did this for my rig (on the DS fuel rail) and have just left the banjo bolt and Schrader valve in the rig for the past several years. The Schrader valve will need to be a brass one and you'll need to use thread sealant on it, where it screws into the new banjo bolt. The banjo bolt itself seals via the included crush washers, just like the OEM banjo bolt.

If you have fuel pressure, you can check that the injectors are firing via removing the plug and seeing if it's getting power when the engine is cranking (using a multimeter or a test light to see if 12V are reaching the injectors).

 

[Ignignot]

Engine will start briefly with starting fluid, but dies in a few seconds.

If it starts on starting fluid you have some kind of fuel problem. If you had a problem with spark, starter fluid wouldn't start the car at all. If it had a problem with timing it would be extremely rough when it did fire.

Fuel pump. Fuel pressure regulator. Injectors. Be 100% sure these are all good. The injectors might not be opening. Make sure all the EFI fuses are OK