- This topic has 5 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 11 months ago by
.
-
Topic
-
Hey everyone, first time poster, long time lurker.
I have a bit of an odd issue with my 2010 Rav4. I’ll try my best to explain as detailed as possible without writing a novel. So here it goes.
2010 Rav4 2.5L FWD 140k
I’m having an issue that started more than a month ago where my Rav doesn’t start on the first few tries, and then suddenly does start. All lights and battery turn on, however the car doesn’t even crank (no clicking either). After leaving it for several seconds it starts normally. It never hesitates or shows any other signs of issues when it does start.
I brought it into my mechanic and he checked ALL possible mechanical issues and found nothing. Battery is good; starter is good; fuel pump is good ;ignition switch is good; etc. He checked it thoroughly. His best guess was that there could be an issue with the computer since we’ve had extremely low temperatures (-35 celsius) or that there could be an issue with the immobilizer.
In the course of time I have figured out that I could minimize the starting issue when I followed these steps:
1. Turn key to “on” position
2. Leave it there and let all lights in dash turn on and wait for the chime to stop
3. Crank
Doing this would make the car turn on without any issues about 90% of the timeFast forward to last night:
I do my usual steps, crank, and the car is cranking for a few seconds and then stops.
I take out the key and try again and it does the same again.
I do this a 3rd time and it seems to struggle a bit and then finally turns on.This has not happened in the month before with my starting issues and has me wondering.
I should note that the car has always turned on after 2 or 3 tries and has never left be stranded anywhere. Also it drives perfectly fine without any issues at all…once it actually starts.
My next step is to find another mechanic to check it over and to get a 2nd opinion.
Any help or insight on this issue would be greatly appreciated!
-
Replies
-
It’s a known issue with the neutral safety switch.
Here you go:
https://www.toyotaparts.metro-toyota.com/INTERMITTENT_NO_CRANK_NO_START_T-SB-0348-09.pdfYou state:
” the car doesn’t even crank (no clicking either). ”
That tends to lead me to believe some electrical issue.
Possibilities:
Dirty and or loose connection.
Suggestion you inspect and ensure all power and grounds are clean and tight.
Also that all cables are in good shape with no corrosion build up under the insulation.Faulty ( intermittent ) main / stater relay.
Might try swapping it out for another known good one in the fuse block.
Also might suggest you inspect the entire fuse box for corrosion internally.Faulty ( intermittent ) ignition switch or connection to it.
Faulty ( intermittent ) Neutral safety switch.
As to a possible fault with the ECM….. ( or more like a connection to the ECM )
Possible, but I would think some code would pop up.Considering the immobilizer ….
Are there any signs on the dash cluster or any code(s) that would indicate the immobilizer is suspect?Intermittent problems are always tough….I had a problem similar to yours and it turned out to be the neutral safety switch was internittent/out of adjustment. Anyway, he needs to check the starting circuit – there maybe switches between the ignition key and starter holding it out.
Don’t know if this the case with your Toyota. Had an issue with my Dodge Charger. It never did not start but had a delay from turning the key to start to when it cranked. First it was just maybe a 1 second delay then the worst was up to 5. Dodge calls it a starter solenoid but its a relay in the fuse block. Changed that and have had no problems since. Check the fuse block diagram in your owners manual to see if your car has a relay for the starter..
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.