No Start Hot: Toyota P/U

[jyl]

What would cause an old ('80s) Toyota pickup truck to "no start" after it has been run then shut off for >2 hours? It is the 4 cyl gas carburated compact p/u beloved of Mexican gardeners throughout SoCal.

I'm borrowing a friend's, to pick up an engine in Hillsboro, and he's very anxiously warned me that I mustn't shut the engine off for over 2 hours during the day, or it won't start again. According to him it will crank but not ignite. I haven't witnessed the condition myself. Not have I even lifted the hood. Truck started and drove fine this AM.

I'm thinking some ignition component that soaks heat after the engine is shut off, and then won't function until it cools again?

If it is easy, like swapping a coil or something, I'd like to fix this problem before returning the truck to him. Kind of like returning a car w/ a full tank which I'll do as well.

[Freybird]

I had an '84 4x4 that I bought for $100 in will not start condition. The "Igniter" was the culprit; no spark. Yours maybe thermally intermittent.(?)

[Steve Carlton]

Take my 2002 Jeep Liberty for your errand. It's got a nasty rod knock and an empty tank. Just put down some plastic in the back, K?

[john70t]

Smell the tailpipe. If there's fuel then it's most likely an ignition problem.
Feel the relays. If any are hot(IG or FP) then they should be changed.
Grab the wires. Wiggle them around. Could be a loose ground or frayed connector.

Smell, feel, grab. Love your Toyota.

[RWebb]

heat soak if it has carbs; unlikely if EFI

all the wiring in the starter/solenoid/cables to above will gain resistance with heat ~~ 20% IIRC

I had this problem on my VW Nanagon, and sammy correctly diagnosed it as the same design deficiency as on the 914 - that cannot be your issue, but the resistance change could still tip you over the edge for starting

my assumption re the time course is that it takes a while for the heat to propagate to the critical areas

cheapest potential fix: take apart all grounds and hot connections; clean to bare metal; hose with de-oxit & apply dielectrical grease

next level: replace cables & do the above

next level: replace starter, solenoid & do the above

also, do a tuneup

[Bugsinrugs]

I have a 1993 ford econoline that sometimes will. Not start when hot. Always starts when cold. I spray a little starting fluid in the air intake and she fires right up. I am thinking it might be injectors.

[jyl]

The p/u behaved perfectly for me, so no oppty to diagnose. I'm going to be overhauling his and his daughter's bicycles next month, maybe we'll look at the truck after that.

I'd forgotten how simple vehicles used to be. Wind up windows, AM radio, no A/C, no airbags, about 8 control inputs in the entire cockpit. It was nice. I want a Mk 1 Rabbit GTI!!!