starting issue (heat?)

[landcruiser3DP]

i've got an intermittent starting issue and one i am starting to wonder about.
the first is occasionally i can get in and turn the key and nothing happens. i can do it again and it will start. i can also do it two or three times and have it start. once i had to call AAA to come and between the time i hung out and walked around i tried it again and it started.
it doesn't happen often but it's happened three times in the last week.
i've checked the ground at the drivers side and the connections at the battery and all three seem secure. i have not checked a connection at the starter or any others.
the starter is like four or five years old OEM.
it's hot down here and i sort of feel like it only happens when it's hot.
from what i remember it can happen in a "cold start" when i walk out in the morning or when i parked somewhere and came back out 15 or 20 minutes later.
since its like 70 dF in the morning down here that means it's not only happening when it's 100 or 105.
the second thing i am wondering about is if i am getting a slight "revving" of RPM's during startup and i'm wondering if this is an actual issue as well.
any suggestions on what to check or how to narrow this down are welcome.
THANKS
EDIT: 1997 LX 450.

 

[efjayatee]

How old is your battery and is the contact terminals loose?? Check your fusible link, check your starter grounding......EFI fuse. Just throwing out there to start.

 

[MissahPapaJ]

Before you start it see if the check engine lamp illuminates prior to starting the vehicle if it doesn't and you go to start it it’s likely the EFI main relay is going intermittent heat and cold ( and age ) is usually the culprit. Also start out every post with what year the vehicle is, that’s what truly counts. Also refresh important parts like fusible link and relays when you purchase the vehicle nothing lasts forever especially important fuses and relays. I pulled out a few high amp fuses to important systems cause they had oxidized green over time and electricity isn’t a fan of resistance. Preventive replacement of old tired items on a 30 year old vehicle isn’t negotiable it’s expected. Most of these vehicles have been neglected at this point and the “ don’t fix it unless it’s broken “ mentality are for people with platinum AAA memberships, choose your lane.

 

[Dragos80]

I will post some links to some threads which deal with no start issues. Just about every thread has a bunch more links inside them so there is plenty of information you can find.


Intermittent no start (fixed with high power jump) - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/intermittent-no-start-fixed-with-high-power-jump.1380101/

Need help diagnosing crank but no start - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/need-help-diagnosing-crank-but-no-start.1376368/

Starter Delay - Or no crank at all... - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/starter-delay-or-no-crank-at-all.955253/

 

[landcruiser3DP]

How old is your battery and is the contact terminals loose?? Check your fusible link, check your starter grounding......EFI fuse. Just throwing out there to start.

thanks guys. it's all helpful.
terminals are tight. that little ground at the body panel is tight. the battery is relatively new and last time this happened i ran it to batteries plus snd they said the CCA's are fine.
also fusible link is fine. i used to have a spare in the glovebox but need to double check this...
on the starter i forget. am i turning the wheel and going in from the wheel well? taking the tire off? crawling up under it?
also how many connections am i checking? two? three?
THANKS

 

[landcruiser3DP]

I will post some links to some threads which deal with no start issues. Just about every thread has a bunch more links inside them so there is plenty of information you can find.


Intermittent no start (fixed with high power jump) - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/intermittent-no-start-fixed-with-high-power-jump.1380101/

Need help diagnosing crank but no start - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/need-help-diagnosing-crank-but-no-start.1376368/

Starter Delay - Or no crank at all... - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/starter-delay-or-no-crank-at-all.955253/

thanks a ton for these.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

Before you start it see if the check engine lamp illuminates prior to starting the vehicle if it doesn't and you go to start it it’s likely the EFI main relay is going intermittent heat and cold ( and age ) is usually the culprit. Also start out every post with what year the vehicle is, that’s what truly counts. Also refresh important parts like fusible link and relays when you purchase the vehicle nothing lasts forever especially important fuses and relays. I pulled out a few high amp fuses to important systems cause they had oxidized green over time and electricity isn’t a fan of resistance. Preventive replacement of old tired items on a 30 year old vehicle isn’t negotiable it’s expected. Most of these vehicles have been neglected at this point and the “ don’t fix it unless it’s broken “ mentality are for people with platinum AAA memberships, choose your lane.

hey. thanks for this. i'm going through the @Dragos80 links. i'm going to throw a couple questions out just because i like learning and it may help.
i guess i need to look at the electrical diagram for all this. i do need to check if the CEL light lights up. i was going to check this morning but of course it started right up. i guess i just need to put the key in and look where the CEL is and see if it lights up each time.
is there any way to get a basic understanding on where the CEL is located in relation to everything else? is it like ignition key, ignition, behind dash relays and fuses and then like the head unit, under hood relays, and starter?
lastly what is weird on this is it is very spaced out - like over a year - and very intermittent - like one and then it again. or once or twice and it again.
somehow it feels mechanical in some odd way. but i guess the relays can do this and they can be heat sensitive? so relays can be weird like this? sort of like the hall sensor on my motorcycle?
also i posted the year (thanks).

 

[MissahPapaJ]

Nothing more aggravating than chasing down an intermittent problem. Sometimes I just have to let a customer take the car until it gets worse. Also on K series Hondas the starter will be impossibly intermittent and I usually just say let’s change it at 150-200k it’s about time anyways if the starter is original. Sometimes it’s just worth throwing a not so expensive part at something just to rule it out. If I pull an intake off of a 2UZ and it’s never been off I always sell a starter. Why not you’re already there.