1994 Landcruiser start problems.

[Bouncepass]

Hello everyone. For a couple years now I have been having a problem with my 94 landcruiser starting. Sometimes it will start and sometimes it will not I have never been able to reproduce this. Sometimes it will go for a month working perfectly fine and some weeks it seems like it won't do anything at all.

When I turn the key to start it I get a single click and then nothing. The way I started it in the past is to put jumper cables or a starter pack and after a while it would always start. I checked the battery and the starter both were fine and the ignition also worked. This has been hard to work on as it doesn't happen all the time. It is almost as if the battery could not start if it were not at 100%.

So I took it down to the toyota dealer and replaced the starter, I also replaced the battery and they told me it would start. And it did for months without problem, but just recently this has been occurring again. Sometimes I'll turn the car off for only 15 minutes or so after driving for hours and it will still not start. Now I am also unable to get it started by charging although I still get a click. I've tried beating on the starter a bit as well.

I have thought that it may be an electrical short somewhere but I do not have a volt meter so it is hard to check. I have also long held suspicions about the anti theft system. It also has an automatic start that never starts the car but will try. I have read that sometimes these will not allow you to start your car if they have a problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Right now I am going to check the ground from the battery and attempt to hotwire the starter even though it is only a year old. My car knowledge is not that great but I'm not an idiot and know how to google. Thanks!_

 

[Bouncepass]

Also my lights and stereo work and seem to have full power.

 

[Ugly Dwarf]

I'm a newb on these as well, but let me offer two thoughts.

1) On my '94 and on other vehicles I've seen with "floor shifters" (specifically an early 70's mustang and late 90's grand cherokee), if the shifter isn't all the way into park the vehicle won't start till you give the shifter a little tap forward - you may or may not hear it click into place. In all of these, you turn the key and get no click. Probably not your problem here.

2) For your newer problem of not starting after being turned off for 15 minutes after a long drive... On my 70's GMC, the starter sat very close to the exhaust manifold and would over heat on a hot day after a long drive. Once that happened, the only thing you could do was let the truck sit for 1-2 hours (depending on the outside temp) till the starter cooled off. I fixed it by installing a heat shield between the starter body and the manifold. I can't recall where the starter in the '94 LC is though, so not sure if that might be a problem.

Good luck.

 

[Bouncepass]

Thanks for your reply. I'm from Washington coast and it's been pretty chilly here. It's also been in the driveway for two days and definitely in park.

Unfortunately the starter is on the bottom under the engine slightly off to the right. Which is making it a real pain to work with and I think i may have to take it out to do anything with it. I don't think it is my problem anyway though. I'm seeing if I can get a hold of a volt meter right now as that would make this process much easier. If any one else has any suggestions I'd be happy to hear them. Thanks again for the reply Ugly Dwarf!

 

[mossman40]

Just off the top of my head.......fusible links come to mind as a possible problem source. Positive terminal on the battery, little black box with connectors. Many keep a spare in the glove box. Check them carefully as they can fool you.

 

[chrisdecker]

When my 91 wouldn't start,I first thought it was a battery problem also; bought a new one from wal mart n it started right up! drove home, parked, turned her off, tried to start her and nothing. crank but no turn. it went on like this for months, long story short it was the EFI relay that needed replacing. granted mine is a 91 and that problem is common, it could be the source of your problem also.

 

[chrisdecker]

PS my dealer also said it was a bad starter and battery connection, $500 "fix"...they're full of it
EFI = $35 at auto zone

 

[mlv289]

Have you checked for stored CEL codes? Could be a sensor somewhere.