93 Prado SX w/ 1KZ TE - Starting issues

[KZJ70]

Wondering if these some help out there?

Starting seems to be an issue after a week of not running. Turn the key two clicks, wait a sec, hear a click - assuming thats the glow plugs heating and but the motor turns quite a few times before she starts and on the odd occasion a large cloud of diesel smoke. This morning she just wouldnt start. She wanted to but just didn't. Ran the battery trying to turn it over.

I hooked up the jumpers and after 3 more goes with a wait between trys she started no problem.

When shes warm its no issue two turns at best after a park up.

New glow plugs or the unit that heats them? I service every 4000km without fail

Any ideas would be helpful.

[nzlux]

I had a pajero do the same thing, was a leak somewhere in the diesel line.
You can test for the issue by priming the diesel filter before starting, it should be hard if not that is the issue.

[KZJ70]

Checked the filter, all good, bled all the lines to the injectors.

Have a feeling its the glow plugs or the unit that heats them. Just need more info understanding how they work and how that would make starting difficult before i go replacing them. Might do it anyway.

A guy at work told me a diesel doesn't even need the plugs if its a warm day so i'm dubious its the plugs?

[kbushnz]

The first couple of clicks you hear are not the glow plug relays kicking in...
Glow relay is in the L/H front guard.
I know as I thought the same thing..
Glow times are controlled by the ECU...
If it starts fine when hot, I would suggest the glow plugs are on the way out...

[KZJ70]

Legend! I'll replace them and see what happens. I'll track down a relay next and look out for a spare ECU. Heard they go on these models

[kbushnz]

Legend! I'll replace them and see what happens. I'll track down a relay next and look out for a spare ECU. Heard they go on these models

ECU spares are becoming hard to find...
Anything Electronic in Nelson can service them before they go bad...
Wouldn't worry about the relay.. Mines same age and been underwater many times... Never had any issues...

But can't be too careful I guess.

[KZJ70]

Thanks Calvin

[mudmike]

mine is a bit hard to start when cold to, figure its the glow plugs on the way out, but have found that if I give it a bit of gas pedal it starts much easier, but need to get off my butt and do glow plugs. But also could be leak in the fuel system have had a primer pump go out on me to.

[likemagic]

Hi,
Same issue checked every thing, just replaced the glow plugs in my 1KZ $33 ea from sca, no changes. Now busy saving coin to have the injectors done. If the injectors put in big drops instead of super fine mist it causes starting problems that look like glow plugs.

[evolution02]

Don't fit aftermarket glow plugs. Get the genuine plugs from Toyota. They are only $25 each

[Jerry]

Theres a small filter in the diesel pump which gets blocked as well, worth getting ECU checked, as well as the seals on the diesel pump