2000 LX 470 very intermittent starting issue (2 Viewers)

[anthonydiaz85]

My 2000 LX 470 has 188,000 miles on it. I have a starting issue that I am trying to track down before I start throwing money at it with out reason and to be honest I am becoming a little defeated. I bought this with the intention of trail driving but I am a little scared to take it too far because I do not want to become stranded with a starting issue.

Every couple of weeks the issue pops up. I turn the key, the engine starts to turn over, then it quits. I do not lose electrical power. It feels as if there is not any voltage being delivered to the starter. I have found that if I turn the car off and keep trying to start the car, it will eventually turn on.

CHOWCARES on youtube posted a video about this issue and diagnosed it down to the engine bay fuse box at the 20 amp fuse which delivers fuel. I have not pulled the fuse to inspect it yet. I will do that today or tomorrow. The battery reads good voltage when the car is off.

I do not really want to pull the fuse box because I hate messing with electrical especially when it is the heart of the electrical system. Any thoughts on what this could be or where I should start testing?

Thanks guys

 

[shane431]

EFI Relay Bypass Kit (Immobilizer Fix) for UZJ100/LX470

This bypass kit bypasses the bad EFI relay circuit in the fuse box so that the immobilizer system gets adequate power supply for starting the car. I made this for myself after my new 30A replacement fuse - initial fix for crank but not start problem, failed to start after 4 days. Some members...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[OwnerCS]

Try a new starter relay. It bought me a few good starts before the starter finally gave up.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

EFI Relay Bypass Kit (Immobilizer Fix) for UZJ100/LX470

This bypass kit bypasses the bad EFI relay circuit in the fuse box so that the immobilizer system gets adequate power supply for starting the car. I made this for myself after my new 30A replacement fuse - initial fix for crank but not start problem, failed to start after 4 days. Some members...

forum.ih8mud.com

Thanks shane431. I'm going to read into this thread. I read the first page and it was pretty heated between two members haha. If it is a permanent fix then it is a lot better than buying a new damn fuse box.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Try a new starter relay. It bought me a few good starts before the starter finally gave up.

Do you know how to test the starter relay for continuity or resistance? Im really noob about electrical and I am not sure what terms to use? How do I test if the relay is good?

EDIT: I am youtube'ing it right now.

 

[OwnerCS]

Do you know how to test the starter relay for continuity or resistance? Im really noob about electrical and I am not sure what terms to use? How do I test if the relay is good?

EDIT: I am youtube'ing it right now.

I watched this video. I had a known good relay from my LX and just moved it to the LC. It helped for a while, but the root cause was an old starter at 320.000 miles. You mileage is low enough to consider another issue before going down for a starter.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

I watched this video. I had a known good relay from my LX and just moved it to the LC. It helped for a while, but the root cause was an old starter at 320.000 miles. You mileage is low enough to consider another issue before going down for a starter.

I just watched the video. I actually watched this before but had forgotten about it. I'm going to keep a wire in the box like him. Ill be testing my relay tomorrow. Now I am thinking what I do if the relay passes the test. The link above about the bypass is intriguing.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

I just checked the starter relay.

It passed the OHM test.

Here is the 20 amp fuse for the EFI.

This also passed. The prongs were a bit dirty so I gave it a very light pass with a high grit sand paper, threw a dot of dielectric grease.

This is the space for the 20 amp fuse and it looks good to me. But also the fuse was snug coming out and snug going in. So the connection seems good.

I also checked the voltage at the starter relay and got this reading:

Does this mean the fuse box most likely is not the problem and that kit being sold on here will help?

I want to check the EFI relay but it is really stuck in there good.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

I got the EFI relay out. Very sung and the connections in the fuse box looked clean.

The relay passed the OHM test at 73. The prongs looked good too.

Here is the voltage at the EFI relay connection in the fuse box

These were the main things it sounded like I needed to be worried about and everything seems to check out.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Try a new starter relay. It bought me a few good starts before the starter finally gave up.

The starter relay looks to be in good order. Passed the OHM test.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

The start issue happened again today. I got the key in and turned as normal. Hesitant start from the starter. The check engine light was on. There was no red blinking security light flashing. The car did not turn over. I cycled the ignition twice. Same thing with the hesitant turn over from the starter and the truck did not turn over. Same light sequence on dash and security light too.

On the 4th turn over the started cycles and the car turned on.

I drove to my destination. When I got back into the car I experienced the same thing hit the started cycled on the third try. Same light sequence.

When I returned home and then left again, car started on the first try. I have started my car twice since then and no issues.

This was all today. Any help would be awesome trying to track this little gremlin down.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Bump and fingers cross...haha

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Bumpidy bump bump.....

 

[xirforever]

Are there any other failed starting conditions, or is the only problem you have is it starts to turn over then stops?

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Are there any other failed starting conditions, or is the only problem you have is it starts to turn over then stops?

I haven’t seen any other failed conditions. It has been the same thing the several times it has happened. I need to test the main relay this weekend and make sure the ohms are within spec. What would be an example of other failed starting conditions though?

You have any ideas what it could be?

 

[xirforever]

I haven’t seen any other failed conditions. It has been the same thing the several times it has happened. I need to test the main relay this weekend and make sure the ohms are within spec. What would be an example of other failed starting conditions though?

You have any ideas what it could be?

I also started a thread on my starting issue where i have a link to a video so you can hear the starting issues i am seeing. One of the failed starting conditions i am having is the same as yours. I just picked up a new starter and im just going to replace it and see what happens.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

I was hoping to not replace the starter but I will. And I will take the opportunity for new gasket on the way down to my starter haha. I just did the intake manifold gasket in my 92 bronco. The process is pretty similar.

 

[xirforever]

Took out the starter and tested it, it was definitely bad. The plunger would come out, but not spin.

 

[anthonydiaz85]

Took out the starter and tested it, it was definitely bad. The plunger would come out, but not spin.

Well shot. Haha. Okay. I was actually leaning towards looking into the ignition switch.

Did your starter feel weak with every crank? Mine feels strong but I have this damn issue. Could it be the switch?