Another Rav4 D4D, Hard Warm Starting, Hesitation At 3K Rpm Thread...

[Chesto18]

Hi Guys,

Hoping someone here can help- I have been using this site for months, to try and find out what the problem may be with our 53 plate Rav 4 D4D, and have followed a few bits of advice, however so far nothing has worked and we are at the end of our tether, so am hoping by starting my own thread I may get a few more ideas.

We have the classic issues with our Rav4 D4D that many on here seem to have- very hard to start when warm/hot, (unless left for about 5 minutes) and hesitation at about 3250 RPM, until about 4000 RPM when the power kicks back in again.

The hard starting happens when the engine is fully up to temperature, and car is turned off, and turned on again within a few minutes. The engine turns over at a reasonable speed, but just will not fire. It takes 4-5 attempts before it finally splutters into life reluctantly. Quite embarrassing when i stalled it in the middle of town earlier.

The flat spot doesn't creep in, it kicks in dramatically when the RPM reaches around 3250 rpm (although this changes slightly depending on the gear I'm in), and it makes no difference how hard I'm driving. I could be easing along on gentle throttle, and it will still hit the flat spot, or I could be driving the car hard with the pedal flat down, the effect is the same, and it's like I've lost about 50bhp instantly. If I can keep the car accelerating for long enough to get to around 4000 RPM, the power kicks right back in again, and it's fine.

So far we've:

Changed the SCV valves (I was convinced this was the problem), made the car run smoother low down, but no change in either problem.

Fitted a replacement MAF- no change.

New air filter

Cleaned fuel filter

Cleaned EGR valve

New high power Battery

Fuel system cleaner additive

I'm not sure if these problems are linked, or individual problems, but they seem to have appeared together within the last year, with the hard starting becoming more frequent.

At no point has an engine light come on.

Hope someone can help, as I am lost! This is my third Rav4, the previous 2 were petrol and I had no issues with those whatsoever, so am a little disappointed with this one.

I'm thinking about trying some Archoil TD cleaner as my next move, just in case there is some build up somewhere. Haven't tested injectors or fuel pressure yet, but I have tried depressing the black plunger when it wouldn't start once, and it didn't make any difference.

Thanks,

[cliff89]

try fitting a new fuel filter from Toyota, their has been problems with after market filters.

[Chesto18]

Thanks, will add it to the list of parts.

New update- car has now developed quite bad white smoke coming from exhaust on start up.

[the fox]

looks like head gasket probs, have you checked the state of the water in expansion bottle,, white smoke generally means water in system, but it may be condensation if you are having touble starting and the exhuast is not getting hot, good luck sounds like you may need it....

[the fox]

Don't know if you have checked the coolant system yet to see if you have a head gasket problem, I don't know how much white smoke you have, in the old days this would also indicate a timing problem, and the timing was altered by turning the DPA pump, or IN-LINE pump, you may have a crank sensor problem, could be a bad connection etc. worth a look at...have you any fault codes..

[Chesto18]

Thanks. It's always been sluggish, although this is our third Rav it's our first D4D so I don't know if it's supposed to be so slow. When it hits 3k it has no power, at all.

I have a feeling it's a fuelling issue, perhaps a worn injector or two that are over fuelling. Would account for the hard warm starting, poor economy and flat spot. It's booked to go into a diesel injection specialist next month unless I can figure it out myself before then.

[Chesto18]

No MIL lights have ever come on

[Kayakkev]

Hi. My 2007 Rav4 D4D has the same warm starting problem - which I wanted to share with you all after several months of living with the problem. Pulling up at a garage to get diesel (when the engine is hot) can be stressful because I've been caught about 6 times when the car would not want to start. It would turn very slugglishly but refuse to start then after just a few turns the Battery would appear to be dying and there is no way it would start. also if I ever stalled the car it would die immediately. So here is how I get around the problem:- drum roll...

My solution comes in two parts learned by experience and I hope it helps you technical people to find the solution, which I would love to hear waht is wrong with my car - here goes

Solution number 1 - When this started happening, (and I was faced with a dead car) I would get out my Battery jump pack, connect it up AND THE CAR WOULD NEVER FAIL TO START. This was a good solution but involved me getting out and faffing around with jump leads.

Solution number 2 Double heat the ignition coils AND THE CAR WOULD NEVER FAIL TO START. Yes turn the ignition key and see that the heater plug is on, when the heater plug light turns off, then turn off the key (without trying to start the engine). Then quickly turn on the ignition key again and go for a start. Yes it is a bit sluggish but THE CAR WOULD NEVER FAIL TO START. Hope this helps everyone. Please let me know what's wrong with my car!

[the fox]

check through bolts on starter motor are tight the two small headed bolts that hold the motor together, they hold the brush cage and make the earth for the brushes (they will be loose) if the corrosion is not too bad it may cure your problem, if not fit new/replacement motor,

[Dannyk83]

Hi all I am new to here but I seem to be having a similar issue although slightly different. I have a rav4 D4D 2003 3 door. It runs and drives fine but if stalled when warm wont then start again for about 5 mins really embarrassing when in traffic can anyone suggest what this might be it turns over ok slightly slower than normal but not major but it wont fire any thoughts?

[TETOCONPOLERA]

Same problem in a avensis 2002 d4d

About hesitation I have solved cleaning vsv neumatic valves ( turbo pressure sensor ) with wd40

About warm starting problem it seems To be a fuel pressure problem or an starter problem (there are a bulletin service About that)

I couldn't solve this yet