Previa 2.4gl Hesitant Starting Etc...

[timos]

Hi,

I'm new to this site but am hoping someone out there can help me.

I bought a 93 previa a few months ago due to expanding family. (Think I'm going to get the chop or emigrate!)

Since purchasing it I have had a few of problems.

The main problem occured after a day out at Chessington when, like a muppet, I left the side lights on and drained the Battery.

We had the bus jump started and all seemed fine.

The next day the bus was very laboured in starting and sounded like Battery had gone pretty flat again.

I took the Battery out and put on charge but charger told me battery fine.

Have put battery back in bus, cleaned terminals and connectors, checked all fuses but still does not like starting, especially from cold.

(Have also renewed sparks.)

The bus will start but very hesitant.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on this?

Want to get as much info before taking to garage to be ripped off!!!

The other problem I have is the gears feel a bit sloppy and are sometimes difficult to engage + clunky, is this a common issue with these?

The final problem is the steering, it generally speaking is fine but sometimes, at low speed, over bumps and pits you can feel a clunk through the steering wheel and feels as though there is some sideways movement in the sterring.

If anyone can help with any of these problems I would be a very happy, but rapidly ageing, father of a small football team!!!! :D

[miti-babe]

Timos

Battery...

Deep discharging an old Battery can absolutely knacker them... Leaving the lights on for a whole day is just the sort of thing that can see an old Battery off...

You say that your charger says the battery is OK... This will just indicate how much charge current the battery will take IN... Your problem is caused by how much current the battery will put OUT... A good local garage will have a proper battery tester and will only charge a few quid to check the discharge current (a scrap-yard may be cheaper...)

Cold batteries have higher internal resitance than warm ones... still looking like your battery...

Also, check for charge voltage (of about 14.5 V d.c.) across the battery terminals, with the lights off and on, there shouldn't be more than about 0.5 Volts difference...

If the engine is spinning over OK and still hesitates to start... favourite items are the cold-start injector (no "choke" on these babies..) and the Distributor cap/rotor arm (did you fit the proper plugs @ £12.00 each, by the way..? )

Don't know about the gears... ours is an auto...

Steering...

If you've only had the bus a short while... was this "slop" in the steering there when you bought it? Was the bus carrying a long (or new) MOT cert?

I'm only asking 'cos ours has over 160k on it and there's definitely been a new steering rack on it... I'm glad I didn't have to pay for that..!

"Wandering" is usually caused by worn steering linkages... steering rack, track rod ends are favourite... (eBay for track rod ends.... V/Cheap)... It can also be caused by worn wheel bearings, or even loose wheels!!

Better check this one out first... I wouldn't want to be in our Previa when a wheel came off, or the steering suddenly disconnected... might take the whole road out!

Also...

The vasectomy comes in a damn sight cheaper than the emigration costs and I can speak from experience that it's definitely put a stop to any unexpected team transfers! :hokus-pokus:

Have Fun!

Jeff

[timos]

Thanks for the info Jeff.

Spot on about the Battery, changed it today and starts perfectly.

Will explore the steering issue this weekend and am sure your advise will come in very handy.

If anyone out there has a suggestion re the gears or if they can adv if a common issue on manual Previas, would be much appreciated.

(P.s. Appreciate the advice re: Chop Vs Emigration. Will be looking to cut off budget for new players soon!!!! :D )

Tim.

[karllangston]

seems to be a feature with the manual previas that the gear change is notchy(especially third - catches me all the time when showing up boy racers in the bus!) nice and smooth seems to be the order of the day rather than trying to rush(like when overtaking - a real pain to get past someone flooring it in second then rolling until you slow down cos third has disappeared) not sure about a clunk though