Re: Landcruiser fuel injection relay problem

Scott wrote:
On Oct 17, 2:42 pm, "Ph@Boy" <u...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Scott wrote:
I have revisited the possibility of corrosion on the terminal ends of
the relay and in the sockets. There doesn't appear to be any actual
obvious corrosion but one of the 4 terminal ends is somewhat
discolored. I now believe they are all originally brass but one of
them looks somewhat like it is copper. What I mean is that I think
possibly one is heat-discolored or perhaps oxidized in an odd manner.
I remember now noticing this awhile back but thinking it was just a
differnet alloy like hot side connections on 120v plugs, etc. All 4
socket holes look fine and the same. This relay is in an enclosed box
under the hood and it looks like new inside the box. All 4 socket
holes look identical and normal. What is odd is there is never any
cold failure of the relay. They always work if left to cool down and
never fail while running regardless of how hot things are. Do these
things only operate at start-up?
In any event I treated all the terminals and the socket with A-120
Corrosion Free. A-120 is basically a penetrant/lubricant/moisture
displacer with a high dielectric strength sold in some marine stores
to treat fuse boxes, etc. in damp high corrosion environments. It is
hard to find but good stuff and comes, or did come in an aerosol can
that has a yellow label that looks straight out of the 1940's. So far
no start-up failures but it has been a bit cooler and I haven't given
it a real test yet with a few quick stops after a real warm-up.
I think most probably the discoloration is a symptom of the problem
and not the cause but I don't know. Any more thoughts now that I am
giving more complete information? After talking to the parts guy at
Toyota I am pretty sure that new relays have identically colored
terminals, at least now they do. However all three of my rotating
relays have a discolored terminal. I should have been paying more
attention to this before but it is hell to get old and need reader
glasses for close-up vision but not use them when driving.
Scott
Can you visually check the wire ends under the socket terminal to be
sure that they are not frayed (perhaps an intermittent short) or
breaking? Sometimes wires will fail where they are crimped or connected
to the socket terminals themselves that are then inserted into the
plastic relay socket if it was made that way. Some are sealed and just a
harness is visible.

If I understood correctly, you did mention earlier that the check engine
light does not illuminate when you know it's not going to start when you
turn the key. That in itself may have set a trouble code in the
computer. If you have not had it scanned, that may be another
possibility. You can sometimes have it scanned free at parts stores.

I took the time to look at a mid nineties land cruiser schematic and it
may not be exactly like yours, but on that one, the EFI relay as well as
the check engine light is powered through the ignition switch (perhaps a
clue) and controls / powers the circuit opening relay that controls the
fuel pump.

The ignition switch is a possibility but needs to be tested when the
problem occurs with a voltmeter to check power to the relay. The check
engine light will probably be out. The fuel pump is a remote
possibility. Check all grounds for corrosion and clean as necessary.
That in itself is a very neglected cause for problems.

Follow your wiring diagram and check to see if those components are common.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The wires are clearly visible under the socket as the sockets in the
box actually sit on a grid floor. Everything looks good and they exit
in a common conduit that looks fine.

I remember now why I didn't check the trouble code status before. It
is because the check engine light has never come on while the vehicle
is running and according to a shop manual I have, that has to happen
to initiate a trouble code. Regardless I did check for the
possibility using the on board diagnosis system which is easily done
at home. The code I received was code #1 which is "no malfunctions".

Still looking at the wiring diagrahm. It does look like the EFI relay
is in series with a fusible link. If so wouldn't the link melt if
high current was the problem? I'll keep plugging and keep my fingers
crossed since there have been no episodes since the A-120 treatment.
However many times in the past I thought it was fixed but I think
actually the ambient temperature, warm-up period, and/or cool down
period were not actually aligned quite right for it to not work.

BTW every time I bought a new relay everything seemded fixed for
awhile too. It seems that they degrade after awhile to the point
where they will fail if conditions are right but never actually go bad
all the way. I think maybe the A-120 may have reversed this process
somewhat but I wouldn't bet on it. What I mean is that I think for
some reason it is overheating and that for some reason causes a bad
connection when hot and the bad connection causes temporary failure
but I have no idea why it is overheating. The A-120 and new relays
just help with the quality of connection but the heat eventually
overcomes this.

Scott



It will probably be the most inconvenient time for you, but I think that this is more than likely going to be a problem that is resolved by checking voltages when the problem is actually occurring.

You have replaced the EFI relay several times so I don't think that it's a bad part. I would suspect either the ignition switch, or the load wire from the EFI relay to the circuit opening relay, slightly or intermittently shorting, or the circuit opening relay itself, or it's socket.

You might want to examine and clean the circuit opening relay like you did the EFI relay, but I believe that the engine check light is only powered from the ignition switch, and if it is not illuminating when the key is turned on, and the problem occurs, I would suspect the ignition switch itself as I mentioned earlier, and would suggest to either check the voltage from it, or change it out.

I don't think that it's the fuseable link either, but voltage checks can verify circuit feeds when the problem occurs. Move / wiggle wires when you check.

The vehicle is fifteen years old, so it could be anything, just the number of cycles on the ignition switch, or movement of the wiring harness to it in the column (tilt feature if equipped) could have worn it out, but that is just a guess. Each individual has different driving habits getting in or out of a car.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Landcruiser fuel injection relay problem
    ... obvious corrosion but one of the 4 terminal ends is somewhat ... socket holes look fine and the same. ... This relay is in an enclosed box ... In any event I treated all the terminals and the socket with A-120 ...
    (alt.autos.toyota)
  • Re: Landcruiser fuel injection relay problem
    ... socket holes look fine and the same. ... This relay is in an enclosed box ... Corrosion Free. ... terminals, ...
    (alt.autos.toyota)
  • Re: Landcruiser fuel injection relay problem
    ... socket holes look fine and the same. ... This relay is in an enclosed box ... In any event I treated all the terminals and the socket with A-120 ... Corrosion Free. ...
    (alt.autos.toyota)
  • Re: Landcruiser fuel injection relay problem
    ... socket holes look fine and the same. ... This relay is in an enclosed box ... Corrosion Free. ... terminals, ...
    (alt.autos.toyota)
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