ignition delay

[Previologist]

I'm getting a slight delay between turning the key and when cranking starts. It always cranks and starts just fine, but this delay of only a half second or so surely must be a sign of something going back. I just cleaned my battery terminals a couple weeks ago, not that it would be that anyway. In 24 years of Previa ownership, this is a new one for me.

[tbuyan]

Your finorkle pin return spring bracket pivot bushing collar locating dowel counterbore lube groove is corroded.

[John Kaufmann]

Your finorkle pin return spring bracket pivot bushing collar locating dowel counterbore lube groove is corroded.
Can't argue with that -- which is why this is one of those cases where I defer to Calvin Coolidge: Don't cross problems before you come to them; they may evaporate first. And if not, you will have the advantage of a problem that lasts long enough to be diagnosed.

[man_btc]

First guess would be the starter plunger. It is perhaps not moving freely such that it takes that 1/2s between the solenoid being energized and the plunger moving. (The plunger has a conductive ring that bridges the starter motor contacts and pushes the starter gear to engage with the flywheel). I suppose the solenoid coil could be getting weak or something feeding it (the ignition switch and wiring) is iffy.

If you hear a "click" before that delay, the plunger has moved, but perhaps the contacts on the plunger/starter motor are corroded such that a good electrical connection is not immediately made.

You can get a starter repair rebuild kit inexpensively, but getting the starter out is kind of a PITA.

Second guess is the one of the high-pressure gas relays in your flux capacitor is aging out, so that sometimes when you turn the key, you throw yourself 1/2s into the past during the initial current surge. If it gets worse, check if you are at a time before so many parts have been discontinued before fixing it.

[Previologist]

Can't argue with that -- which is why this is one of those cases where I defer to Calvin Coolidge: Don't cross problems before you come to them; they may evaporate first. And if not, you will have the advantage of a problem that lasts long enough to be diagnosed.

This has been going on for about 10 days, so its at the point to start being concerned. I don't want it to crap out 100 miles away in the desert like my last Previa did. I don't intend to start fixing what I don't know is broken but I do want to be thinking ahead and as prepared as possible. Something is happening, and its probably not good.



If you hear a "click" before that delay, the plunger has moved, but perhaps the contacts on the plunger/starter motor are corroded such that a good electrical connection is not immediately made. I don't think it clicks beforehand but I will listen some more.


getting the starter out is kind of a PITA. Been there, done that, so I suppose I could do it again if I have to. Ugh.


If it gets worse, check if you are at a time before so many parts have been discontinued before fixing it

are parts getting hard to find for Previas? :LOL2:

[tbuyan]

Second guess is the one of the high-pressure gas relays in your flux capacitor is aging out, so that sometimes when you turn the key, you throw yourself 1/2s into the past during the initial current surge. If it gets worse, check if you are at a time before so many parts have been discontinued before fixing it.

Dave, I detect a fault developing in the high gain antenna. I predict complete failure.

[John Kaufmann]

This has been going on for about 10 days, so its at the point to start being concerned. I don't want it to crap out 100 miles away in the desert like my last Previa did. I don't intend to start fixing what I don't know is broken but I do want to be thinking ahead and as prepared as possible. Something is happening, and its probably not good. ...
Then you can narrow it down to the starter. (Dan is right: If we think about the circuit, what else besides mechanical friction in the solenoid plunger could produce a delay? [OK, there is the odd flux-capacitor time-shift, but those are pretty rare.])

If you want to confirm it, you could drive an audio output from the starter control wire (the one in the harness from the starter relay, not the line from the battery). I don't know the 97 layout, but for my 91 I would splice out a wire from one of the horns behind the grille (they are downstream of the horn relay contact; do not use the theft alarm horn behind the air filter, which is driven the opposite way), and run a wire from that to the solenoid control wire at the starter. If it beeps at you immediately when you turn to STart, then you can rebuild the starter.

[I've pulled mine three times for contact changes. It's not so bad.]

[Previologist]

I don't remember it being that awful either but it wasn't fun either. I don't have a garage, workbench or a paved driveway currently, so I'll have to do it in the dirt or in the street and I won't have the luxury of a spare vehicle either.

Yesterday the delay grew ominously long, although sometimes it doesn't delay at all. I wonder if its something I can jar loose with a rap from a crowbar or something if it freezes up completely on me before I can replace it.

[John Kaufmann]

I don't remember it being that awful either but it wasn't fun either. I don't have a garage, workbench or a paved driveway currently, so I'll have to do it in the dirt or in the street and I won't have the luxury of a spare vehicle either.
Ow. That hurts - heck of a way to maintain a Previa. So what would you do if you had to replace or rebuild the starter?

[Previologist]

The same thing I always do. Get it done somehow. Probably in the street, where I can at last use jackstands. I won't bother rebuilding it, I'll just replace it. There's some guy with a regular shop lift in his driveway a few blocks away, I may go see what he'd charge to do it. Its kind of hard to screw that job up even on a Previa, but I won't pay $300 bucks for labor either.

[Previologist]

Found a good price on a ProAmp starter, supposedly built in the US. Anyone know if they are any good?

[Previologist]

I just cleaned my battery terminals a couple weeks ago, not that it would be that anyway.

Actually...One of the connections seemed a little loose when I wiggled it a couple weeks ago, and the problem disappeared immediately afterward.

[John Kaufmann]

Good. Silent Cal strikes again.

[Previologist]

Its baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccc kkkk! In fact tonight it wouldn't start at all. I had been noticing the delay again since I started driving it regularly again about a week ago, it has been sitting most of the time since May. Maybe if I wiggle the battery connections it will go away for another 3 years. But I have a sinking feeling this is related to my new radio (which I have not done any work on since hooking it up) or even my long-standing electrical mysteries. Been too busy. Anyway I disconnected the radio and we'll see if the problem persists tomorrow. I also discovered a uHaul 3 into 1 converter hidden under my van, which appears to be no longer functional. I need to get that (and all of this) figured out because I want to tow a trailer 900 miles and a motorcycle 450 miles in about 2 weeks, and the trailer harness I installed (before discovering the 3 to 2) does not work. I think that's because the 3 to 2 is kaput. It looks swollen and bad, so I can always hope it is the mystery I've been hoping to solve.

Oh yeah, my mystery headlight pulsing is back in a much worse way too.