Starting Problem On 1998 Avensis 1.8 Gs

[kkwales]

Hi

I've done a search of the Avensis forums but the symptoms I’m
experiencing are not covered exactly as in the topics posted.

A bit of background to the problem might help someone to “come up with an answer”.

The car is my daughters and has been “off road” for about 5 years. She lives in the North East and had
the car parked off road: firstly due to ill health and later because she didn’t
need the car as the Metro system covered all the travelling she needed. She
doesn’t want to get rid of the car however.

Every time I visited my daughter I started the car (sometimes
by a jump start off my battery) and left it running for about half an hour. I
was very impressed with the Avensis as it usually started within two turns of
the engine with no problem even though it might have been 6 months between
visits. Frequently I removed the Battery and charged it to keep it “topped up” but over time it has lost
most of its power.

In March 2014 she moved flats to one where there was no off
road parking, so I decided to bring the car home to South Wales and park it up
on my own drive. I got the car MOT’d, taxed and insured and drove it home with
no problems.

Since then I have regularly started the car (usually with a
jump start off my battery) with no problems until April 2015. I was intending
to tax and insure it for 6 months and use it in addition to my own car to keep
it “ticking over”.

I must have done something differently as when I connected
my Battery to jump start the Avensis the engine turns over easily and gives the
indication that it’s going to start then dies – almost as if there is no fuel
reaching the cylinders. The fuel gage shows that there is about a quarter of a
tank of petrol so this shouldn’t be the problem. Sometimes when I disconnect
the Battery there is a slight “beeping” noise
from the front offside in the engine compartment – almost like a countdown to
the alarm setting – or unsetting.

It isn’t a problem with the keys – I have 2 normal black
remotes with the lock and unlock buttons and a grey key with no buttons. I
think this is something that doesn’t open the glovebox or boot. The remotes
lock and unlock the car without any problem and all keys open the car and turn the engine over when
used as normal keys.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what my problem could be?

Thanks in anticipation of help.

[gazza1286]

The plugs may be sooted up or wet. Get them out and give them a good clean.

[Konrad C]

Hi

I've done a search of the Avensis forums but the symptoms I’m

experiencing are not covered exactly as in the topics posted.

A bit of background to the problem might help someone to “come up with an answer”.

The car is my daughters and has been “off road” for about 5 years. She lives in the North East and had

the car parked off road: firstly due to ill health and later because she didn’t

need the car as the Metro system covered all the travelling she needed. She

doesn’t want to get rid of the car however.

Every time I visited my daughter I started the car (sometimes

by a jump start off my battery) and left it running for about half an hour. I

was very impressed with the Avensis as it usually started within two turns of

the engine with no problem even though it might have been 6 months between

visits. Frequently I removed the battery and charged it to keep it “topped up” but over time it has lost

most of its power.

In March 2014 she moved flats to one where there was no off

road parking, so I decided to bring the car home to South Wales and park it up

on my own drive. I got the car MOT’d, taxed and insured and drove it home with

no problems.

Since then I have regularly started the car (usually with a

jump start off my battery) with no problems until April 2015. I was intending

to tax and insure it for 6 months and use it in addition to my own car to keep

it “ticking over”.

I must have done something differently as when I connected

my battery to jump start the Avensis the engine turns over easily and gives the

indication that it’s going to start then dies – almost as if there is no fuel

reaching the cylinders. The fuel gage shows that there is about a quarter of a

tank of petrol so this shouldn’t be the problem. Sometimes when I disconnect

the battery there is a slight “beeping” noise

from the front offside in the engine compartment – almost like a countdown to

the alarm setting – or unsetting.

It isn’t a problem with the keys – I have 2 normal black

remotes with the lock and unlock buttons and a grey key with no buttons. I

think this is something that doesn’t open the glovebox or boot. The remotes

lock and unlock the car without any problem and all keys open the car and turn the engine over when

used as normal keys.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what my problem could be?

Thanks in anticipation of help.

I have the same issue sometimes when disconnecting the Battery. It is the the alarm system.

What I do is reconnect the Battery then press the unlock button, then immediately disconnect the Battery. Then the noise should not happen.

You will have to lock the doors manually, which I think you do already.

I think the fuel system may be contaminated or stale. The other issue could be the cam or crank sensors, fuel pump or as Gary mentioned the spark plugs. They need to be Denso Iridium plug SK20R-P13.

The HT leads should be fine. I tried two third party sets, but reverted back to the originals as the third party leads break down overtime, plus the connections are not as good. Actually the connections to the plugs are the cause of the misfire. I would source second hand originals as they never give problems.

Konrad

[kkwales]

Update on starting problem. Looks like it's the immobilizer.

I've had a few domestic problems (water leak from heating system and part of ceiling came down) so haven't been able to do anything with the car for a while. After doing a few checks - fuel, plugs, HT spark etc. I had to admit defeat.

Called out a mobile mechanic and after he checked Fuel pressure, Crank sensor etc. he connected diagnostic scanner it displays fault code B2799 Engine Immobilizer System Fault. He cleared the history but same fault presented.

I've done a few checks on the forum for the fault code and there are a few items but not looking too good as could be expensive and car's not worth much. I'll have to look at more comments and suggestions before giving up or contacting Toyota agent to see what they suggest.

Thanks to gazza1286 and Konrad C for their comments and help.