Smoke on start-up, rough idle

[potif]

had this problem with mine a few weeks ago - turned out to be battery problem.

The other interesting thing was that, even though the voltage meter wasn't dropping that far, there was enough of a drop on start up to wipe my radio memory. eventually realised what the problem was when i changed the heater matrix and the car wasn't started for a week or so - battery died completely. Battery level was low - topped up and radio was ok for a couple of days but then problem came back.

Changed the battery and no more lumpy starts or radio memory loss

[roylittle0]

Roy,

Did you fit new or reconditioned injectors? If new, where did you get them from?

I did an ECU diagnostic check and fault 7 (Throttle Position Sensor) came up, but I cleared that and then had the code 1 (OK). The TPS was probably an old fault from when they put the head on or something, but I will keep an eye on the faults as the ECU light was not illuminated to indicate a fault had been logged - maybe it only lights with a persistant fault?!.

Mine's definitely getting progressively worse and that could be injectors gumming up - I now need to wait for the glow plug beep before attempting to start - it used to start perfectly when the glow lamp when out (approx 1-2s after turning ignition on).

Cheers,

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan

Your error code 7 (Throttle Position Sensor) is more than likely from when the head was replaced, i would suspect that they didn't refit the Throttle Position Sensor cable when it was rebuilt, My injectors were from a surf that didn't have the black smoke monster fitted, so i can only assume that the fault lies somewhere else.

As for starting, i have to agree with Stormy, wait for the relay click at least, i always wait for the buzzer until starting, sometimes let them go twice if its very cold, after the buzzer turn the ignition off and back on again.

[daedalusminos]

You need to wait for the beep or relay click before starting anyway and not as soon as the light goes out

My user manual states:-

"Place the key in the ignition and turn to ON, the engine pre-heat light will come on. When the light has gone out start the vehicle"

... whether it's right or wrong, mine always used to start as soon as the light had exstinguished but not now.

[stormforce]

Roy,

Did you fit new or reconditioned injectors? If new, where did you get them from?

I did an ECU diagnostic check and fault 7 (Throttle Position Sensor) came up, but I cleared that and then had the code 1 (OK). The TPS was probably an old fault from when they put the head on or something, but I will keep an eye on the faults as the ECU light was not illuminated to indicate a fault had been logged - maybe it only lights with a persistant fault?!.

Mine's definitely getting progressively worse and that could be injectors gumming up - I now need to wait for the glow plug beep before attempting to start - it used to start perfectly when the glow lamp when out (approx 1-2s after turning ignition on).

Cheers,

Jonathan

You need to wait for the beep or relay click before starting anyway and not as soon as the light goes out

[daedalusminos]

Roy,

Did you fit new or reconditioned injectors? If new, where did you get them from?

I did an ECU diagnostic check and fault 7 (Throttle Position Sensor) came up, but I cleared that and then had the code 1 (OK). The TPS was probably an old fault from when they put the head on or something, but I will keep an eye on the faults as the ECU light was not illuminated to indicate a fault had been logged - maybe it only lights with a persistant fault?!.

Mine's definitely getting progressively worse and that could be injectors gumming up - I now need to wait for the glow plug beep before attempting to start - it used to start perfectly when the glow lamp when out (approx 1-2s after turning ignition on).

Cheers,

Jonathan

[roylittle0]

No, I've still not got to the bottom of it yet, i did however replace my injectors yesterday and this made quite a difference to the lumpiness on start up but i still get the grey smoke, so I'm still looking.

[daedalusminos]

Hello Roy,

You're describing the exact fault that my 2.4 LN130 suffers from - difficult cold starting, plenty of grey smoke on start-up, rough running for a number of seconds. But when warm it starts and runs just fine.

It may have got worse since the head was changed but I think it was doing it before the head change but to alesser extent. It does seem to have go gradually worse but that could be the onset of the colder weather.

I've changed glow plugs (and checked circuit), air, oil and fuel filters. The next thing would be to try blanking the EGR but notice you've aready tried that to no avail.

So, did you get to the bottom of your problem? I notice on here that quite a few vehicles seem to suffer from the same fault but have not seen a definitive solution yet.

Cheers,

Jonathan

[roylittle0]

Just rechecked the error codes now the battery has been disconnected for a while and it has reset to 1 (one flash) therefore system normal, ran the engine for some time and still get only one flash.

[roylittle0]

OK so i have tried the error code thing and get a code 2 (two flashes) and the list i have says it is the turbo boost pressure sensor, i have disconnected the battery and I'll leave it for a while and see if it was an old fault that has cleared, but where is the sensor and could it be the cause.

If this is the one on the side of the intake pipework then it was left disconnected when i first fitted the head so it could well be an old fault that has cleared, but we will see, the green light on the dash comes on when turbo is boosting so i think the turbo is seeing a sensor of some sorts.

[roylittle0]

It starts with lots of grey smoke, then runs lumpy but clears with a couple of revs.

Mine did that before I changed the glow plugs. My old mondeo did that before I changed the glow plugs, and my old escort did that before I changed the glow plugs. Hence I said check for voltage at the glow plugs knowing that new ones were fitted. Maybe a bad connection giving lower power and making them not work poorly.

However as thats been checked I'll get my coat.

Rob.

My thoughts exactly, with the paint on the glow plugs that was giving bad continuity, so i thought i had found the problem (only taken me about 2 months), I'll take a look at the fault codes in a bit when i wake up properly, just finished night shift and had my alloted 3 hours sleep, not a happy bunny.

[wishbone]

ehh and got knows what the glow plug voltage has to do with anything....seen as she starts fine....

It starts with lots of grey smoke, then runs lumpy but clears with a couple of revs.

Mine did that before I changed the glow plugs. My old mondeo did that before I changed the glow plugs, and my old escort did that before I changed the glow plugs. Hence I said check for voltage at the glow plugs knowing that new ones were fitted. Maybe a bad connection giving lower power and making them not work poorly.

However as thats been checked I'll get my coat.

Rob.

[roylittle0]

Sorry to hear u still got problems mate.....
Hope u get them sorted.....

The test Bushwacker suggested sounds like a good idea to me....

ehh and got knows what the glow plug voltage has to do with anything....seen as she starts fine....

Hi Toby, all is well at this end.

Originally thought it was the glow plugs as when i tested them they had around 11. something volts at them, but swapped them anyway only to find that the new looking old ones (bear in mind they were in the head when i got it) had been sprayed with silver paint to make them look pretty, therefore giving a bad electrical connection, so i thought that would cure the problem but no such luck.

[roylittle0]

Do the test anyway.....
http://toyotasurf.asn.au/techsite/efifaultcodes.htm

It'll take the guesswork out of trying to diagnose a problem over the internet and prevent a lot of confusing and unnecessary posts.

If I had to guess though, I would say the EFI temp sender on the side of the block, under the inlet manifold is kaput or the wiring is disconnected or damaged during the head swap.

The reason i have not done the beep code bit is that there is no light on the dashboard so i assume no fault will be logged on the system, I'll give it ago tomorrow but don't hold out much hope.

Would this only effect start up as she runs a dream once reved up a few times.

[TobyJug]

Sorry to hear u still got problems mate.....
Hope u get them sorted.....

The test Bushwacker suggested sounds like a good idea to me....

ehh and got knows what the glow plug voltage has to do with anything....seen as she starts fine....

[wishbone]

I'd test for voltage at the actual glowplugs for starters.

Rob.