'96 Landcruiser Ignition Problem

Zog · #1 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 09:56 PM

I've had my '96 Landcruiser since it was new and put 85K completely trouble-free miles on it. It is stock except for a TRD supercharger I installed about 30K miles ago. I recently gave it to my sister (who has terrible luck with cars) and she has put an additional 10K miles and has started to have an intermittent problem.

Several times after she starts it, the starter continues to run. It doesn't grind, you can just hear it spinning. After a few seconds almost every warning light on the dash lights up (I haven't seen it so I don't know exactly which ones). She can then turn off the key and even remove it completely and the engine continues to run and the starter continues to spin. She can usually get the engine to stop by inserting the key and turning it to start a few times and then to off.

She can reproduce the problem exactly if she just turns the key to start and then continues to hold it there -- the starter runs and then all the warning lights come on but when she is simulating the problem, the motor stops if she then turns the key to stop.

It sounds like a bad ignition switch to me -- but the mechanic at the Toyota dealer swears he tested the switch and it is good. He also said there are two relays that would both need to be sticking for the engine to run with the key off so doesn't think it is a relay issue. The starter was tested and no problems found -- plus I don't think that would result in the warning lights if it was a solenoid plsu I believe it would not continue to run unless the ignition switch was telling it to.

I'm just about ready to tell them to replace the ignition switch anyway but was hoping someone here might have seen this exact issue or have any other ideas. Since it is an intermittent problem it seems to me the switch could test good at the time since the problem wasn't occurring either. The Toyota mechanic actually thought it was the alarm (factory) at one point and removed it for two weeks while my sister drove it but the problem reoccurred.

Thanks!

Rainy Day FZJ · #2 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 10:15 PM

Take the keys away! Replace the starter plunger and bushings now! It is the starter plunger sticking. Before it burns the thing down to the ground. Your mechanic is a complete knob take it elsewere. Take alook at IH8MUD.com, the site has alot of cruiser content, and they are friendly. I frequent there much more for thier content.

Zog · #3 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 08:32 AM

Thanks, I'll check that site out. How can the engine continue to run with the key removed if it is the starter sticking? It is not grinding or running off of the starter -- the starter is spinning freely and the engine is running normally when this happens.

Thanks.

mustang67408 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainy Day FZJ

Take the keys away! Replace the starter plunger and bushings now! It is the starter plunger sticking. Before it burns the thing down to the ground. Your mechanic is a complete knob take it elsewere. Take alook at IH8MUD.com, the site has alot of cruiser content, and they are friendly. I frequent there much more for thier content.

I would tend to agree and replace the starter first. Usually when they run on ,its a short inside the starter and iT WILL MELT WIRING.

Zog · #5 (**permalink**) 02-22-2006, 10:18 AM

Thanks! I don't live near my sister who has the LC now so I sent her the write-up and she is going to have her local mechanic she trusts (not the same Toyota dealer) do the starter kit. Hopefully that will take care of it!

Zog · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 12:31 PM

Had the mechanic put a new Toyota starter in since he was going to charge within $150 for the total to do the kit versus a new starter plus he could get the starter in a couple of hours and I'm not close by to do it myself.

No further problems so far! Thanks for the tips.

cordygreen · #7 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 07:03 PM

Hello Zog,

I had a similar problem with my 96 land cruiser. I hit the electric start and it didn't kick over but the starter kept wining. I ended up replacing the starter and its fine.

Good Luck,

Joe

Zog · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 12:10 PM

The Landcruiser has been perfect ever since the new starter so looks like that was the culprit.

mustang67408 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zog

The Landcruiser has been perfect ever since the new starter so looks like that was the culprit.

Glad to hear it is fixed.