NewHilux.net

Hi Guys, first time posting here. I've had this problem for a while now. When I go to start the engine In the cold weather there is nothing. The battery is new, so I know it's not that. After the engine warms up after 5 or 10 minutes it's fine, and starts with no problems.
I've noticed when turning the key from ignition to start, the red dash lights don't dull off which indicates to me that there is no current being drawn.
It's a 1994 Hilux.
The same thing happened to a Hilux that a friend owned, but he got rid of the vehicle before the problem was diagnosed.
Any ideas would be most welcome. Thanks.

Clean your battery terminals and see if that fixes it. Use boiling water to clean off any deposits.

Thanks Gypsy, but I'm pretty sure it's not the connections. As mentioned, it's a new battery and the dash lights don't fade when I go from ignition to start, indicating to me that something in the circuit is not actuating to draw current. Possibly a relay. I wish it was as simple as bad connections.

The original post is a bit confusing, you say that the engine will not start when cold but will start after it's warmed up for 5-10 minutes - how does it warm up from cold if it will not start? Are you jump starting it?

Hmm sounds like a lazy starter motor or solenoid. Any other suggestions? It's always difficult if there's very little information to go on.

Electrical things like starters tend to work better when cold, batteries on the other hand dont. Check to see if there is a discharge while the vehicle is sitting, what is the batt voltage when it fails to start? and get the battery tested, just cause it is new doesnt mean it isnt faulty but your dash warning light theory is a strong arguement against that.

Whwer is the vehicle located, how cold is cold?

Do you have faulty ignition switch

gjn wrote:The original post is a bit confusing, you say that the engine will not start when cold but will start after it's warmed up for 5-10 minutes - how does it warm up from cold if it will not start? Are you jump starting it?

Sorry for the delay in the reply. I live on a hill and roll start it. I only have to drive around the block and let it idle for a few minutes and then it starts fine.

martynvella wrote:Electrical things like starters tend to work better when cold, batteries on the other hand dont. Check to see if there is a discharge while the vehicle is sitting, what is the batt voltage when it fails to start? and get the battery tested, just cause it is new doesnt mean it isnt faulty but your dash warning light theory is a strong arguement against that.

Whwer is the vehicle located, how cold is cold?

No I'm pretty sure it's not the battery. Another reason I say this is because it's dual fuel and the change over switch is easy to knock into the neutral position. When this happens on occasions I wind the motor over for a number of seconds before I realize where the switch is. It winds over very strongly.
The other thing is that I had it out recently to jump start a diesel generator when the storms in the Dandenong ranges took out our power for 10 days.

dave g wrote:Do you have faulty ignition switch

I don't think it would be the switch because the cabin doesn't really get warm too quick. I'm guessing it has to be something in the engine bay.

Would I be correct in saying that it's a toss up between the relay or the solenoid? I know bugger all about electrcal systems.

It is starting to get in to the near impossible to diagnose theoretically without having the vehicle on hand to do some simple tests.

Throwing parts at it can get very expensive and time consuming.
It will take a sparky about half an hour to diagnose it if you left it with them over night and cost less than one incorrect part you might put in it based on a guess by forum members that have no electrical experience at all.

Good advice. It might come to that I think. I was hoping it might have been a common problem, and someone here might have said something like "Yea, this happens all the time to this model and you just have to replace xxxxx and you'll be good to go". Maybe no such luck. Oh well.

Was definatly worth a try.