i am having a problem with starting my petrol 1988 townace .the problem began with a fast trip on the motorway to B&Q (83 mph no less !).
when i got back in to go home the thing wouldnt start,after numerous attempts at starting the AA were called out and of course when the mechanic arrived the bloody thing started immediately .he folowed me home and it ran perfectly .The next day i had trouble starting it again ,eventually it did start . i arrived at the shops and again when i was setting off home it wouldnt start again ! ,AA called again and it started when he arrived !!.
i took to the garage and he had it for a day ,it started every time he tried it ,he drove it around town and no problem with starting at all .
i took it back home and now it doesnt start at all ,i have almost flattened the battery trying .
The AA guy said it could be the choke system ,saying it must be staying on when hot ,but this doesnt explain why it wont start on the two recent cold and foggy mornings .
Does anyone have any ideas ,i feel it must be related to me attempting the world speed record ,and maybe overloading or damaging something ? As up until this this event the bus ran like a dream (if a little thirsty ).
Any help gratefully recieved
neil mcglinchey
- (#12142) maddog, 16 Jul 04 09:10
Neil,
Is it turning over when you try to start it or are you getting nothing but a click. If you are getting nothing but a click then the fault might be the starter. If it is turning over then it might be a partialy blocked fuel line. I had this problem on my own EFI Royal Lounge after a motorway run. Changed the fuel filter and all was then fine. HTH.
Bill.
- (#12142) Bill, 16 Jul 04 10:51
The first Townace I had was a petrol EFI and I had the same problem - without the speed factor. New fuel filter solved it. Hope it works for you. Cheers Dick
- (#12142) Dick, 16 Jul 04 15:23
Hi Bill and Dick yes the engine turns over fine ,it just wont fire up .the garage are coming today to tow it away i will tell him about the fuel filter .thanks for your prompt answers .Hope it solves it ,when i do find out the problem i will post it .Thanks again
Neil
- (#12142) maddog, 17 Jul 04 02:30
thanks for you help with my starting problem the garage have checked and there is no fuel getting to the rail .however they are having trouble getting a replacement fuel filter .Is it the same as any Uk spec toyotas or does anyone know a serial number for the one i have ,the vehicle is a g reg 1988 townace EFI manual petrol .
thanks Neil
- (#12142) Maddog, 20 Jul 04 14:06
Neil.
Toyota part number for the fuel filter is 23300-79055 and any Toyota Dealer should be able to get one for you within a few days.
I don't think it is the same as any other Toyota filter but I might be wrong.
The filter is bolted to the drivers side of the engine in front of the starter motor.
Bill
- (#12142) Bill, 20 Jul 04 14:25
Thanks Bill i will ring toyota tomorrow. How many mpg do you get from your petrol townace mine seems very thirsty between 22 and 27 mpg .I have seen on e bay a device that fools the ECU in some way to alter the mixture and supposedly makes for better economy and better performance.Sound too good to be true so it usually is !!
Cheers neil
- (#12142) Maddog, 20 Jul 04 15:17
Neil,
On a good motorway run I get 28-30mpg without the air con but this drops to 15-18 with air con and cool box on. Around town I avarage 25mpg.
My Ace is a 1989 Royal Lounge 4x4 auto and it is fitted with a K@N (Fiat Brava / Bravo) and an Ecotec valve.
The device that you have seen on eBay is infact meant to improve the performance of any EFI vehicle by altering the information sent from the ECU to the airbox sensor resulting in a richer mixture of fuel and air entering the engine. I don't think I need to tell you that this will increase fuel consumption and eventualy soot the spark plugs and possibly damage the piston heads and valves. If you want to improve fuel consumption and get slightly better performance fit an Ecotec P26 valve. Very simple to fit and they can be found on eBay, cost about £50.00.
Bill
- (#12142) Bill, 20 Jul 04 15:55
Might not be the same thing but I had an Escort for ages and it would start and when it got hot when I stopped it would not start.
It would also not start on cold mornings occasionally and got progressively worse. I sold it in the end not because of this as I got a Granada Cosworth. The guy I sold it to put a new distributor cap in as the other was cracked and was letting moisture in. He is still driving around in it now (D Reg Escort XR3i)
Might help, Just thought I would give it a go.
Hope you get it sorted.
Andy
- (#12142) Andy, 20 Jul 04 16:30
No fuel? Is the fuel pump running, or is the fuel pump relay even clicking in? On many of the older Toyotas the pump is turned on by the Air Mass Sensor- if you've a flap- style sensor try moving the flap by hand, see if that makes anything click on. Plus you can manually turn the fuel pump on by putting 12v onto the FP terminal of the diagnostic socket.
- (#12142) David Miller, 21 Jul 04 01:18
Hi guys
Got the bus back today with the toyota petrol filter fitted ,it seems to be working fine now. Starts first turn of the key and runs like normal .Off to E bay now to find an Ecotec Valve .
Thanks again Neil
- (#12142) Maddog, 21 Jul 04 13:24
Glad to hear that the fuel filter sorted the problem. While on the subject of fuel I have been told by a Toyota mechanic that because the Town Ace fuel pressure is high any sediment that happens to be in the fuel tank can get sucked up the fuel line and end up in the fuel filter eventualy causing a blockage. Small sediment particals can find there way through the fuel filter and can cause poor performance, missfiring, poor starting and sluggishness. The mechanic said that the filter should be changed every 24 to 36 thosand miles. My own Ace has now covered 90 thosand miles (141 tho k) and recently had the fuel filter changed because of backfiring at start up. From looking at the old filter I think it was probably the first time its been changed in its life. Changing the filter cured the backfiring and its now running fine.
- (#12142) Bill, 22 Jul 04 16:01