1991 Toyota pickup 3.0 Starting issues...

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Dec 16, 2018 | 11:39 AM

#21

wii_tarded

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Joined: May 2008

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From: Knoxville, TN

Well, here we are....still no start.
As stated before, it's a new clutch and flywheel. As suggested, had the starter checked. It worked one time out of 5, but sounded terrible. So that was replaced. Now I'm back to this...

Same problem..

Now what?

Oct 17, 2019 | 10:27 AM

#22

Cameron Ashley

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Joined: Oct 2019

Posts: 1

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubiKing

Cliff notes at bottom

Problem: Truck wont start, it will click put not even try to turn over.

Hello all,

I have a 1991 Toyota Pickup V6 3.0 (3vze). I bought it a year ago with 180k miles on it. It had the HG rebuilt but has a coolant leak. I'm going to replace the water pump and timing belt soon.

When i bought the truck i was told that it had a starting problem. The seller said that it was intermentant and that 9 x's out of 10 it would start. So, 6 months go by and i encountered my first bad start. When i went to start the truck it just clicked, tried again and click, then the third time started up.

This has been a recurring problem for the last six months up to last week. Last week after work it took about 6 turns of the ignition to start up and run. I went to the gas station and when i tried to start it again nothing. I had to be pushed down the road and pop the clutch to start the engine.

I have done a lot of searching here and there but have not found what symptoms i have.

The HG is good, oil is new, full of coolant and battery is good. I had the wife try to start the truck while I had a volt meter on the battery and it dropped 1\2-1 volt. I can here the relay click when i try to start the engine but wont even try to start.

Cliff notes: Truct started fine for six months, started to get intementent starts and now no start at all. I am getting relay clicking and battery has good volts while trying to start.

I had this same problem. I'd go to the gas station and fill up with gas and every single time it wouldnt start. No matter what level I let the gas get to. Assumed starter was just bad, but after a deployment I came back and my battery was dead and couldnt jump it off after 30 min of cables attached. Then I realized my ground cable was just corroded and frayed at the terminal side so I cut and stripped back / installed a new terminal and now it hits everytime.

Aug 16, 2021 | 11:18 AM

#23

Tomray

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Joined: Aug 2021

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1991 Pickup intermittent starter issue

I have the same problem with the 1991 Toyota pickup. The starter only intermittently won't start. It is not the battery or connection. No clicking sound. Seem somehow related to how P is engaged with the automatic transmission. Is this where the relay issues might be? It has always started after a while and only happen once every 10 or 15 starts.

Aug 16, 2021 | 12:31 PM

#24

5 Fists

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Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 531

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From: British Columbia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomray

Look at your neutral safety switch, if the shifter doesn't think it's in Park or Neutral it won't start. If you use the search function and "Google" option, and search for Neutral Safety Switch you should find somewhere to start researching.

Aug 16, 2021 | 12:38 PM

#25

atcfixer

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From: Mid Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomray

I'd agree with the post above mine, sounds like the park/neutral switch. If it acts up in park, try neutral, it's a different contact in the switch, it's atleast a way to limp around as long as the main contact isn't worn out. Wiggling the shifter wiggles the contacts, so if that's the way to get it working after messing up, it's almost guaranteed it's the switch at fault.

Also, FYI, your auto truck doesn't have the starter relay. It's one less thing to fail, but the full power of the starter solenoid still comes through your ignition switch (and park/neutral switch). Looks like at the factory they designed the circuit poorly sadly. It was fixed in 1992 trucks and the issue goes back atleast to 1986.

Last edited by atcfixer; Aug 16, 2021 at 12:40 PM.

Aug 16, 2021 | 01:07 PM

#26

Tomray

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Joined: Aug 2021

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Thanks, all the symptoms do indeed point to the neutral safely switch. I had that feeling it was in that area but didn't know what it was called. All the comments helpful.
Many thanks, now I know where to direct my repair efforts and have ways to manage until I get there.

Aug 16, 2021 | 01:15 PM

#27

atcfixer

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From: Mid Michigan

No problem, also the expand on the poor electrical design from the factory, check my thread out on the subject. There's also a DIY fix. I'm trying to make a plug and play fix. The fix will put less stress on the ignition switch and neutral safety in your truck and should make those parts last longer. Also the starter solenoid on the starter is the common failure point for the starter. If it's not getting enough amps, it can make it burn the contacts inside. New contacts are cheap, but having the truck not start isn't good at any cost. Fixing the original design flaw is solid preventive maintenance.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...it-fix-313971/