Truck: 92 Toyota PU Standard 4x4
Engine: 22RE
Mileage: 155,000
Issue:

Weird starting issue here. Over the course of a month, I noticed there was some lag between the time I turned the key and the engine starting to turn over.

I would turn it, but the starter wouldn't engage until a second or two later.

The lag time became progressively worse with time, and now my truck isn't starting.

Here is the weird part:
If I let the truck sit in the sun all afternoon, it will usually start to turn over (with some latency still). The engine fires, but idles really rough and then quits. I may get one or two more tries, and then I have to let it sit again. When it's cold out, it won't even turn over.

I have pretty much zero experience with starters, but since it idles rough even after firing, there may be multiple factors at play here.

I've given it a thorough visual inspection. Battery, cables, and terminals seem okay. No blown fuses. Not sure what to look for when it comes to the starter situation.

I'll gladly post pictures and provide service history upon request. I'd like to get to the bottom of this before the weekend is over.

- bdc69

 

Is the starter spinning w/o engaging? (You'll hear it whine up and then grab.) Does nothing happen at all (for a second or two) when you turn the key? Does the starter lustily turn the engine over, but it doesn't FIRE for a second or two?

 

Nothing happens for a second or two. There is no noise whatsoever for a few seconds. When it does engage, it doesn't seem to be any slower than normal.

 

Have you put a volt meter on the battery when this is happening to see what its doing?
Do all the lights and accessories still work when the starting issue is occurring?
If the battery is bad and the ECU is loosing power your rough idle could be the ECU "relearning" (i guess its called that).
Also if you have low voltage nothing is likely to work right.
Battery voltage should be about 12.5v with no load.

 

The battery is an optima red top I bought a year ago. I'm almost positive it is okay, but I will pick up a voltmeter tomorrow to test with.

All accessories work fine, and it's gotten half a dozen cranks in without seeming to lose cranking power.

 

Ive seen batteries do really weird things in the past.

If the voltage at your battery is good when the problem is happening then move down the line to the starter and check both the wires.

 

This is not a conclusion but if there is a delay before you hearing any click or any noise (meaning absolutely no click from starter relay until after a few seconds), educated and experienced guess is not enough power getting to starter relay. Could be because of:
1) Weak battery,
2) Poor connections, bad wiring,
3) Bad ignition switch contacts, AND/OR
4) Wiring flaw on 22R-E's discussed on my thread.

Absolutely agree with checking battery voltage without load and under load as mentioned ^^^.

 

Love this description.
It clearly differentiates between a cranking or a combustion issue.

 

So the battery checks out good.

I've made a short video of the issue. I added it to my original post.

 

Bump. There is a guy leaving comments on the video saying it is the timing chain, which I replaced 30,000 miles ago.

What do you all think?

 

Re: lag between time you put in "Start" position and time starter cranks* engine, try using this to run battery power directly to starter solenoid, and let us know if it fixes the lag.

*cranking is engine just turning. Not same as "combustion" when you hear, feel, smell the "VROOM"