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Topic: O.T. .... Toyota RAV4 starting issue... (Read 2 times) previous topic - next topic
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O.T. .... Toyota RAV4 starting issue...
Yahoo Message Number: 135799
I know a few folks here have RAV4's (even though not TOADable), so posting this as a cautionary. May apply to other vehicles as well.
 Our gen-3 V6 (2006 - 2012) had started a behavior where for the first start in the morning, instead of catching in 1 - 2 sec, it would spin normally, but not start for 4 - 5 sec. Other starts in the day would be normal. My thought was bad check valve in the fuel pump, but before trying that test, I checked for the issue on a forum I had monitored for awhile back around 2009. Turns out, it was a common problem that would develop after a few years, often remain unfixed after expensive repair attempts at the dealer... until the battery was replaced. A few posts mentioned the battery failing a 'stress test'.
 So, I tried my own stress test. Luckily, this morning dawned at 34F here, so conditions were good. I clipped my voltmeter to the battery, and monitored while starting. Voltage initially was about 12.4V - good. While the starter spun, dropped to 8.8V - bad. Failed stress-test. Note that the starter appeared to spin at normal speed, so that was not a useful metric in this case.
 After replacing the battery, voltage would drop to 11.8V to 12V while starting - normal.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit