None Starting 1.8L Petrol Avensis

[epcot pete]

Hi, I have a problem with my 2003 1.8L Avensis, which you may be able to help me with.

Three times over the past year, my Avensis has failed to start. Normally the engine starts on the first turn with no exception and runs perfectly. However, on these three times the engine went to start but did not catch first time although seemed to fire but did not carry on, so turning the key again the engine just spun over without firing at all, just turning over and over. Taking the plugs out, they seemed OK with a good smell and wetness of petrol, as you would expect from 3/4 of a tank. I cleaned the plugs up although only a few months old and lay them on the engine with the coils attached. Turning over the engine produces good sparks from all 4 plugs. With plugs back in place the engine just turns over and over with no hint of firing. Taking plugs out they are again wet with petrol. Leaving the engine to stand for an hour, I tried to start the engine with same result so I kept turning it over occasionally blipping the accelerator until it started to slowly fire and kept turning over until it was firing on all four cylinders as normal. The engine then acted as normal, tick over, reving, switching off and starting immediately with no problem. Leaving it for an hour and it starting first time with no obvious problem. This has happened three times this year with same result. All seems fine, Battery, plugs, air cleaner etc. The engine turns over quickly so no problems there and plugs give good spark, I have a set of those plastic adaptors that houses a light and you connect them between the coil and plug, so I know they are working. The plugs are wet and there is a definite petrol smell in the air from the exhaust while trying to start the engine. I connected a hand held fault finder to the system and it shows no faults.

Has anyone got any ideas?

Appreciate your thoughts

Pete

[gazza1286]

Faulty Ignition switch?

[Devon Aygo]

Second the ignition switch assy, I have seen a couple of T25 Avensis which had switch faults stopping the car from starting:

1. There is a small switch on the barrel housing that detects a key being inserted/removed. does your car beep at you if you have a key in the ignition but ign off and the drivers door open? if yes then the switch is good if not then this switch is faulty order 1 x 84052-05020

2.The ignition switch can wear, this allows the switch to over rotate when this happens the car can still crank but the signal to the fuel injection system is cut so the car will just keeps cranking but not start. Wear is exaggerated on car where the ignition key is weighed down by a heavy bunch of keys. Ignition switch part number 1 x 84450-05040

[epcot pete]

Thanks Lee and Gary for comments, I must admit that I was taken aback with the switch suggestion, sorry but thought it was a daft idea!

Sat and thought about it and checked the manual and you could be right, so went out to car and sat in with door closed and put ignition key in and opened the door - no bleep! Turned key one click and it started to bleep but by wriggling the key the bleep stopped and also the sat nav screen light went off at same time as bleep stopped.

Lee, I presume that as the 05040 switch is OK as there was a good smell of petrol from exhaust and plugs while trying to start the car, therefore fuel supply was not shut off?

So I need to get a 05020 switch asap.

Many thanks Lads

Pete

[ToyotaAuris]

I had same problem with a VW Golf last week. It would fire up slightly and shut down, you wouldn't hear the engine start, it would only crank. It sounded like the engine wasent getting fuel to the sytem. I initially thought it was the fuel pump but turned out to be something as simple as disconnecting Battery and reconnecting, it may work.