Solved - GX470 - No Engine Light

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stoshzack

stoshzack

10 Year
Joined
Feb 14, 2013
Threads
171
Messages
1,074
Location
Wake Forest, NC
Hi All -

I took my 2003 GX470 with 190K to pick up the kids today. Got to the front of the line and turned the engine off. Went to turn it back on and nothing. No power whatsoever. Got out and checked the battery connections. There were fine. Tried to start it again, nothing. Embarrassingly waited as cars drove around me. Tried it again, started right up. On the way home electricity flickered, but I did not lose power. Got home and tried to lock it…nothing. Came back out later and it started right up. I should mention it was 95 degrees here the past three days. I have an unrelated ABS error code - that is it. Load tested the battery and it was fine.

Any thoughts?
 
Interested in what you find. Today I noticed my infotainment screen flicker and it also restarted twice on my drive. No idea if it’s related to what your issue is. But still curious. Hopefully someone chimes in.
 
That's probably a battery connection issue somewhere. I'd suggest removing the cables, inspecting them (and replacing if needed), then cleaning all connections (with battery terminal cleaner and a wire brush if needed) and re-installing the cables with some terminal grease on them. Including the ground-to-fender connection.

You could also carry a multimeter in the rig for in case it happens again. Then you could pop the hood and see where you do and don't have 12 volts. Usually something like this is connection related, but it wouldn't hurt to be ready to check in case it's something else.
 
Curious about the alternator also. Just because mine had intermittent electrical issues for a while then just died on me in the middle of traffic at rush hour a few months back.
 
So, I did clean the battery connections last night. Tried it this morning. When I turn the key, the dash lights up and car will not start. Try it a couple more times, it starts. I am thinking “starter relay”. That kind of makes sense with 3 days straight of 95 heat. I know heat can make relays act up. Will keep you posted.
 
stoshzack said:
So, I did clean the battery connections last night. Tried it this morning. When I turn the key, the dash lights up and car will not start. Try it a couple more times, it starts. I am thinking “starter relay”. That kind of makes sense with 3 days straight of 95 heat. I know heat can make relays act up. Will keep you posted.
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It's more likely to be the starter solenoid, which is on the starter itself. They are known to go bad on the 2UZ, mine died at around 137K. The solenoid is basically a large relay. If it is the solenoid, you'll often hear it click (it's under the intake manifold), but the starter won't turn over. Mine did the same thing....intermittent no starts for several weeks - after which I replaced it with a Denso reman starter.

I don't recall if the GX has a starter relay in the fuse box which sends current to the solenoid. If it does, you should be able either 1) see if it "clicks" when someone hits the starter (via opening up the fuse box and putting a finger on the relay to feel the click) or 2) replace it with a known-good relay that is the same shape (from another circuit in the fusebox) and see if the problem is fixed.
 
Thanks - the actual starter was my next guess. However, I just replaced it with a reman from Toyota 3 years ago. I did put my finger on relay while my wife turned the key. Did not feel a click. Bench tested it and did hear a click. I guess it might not be getting power in the fuse box. Probably should check that next. Thanks again
 
stoshzack said:
FYI - cannot swap our relay with another and new is $80 from Yota
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To test for power at the fuse box you can put a multimeter or test light/power probe into the relay socket and see if you get 12V when the ignition moves to start. I think they have 4 pins, one of them will be always +12V hot, one will always be 0V/ground, one will go to the starter (should read as 0V/ground), then one will be +12V only when the ignition moves to "start".
 
So, I was getting mixed results at first. It would start in neural and then it wouldn’t. I finally got it to start six times in a row in neutral when it wouldn’t in park. Do you think that is enough testing to be definitive?
 
When it doesn’t start trying wiggling the shifter while starting. Unfortunately I think you probably have another issue…
 
aztoytec said:
When it doesn’t start trying wiggling the shifter while starting. Unfortunately I think you probably have another issue…
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smack the starter with a hammer. That solved my starter issue on the JK like 6 months ago and it hasn't happened since lol
 
Ok Guys -

Just noticed something. When there is a no start, and I turn the key, my temp sensor gauge on my dash sits at cold (see below).

IMG_2947.webp

When it starts normal, when I turn the key, the gauge moves slightly. Almost like that gauge is not getting power. See below.
IMG_2948.webp


First one will start. Second one will not. Interestingly enough, if I leave the key on, it will move the needle after a few seconds to the second pick and the starts up.
 
Just an update - if you look back at my first post, I stated there was an “unrelated ABS error code”. Turns out, it is related. Looking at the first pic above, you will notice my “engine” light is not on. This gives a no start. From my research, the computer will not turn on the engine light when it detects an error in the ABS/VSC. In the second pic, you will see that the “engine” light is on. This will start. So, it looks like the intermittent problem is in the ABS sensor or harness. As I just replaced the sensor a few years ago with a NTK, going to try the harness next. Keep you posted.
 
Update - Ok - so, the codes did not control the engine light. It will start with the codes present. The engine light will sometimes appear, other times it will not when I turn the key. If the engine light is present, the car will start just fine. If it is not, the car will not start. Sometimes I turn the key, and the engine light comes on after a few seconds. The car will start fine after that. I have replaced the ignition switch, neutral safety switch, and starter relay.

I am thinking at this point I should just take it in. After researching, it could be a frayed cam sensor wire, bad knock sensor, or bad pcm. I have no idea!?!?!
 
Update - so, I think this has been solved. I had an appointment scheduled with Toyota the next day. As a last effort, I replaced all the standard fuses in the engine bay and at the driver side dash. Problem gone. Not sure which exact fuse was causing this. But everything seems to be ok now. Super strange.
 
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