Toyota Avensis 05 won't start

jack hackett

Hi all, my 05 avensis diesel is getting very hard to start in the mornings now it has become colder, its not the battery as i recently fitted a new battery someone said it could be the heater plugs? would it be expensive to get this sorted?

fancy pigeon

Assuming its diesel, my bet's on the starter

jack hackett

fancy pigeon wrote: »

Assuming its diesel, my bet's on the starter

Really? would there be any telling sign i could listen out for? if it was the starter, would it be costly to fix?

thanks

fancy pigeon

jack hackett wrote: »

Really? would there be any telling sign i could listen out for? if it was the starter, would it be costly to fix?

thanks

The starter tends to seize up after time and eventually will refuse to turn at all.

If you can see about having it checked out, sometimes they just need a good clean out

jack hackett

fancy pigeon wrote: »

The starter tends to seize up after time and eventually will refuse to turn at all.

If you can see about having it checked out, sometimes they just need a good clean out

great thanks for the advice!

jca

fancy pigeon wrote: »

Assuming its diesel, my bet's on the starter

No need to assume anything he says it's a diesel in the first post. OP get the glow plugs checked, much easier than grappling with the starter.

jack hackett

jca wrote: »

No need to assume anything he says it's a diesel in the first post. OP get the glow plugs checked, much easier than grappling with the starter.

ah yes, i think thats what the guy i spoke to meant when he said heater plugs, would it be expensive to get them fixed? generally it only gets hard to start when its cold overnight, so it get hard to start in the mornings but generally after a good run to work i have no problems starting it for the rest of the day, would that suggest it might be the glow plugs?

thanks

crosstownk

jack hackett wrote: »

ah yes, i think thats what the guy i spoke to meant when he said heater plugs, would it be expensive to get them fixed? generally it only gets hard to start when its cold overnight, so it get hard to start in the mornings but generally after a good run to work i have no problems starting it for the rest of the day, would that suggest it might be the glow plugs?

thanks

It sounds like it could be that one or more glow plugs is not heating which will make starting difficult. It could also be that the glow plug control unit may be faulty and not allow the plugs to heat for long enough. Best to get an accurate diagnosis first.

jack hackett

crosstownk wrote: »

It sounds like it could be that one or more glow plugs is not heating which will make starting difficult. It could also be that the glow plug control unit may be faulty and not allow the plugs to heat for long enough. Best to get an accurate diagnosis first.

Thanks, typically speaking, would it be expensive to get the problem sorted?

biko

Not DIY effort, moved out to main forum

crosstownk

jack hackett wrote: »

Thanks, typically speaking, would it be expensive to get the problem sorted?

I'm not a Toyota expert but a set of glow plugs (according to MicksGarage) is coming in around €100+. I'm not sure of the labour time involved but maybe an hour or so......?

Hopefully someone with first hand Toyota experience can provide you with a more accurate price.

corglass

Get a multimeter and check the resistance of each glowplug. If there's any significant variance that's your problem
YouTube will have a video explaining how. Multimeters can be got for less than €20.


https://youtu.be/4TcuJDd9Hho

jack hackett

thanks guys

colm_mcm

Or just turn the key on and off a few times before starting. If things improve then it’s the glow plugs.

jack hackett

colm_mcm wrote: »

Or just turn the key on and off a few times before starting. If things improve then it’s the glow plugs.

yep thats what ive been doing and eventually, if i dont run down the battery, it starts for me most of them time, sounds like the glow plugs so, thanks for your help

orm0nd

jack hackett wrote: »

yep thats what ive been doing and eventually, if i dont run down the battery, it starts for me most of them time, sounds like the glow plugs so, thanks for your help

Glow plugs should be showing a fault code on the engine management light but maybe it's cleared

Could also be an injector issue quite common on that era avensis

jack hackett

orm0nd wrote: »

Glow plugs should be showing a fault code on the engine management light but maybe it's cleared

Could also be an injector issue quite common on that era avensis

i dont see any fault code coming up, very cold this morning and it got hard to start, once the car has been driven and the engine warmed i have no problems starting it
if it was an injector issue would it cost much to fix?

jca

orm0nd wrote: »

Glow plugs should be showing a fault code on the engine management light but maybe it's cleared

Could also be an injector issue quite common on that era avensis

Engine management light on that era Avensis is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Start at the beginning and check are there's power to the glow plugs first there's no point in replacing anything if they aren't getting juice.

Waterson

Also make sure your replacement battery has the correct CCA (cold cranking amperage) for your engine.

orm0nd

jack hackett wrote: »

i dont see any fault code coming up, very cold this morning and it got hard to start, once the car has been driven and the engine warmed i have no problems starting it
if it was an injector issue would it cost much to fix?

if is was injectors it would be hard to start when hot as well, my son has 1 here (06) think is was 550 euro, maybe got something else done as well I can't remember

engine management light is on for last few months showing glow plug fault, hasn't affected it starting yet.

jack hackett

orm0nd wrote: »

if is was injectors it would be hard to start when hot as well, my son has 1 here (06) think is was 550 euro, maybe got something else done as well I can't remember

engine management light is on for last few months showing glow plug fault, hasn't affected it starting yet.

interesting, so he has a warning light saying there is an issue with the glow plugs but its starting ok but i have no warning light but car gets hard to start every cold morning

punisher5112

You need to let a mechanic look at it. Don't go main dealer use a local independent and see if one comes recommended.

Glow plugs, injectors would be most likely.

Has the car been serviced?

When was the fuel filter changed?

jack hackett

punisher5112 wrote: »

You need to let a mechanic look at it. Don't go main dealer use a local independent and see if one comes recommended.

Glow plugs, injectors would be most likely.

Has the car been serviced?

When was the fuel filter changed?

thanks I will bring it to a mechanic, filter would have been done maybe 8 months ago when the car was last serviced