88 70 series LandCruiser ute starting problems...?

[Thefarmlad]

Hey Legends, first time poster here looking for some assistance diagnosing my 88 LandCruiser farm ute!

It's had a starting issue for a while now, maybe a starter motor but I'll explaine wahys been happening and hopefully someone has some ideas!

It will start sometimes all the time, then you can find yourself down the paddock and it won't star, you thurn it over and it makes one click sound but nothing, the way I've been able to figure out how to start it when this happens is to make sure I'm in gear and facing down hill and it will turn over, something about having the gear box engaged if that makes any sense - any and all help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[sodafeld1]

good thing about diesels it is either fuel or electrics. seeming you can roll start it, it is your electrics. so maybe battery, glow plugs, one of your relays, loose wire, maybe fuse, starter motor. You are just going to have to learn the start system and trace the wires and connections. Get a toyota manual, they are ace.

Battery good charge? battery connections clean? starter connection and earth good? moisture on a bad connection in the paddock, preferring to start in the afternoon on a warm sunny day? They have to be good , snug connections.

there is the glow relay, starter relay and a preheat glow relay. I recommend installing a wilson switch later on, it is one less thing to go wrong.
having to have it in gear to start reads like unlikely voodoo. Intermittent starting sounds like a loose wire if I read you right. Probably a wire connection to your battery or starter. A starter can make a dismal click if not getting a good kick.

 

[sodafeld1]

assuming it is a 2h?

 

[Thefarmlad]

good thing about diesels it is either fuel or electrics. seeming you can roll start it, it is your electrics. so maybe battery, glow plugs, one of your relays, loose wire, maybe fuse, starter motor. You are just going to have to learn the start system and trace the wires and connections. Get a toyota manual, they are ace.

Battery good charge? battery connections clean? starter connection and earth good? moisture on a bad connection in the paddock, preferring to start in the afternoon on a warm sunny day? They have to be good , snug connections.

there is the glow relay, starter relay and a preheat glow relay. I recommend installing a wilson switch later on, it is one less thing to go wrong.
having to have it in gear to start reads like unlikely voodoo. Intermittent starting sounds like a loose wire if I read you right. Probably a wire connection to your battery or starter. A starter can make a dismal click if not getting a good kick.

Thanks friend! Ill start by cleaning the conections and checking the relays, for some reason i feel that may be the ticket. Like you say, just need to follow the string and see where it leeds, thanks so much for the advice!!

 

[Thefarmlad]

assuming it is a 2h?

2h indeed, lovely ol blue beast! Been a really reliable and easy to fix ute so far!

 

[coldtaco]

Starter

 

[pradoblivious]

agree sounds like starter to me.. the next time it fails to engage, instead of putting it in gear and pointing it downhill, take a tire-iron and give your starter a light but firm tap through the wheel well or two and see if that wakes it up.

 

[duncanrm]

if tapping the starter motor doesnt work (or rocking the vehicle back and forth a little whilst in gear) then consider opening up the Starter Relay and giving the contacts a light sanding.. they do get pitted.

 

[Thefarmlad]

if tapping the starter motor doesnt work (or rocking the vehicle back and forth a little whilst in gear) then consider opening up the Starter Relay and giving the contacts a light sanding.. they do get pitted.

View attachment 2974558

Awesome advice, I'll take it apart today - the gentle rocking gets it going though

 

[duncanrm]

Awesome advice, I'll take it apart today - the gentle rocking gets it going though

Its unlikely to be the relay then.

 

[sodafeld1]

Still think it is a loose wire, from saying rocking back and forth makes a difference and sporadic starting. When she is good, she is good.

I recently discovered my starter earth had rattled loose, never had starting issues but nicked it up straight away. My bumpy road is named Grand Ridge but the locals call it 'grand ridges'! I am underneath often checking for any looseness and smart charging the batteries.

You can also check the starter on it's own by pulling it and connecting to a battery, if it whirs away you are good.

 

[pradoblivious]

yeah in my experience when it responds to tapping/rocking the truck etc.. you have a going-bad starter.

 

[Thefarmlad]

Its unlikely to be the relay then.

Just cleaned the relay, put it back in and now won't start, I can see the relay is not closing this time as I try start it, so something is not completing the circuit - must be electricle!

 

[Thefarmlad]

Really interesting, so I took apart the starter relay, mind you it had already been starting fine to this point, disconnected it, cleaned the points and out it back in, I left the cover off so I could see what happens, turn key - nothing, touch relay and it starts...

How's this though, if I now turn the key while running, instead of the noise from the starter motor, the engine will shut down??

 

[sodafeld1]

remove starter and test, if bad, they are on ebay/gumtree for not a bad price for what they are and do, most sparkies would say buy a new as reconditioning old may be more money. The video is pretty good.

I don't think turning the key whilst running is good for the cogs whilst things are spinning (someone?)..one thing at a time, test starter. Later on once starter is confirmed, maybe edic is causing stop..hopefully haven't buggered your relay which you don't use once started.

Test starter. Tell us about the starter once tested.