Hilux starting issues

[Petemcc]

I have been having a few problems with starting my hilux on cold mornings.

Most of these issues have started since I put a 5L motor in out of a hiace. Originally we were planning to rebuild it first but didn't end up doing it so it's on the plans for the next year or so. The motor has done 350 000 but once it is going runs well and doesn't use any oil or water.

First problem seems to be glow plugs, they all work and glow but she still only starts on a couple of cylinders and takes about 10 sec to really come to life. The next thing I plan to look at is replacing the timer to an after market one that lets them glow a bit longer and pulses them on in the first bit of when the motor is running.

Has anyone had issues with glow plugs when putting a hiace motor into a hilux before? Perhaps there is part of the glow system that is different?

The second bit is that when it is really cold on the first start of the morning it turns over as if the battery is flat. Jump starting it fixes it and then if I drive for 5 min turn it off and leave it for a bit it will wind over as fast as anything.

I have replaced the battery which was getting old and have had the new battery checked a couple of times and it checks out ok.

I have had the starter rebuilt as the brushes were stuffed and a couple of bearings where seized. The starter has been bench tested and worked fine and once it has started once will wind over great. I have found a spare starter of a 2lte that I am going to try just in case.

All connections have been checked and seem good.

I have wound the motor over by hand when cold and it didn't seem to have any extra resistance.

Now I'm stupped... Any ideas?

Cheers,
Pete

[Big Will]

As far as the glow plug issue goes, on the side of the block (just above the starter) there is a temp sensor that goes to the glow plug timer. It tells the timer how long to glow for (longer when cold) otherwise they just click on then off after 1-2 seconds. make sure this is plugged in. I had this problem for about 2 months after i did my 5L conversion.

as far as the hard starting, since you have a mint battery, make sure your alternator is keeping the battery topped up, I have a good one here if you need it, otherwise it could be that you might have left a couple of the the big earthing straps off the block during the conversion, there is one big bugger on each side (best seen from underneath. My truck had these missing when I first bought it.

good luck bud and keep in touch.

[UBZ]

starting issues sounds like the starter trigger relay.
I would try starting with a 12v straight to the solenoid on starter to eliminate that circuit.

[Smurf]

are you using the glow plugs from your old motor? there are different voltages available so if you have the wrong voltage they may not be glowing for long enough

[getsum]

may sound stupid but hows the oil in it?

our tractor would be the same, we changed the thick old oil in it for some fresh stuff and she started up a heck of alot better..

[leeogrady]

may sound stupid but hows the oil in it?

our tractor would be the same, we changed the thick old oil in it for some fresh stuff and she started up a heck of alot better..

Same with my L200 a few months back, thick old oil doesnt help

[Petemcc]

Cheers for the replys guys. I am going to put an aftermarket glow plug timer in it on the weekend to ensure it's getting the best glow it can and the after glow function should help too.

The oil in it has only done about 4000km so shouldn't be too bad but I don't know what grade it is. It is one of the only other things I can think of as once it has started once for the day it will wind over fast all day long so will go for an oil change on the weekend. What oil do you guys recommend? I was thinking of like 5 or 10/40 to
scope with the colder weather

Cheers,
Pete

[tallsam66]

Cheers for the replys guys. I am going to put an aftermarket glow plug timer in it on the weekend to ensure it's getting the best glow it can and the after glow function should help too.

The oil in it has only done about 4000km so shouldn't be too bad but I don't know what grade it is. It is one of the only other things I can think of as once it has started once for the day it will wind over fast all day long so will go for an oil change on the weekend. What oil do you guys recommend? I was thinking of like 5 or 10/40 to
scope with the colder weather

Cheers,
Pete

I use Shell Rimula at the moment ..found it to be excellent..& its on special at moment at supercheap $122 for 20 litres

[elvis]

Hey pete i was wondering if you ever got to the bottom of your hard starting problem when cold? cheers troy

[Petemcc]

Hi,

No I never really did actually. After this post I put the truck in the garage and spent a couple of years modifying it. Now it is back together it is still a bit of a pain.

I think my battery may now be buggered which won't be helping things. The battery would go flat after a few days of sitting and I am only pulling about 10mA with the key off. I still haven't looked into whether this is normal but it seemed minimal to me. I went a while just disconnecting the battery when I parked up over night. I don't use it enough to it to be a real problem but it is on the list of things to look at.

When it is going good I still need to glow it about three times even if it has just been running. If I turn it off and leave it for 5 minutes then try to start it without glowing it it will turn over for ages before it starts.

Other people have suggested that the timing could be out a bit which wouldn't help

Some times when cold and after being glowed 3 times it will crank for quite a while but just won't be enough to start it. Whack some jumper leads on it and it fires straight up. I have been planning to check for voltage drop in the system or perhaps even voltage drop on my fuel cut solenoid.

[3VILC]

Prehaps you could try bypassing the glow timer all together from a cold start, if they are 12V and not one of the strange 9V or 6V types. ie. get a reasonably hefty bit of wire or a jumper cable and connect the glow rail straight to the battery, they try start it?
Likewise as mentioned earlier energize the starter straight from the battery to eliminate problems in the starting circuit. Either with a bit of wire or by shorting the start terminal to the main terminal on the starter with a screwdriver or other insulated handled tool
Also I suppose why not run a jumper cable from batt negative to the starter body or mounting bolt or other good earth on the block near the starter.. this could cause all the above scenarios in reality as you mentioned earlier voltage drop when cranking to the fuel cut/glow plugs/other sensors due to poor starter earthing. Those big earth cables can look ok but could be rusty under the bolts if its been in mud/water, the cable itself can be corroded inside and/or broken inside or the classic cable has started to fray and break where the lugs are crimped on particularly the batt terminal end where its often moved and bent around when disconnecting the battery.
Geez..i wrote a bit of a novel there haha..hopefully might give you a couple of ideas that you maybe hadnt tried yet

[Mattman]

I would be puling the starter and doing brushes and bearings and checking the contacts.

Slow cranking can often be caused by voltage drop due to bad leads or earth's or a worn starter.

Matt.