Starting Problem

[chris henry]

Has anyone got any ideas as to how to cure a starting problem on my 96 3rd gen Surf.

I have a problem similar to that warduke had but having read the comments I am none the wiser on how to cure it.

When I go to start the car in the mornings or after work it struggles to cranck over and seems to have a flat battery. once it starts it flashes the indicators twice but I think this is caused by the toad cat1 alarm/immobiliser telling me of low voltage.

at first I thought it was the battery as this was the original one from japan but I have replaced this and the problem is still there with the new one (had them both checked and once charged both are good)

I had an auto electrical friend check it for a power drain once the ignition is off and also that the alternator is charging both are fine. i have now also replace the positive terminal connector as this was loose and cleaned up all connections on the earth lead (including the one on the engine block).

I am now starting to wonder what to do next as the problem is getting worse and dont want to replace the alternator or starter motor if this will not cure the problem.

[carbonman]

Has anyone got any ideas as to how to cure a starting problem on my 96 3rd gen Surf.

I have a problem similar to that warduke had but having read the comments I am none the wiser on how to cure it.

When I go to start the car in the mornings or after work it struggles to cranck over and seems to have a flat battery. once it starts it flashes the indicators twice but I think this is caused by the toad cat1 alarm/immobiliser telling me of low voltage.

at first I thought it was the battery as this was the original one from japan but I have replaced this and the problem is still there with the new one (had them both checked and once charged both are good)

I had an auto electrical friend check it for a power drain once the ignition is off and also that the alternator is charging both are fine. i have now also replace the positive terminal connector as this was loose and cleaned up all connections on the earth lead (including the one on the engine block).

I am now starting to wonder what to do next as the problem is getting worse and dont want to replace the alternator or starter motor if this will not cure the problem.

Im no mechanic, but if the batterys are definitely fine, then there is a good chance the starter motor is not doing its job properly.
There really isn't a whole lot more that it could be, I would rule out the alternators as your starting from a fresh charged battery which doesn't leave much other than the starter motor.
Thats my 2 pence worth anyways... im sure the other guys will be able to confirm or refute this....

[carbonman]

Of course, it could also be a bad earth connection?

[JimL]

Yours is a '96 I know but this writeup should give you some great advice, I wouldnt trust the part numbers though they're US spec.

Heres another US writeup on an '88

[rich]

I had the same problem on mine allthough my batteries were duff.

However I think that the batteries going U/S was caused by the solenoid contacts being worn. These are replaceable, the Toyota part numbers and the price I paid was:

Plunger, Magnet Switch (Solenoid) Part No. 28235-17030- £14.92
Fits 2LTE, 3L..LN13# IKZTE, 2L#, KZN130, LN108,112,85..4FC

Starter Kit, Motor Terminal (The bit the plunger hits and connects the starter motor) Part No. 28226-54220 £9.39
Fits 2LTE, 3L..LN13# IKZTE, 2L#, KZN130, LN108,112,85..4FC

Starter Kit, Battery Terminal (The other bit the plunger hits) Part No. 28226-54320 £5.78
Fits 2LTE, 3L..LN13# IKZTE, 2L#, KZN130, LN108,112,85..4FC

Replacing the bits is easy but getting the starter motor out and then back in was a bitch, I dont know what it's like on a 3rd gen (Mine a 2nd gen - same engine though)

Rich.

[ruprecht]

I'm having a similar problem. The batteries seem to go flat very quickly if left for only a day or two, even after a good long drive.

I had both batteries tested yesterday, the guy said they were both fine.

I've got a halfords battery charger and have independently charged both batteries. One of them seemed fine, it went on the charger for about 6 hours, then the charger automatically went into maintenance mode.

The other however kept charging and charging and getting hotter and hotter around the base until I switched the charger off after about 8 hours. It was too hot to carry.

Seems to me the second battery might actually be duff, despite passing the "test". If it's been dropped or something during a service (these problems started after my last service) could it have sustained some internal damage that might cause this? Maybe two internal plates or something have been bent until they touch, causing a short?

It got through winter last year with no starting problems, it's really only been a problem since the last service.

Any thoughts?

[marky]

Has anyone got any ideas as to how to cure a starting problem on my 96 3rd gen Surf.

I have a problem similar to that warduke had but having read the comments I am none the wiser on how to cure it.

When I go to start the car in the mornings or after work it struggles to cranck over and seems to have a flat battery. once it starts it flashes the indicators twice but I think this is caused by the toad cat1 alarm/immobiliser telling me of low voltage.

at first I thought it was the battery as this was the original one from japan but I have replaced this and the problem is still there with the new one (had them both checked and once charged both are good)

I had an auto electrical friend check it for a power drain once the ignition is off and also that the alternator is charging both are fine. i have now also replace the positive terminal connector as this was loose and cleaned up all connections on the earth lead (including the one on the engine block).

I am now starting to wonder what to do next as the problem is getting worse and dont want to replace the alternator or starter motor if this will not cure the problem.

Faulty voltage regulator ?

[Elvz]

I'd go with carbonman's suggestion that it's a bad connection. I've had several Surf's that didn't start very enthusiastically after they'd been sitting for a while.

One of them had a bad connection where the positive battery lead bolts onto the battery clamp on the nearside battery. I've cleaned this up and retightened it a couple of times now but it seems to be a persisant problem

[rich]

I'm having a similar problem. The batteries seem to go flat very quickly if left for only a day or two, even after a good long drive.

I had both batteries tested yesterday, the guy said they were both fine.

I had both of my batteries tested but the bloke didn't have a clue.

Firstly he tested them connected so he didn't test them independantly - I made him disconnect them.

Secondly they both broke down to 11 volts which said was fine - which is incorrect, they should hold approx 12.8 volts under load (Over 12 at least!)

I replaced the starter contacts after this test and the starting was improved but I still had the battery fade problems talked about. I eventually did the following test myself and came to the conclusion that the batt's were knackered - I was right. Turns over a dream now.

If you have a battery meter on the dash of your surf then when you turn the ignition on watch the meter if it dips below the centre line then one or both of the batteries aren't good. The test uses the pre-heaters which take approx 50amps. If you haven't got a meter then with two people you do the same test whilst one checks the battery voltage with a voltmeter (multimeter).

As Elvz has said it is a good idea to clean the battery connections as well. A lot of people put grease on them, this is a bad idea as grease puts a film over everything and reduces the conductivity - use vaseline or specialist electrical stuff or nothing!