What is this cold start noise?! (Video inside)

[tired80]

YouTube - MOV03199

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhQzQbDxYqk

My first thought was that it's the starter failing to disengage. I haven't ruled this out.

It goes away after a few seconds, like in the video. The engine stutters until the noise goes away, then runs fine.

Cold start injector seems to be working. I unbolted it and put it in a jar, and I got fuel spray when I started it- I'm not sure how much or what the spray pattern looked like, but the jar definitely had some gasoline in it.

I'm thinking that the starter itself could be the issue, but during a bench test it worked like a dream. Or, possibly the ignition switch and/or starter relay are keeping the starter engaged. Ground cables aren't perfect, but look good enough.

Any ideas?

 

[Hilux]

Diagnostically speaking, couldn't you push/ pull start it and see if it was the starter hanging?

 

[Joe Egolf]

sounds like a lazy starter bendix release and a cold tranny or power steering,low or dirty fluid maybe??

 

[WristPin]

starter is hanging up. could be in the started or a sticking switch. take out the starter and inspect it. then rebuild it.

your whine is low power steering fluid. you put ATF or powersteering fluid in there?

you have a crazy misfire. check all ignition components and timing

you have a bad exhaust leak

 

[Hilux]

you have a crazy misfire. check all ignition components and timing

yeah, that start was crazy.



tired80, you said this was only a cold start issue? Getting cold where you live? Done any water crossings lately? Got the vent hole in your distributor plugged up?

 

[tired80]

Yup, it's cold where I live, in Denver. Snowing now. The apparent misfire is an interesting symptom, because it only occurs during the first few seconds of a cold start. All other times it runs great. You guys were right about the power steering fluid.

Sometimes this truck starts beautifully, even when it is cold.

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[tired80]

Well, after some investigating, I found that it was the ignition switch at the column. It wasn't switching the starter off after being released from the "start" position. I tested the switch terminals per the FSM and the continuity wasn't correct in the "on" and "start" positions. So, I disassembled the switch and cleaned up all the contacts, tried to perk up the springs by stretching them out a little, and tested again. It was better, but still intermittent.

New switch from Toyota is about $80, I think. I reassembled everything and found that if I turn the key to "start," then as soon as the starter catches (immediately) turn the key back to just the right spot, the starter will disengage. It's kind of a sweet spot. All that chirping noise was from the bendix gear turning with the flywheel I guess.

 

[bkgee]

now you have the perfect excuse to rig up a cryptic 2 or 3 switch/button (manual) type ignition. most of the electric equipment in my SR5 is removed or no longer needed, so i plan to use all the factory switches/buttons for that myself... someday.

 

[WristPin]

Well, after some investigating, I found that it was the ignition switch at the column. It wasn't switching the starter off after being released from the "start" position. I tested the switch terminals per the FSM and the continuity wasn't correct in the "on" and "start" positions. So, I disassembled the switch and cleaned up all the contacts, tried to perk up the springs by stretching them out a little, and tested again. It was better, but still intermittent.

New switch from Toyota is about $80, I think. I reassembled everything and found that if I turn the key to "start," then as soon as the starter catches (immediately) turn the key back to just the right spot, the starter will disengage. It's kind of a sweet spot. All that chirping noise was from the bendix gear turning with the flywheel I guess.

ah-ha!
wristy was right!

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

That happened to me in my old 86, but with the clutch idiot switch the noise would only show up when I pushed the clutch in to shift... I thought my t-out bearing was going.... Hehehe No idiot switch on your 85, so it was just on... I think the real solution is to clean out the ign switch so the spring will push it back to where it should be.