[guvnor]

Hi everyone,

I'm having intermittent problems starting my 2002 Toyota Sienna. Sometimes it starts right up fine. Sometimes it cranks weakly when starts. Sometimes the thing will not start at all. When it does not start, I have found that if I hold the key in the ENGINE START position for around 5-10 seconds, it eventually kicks into life and starts. I tried jumping the battery but this has no effect in this situation. Any ideas to what this can be? My daughter uses this to take to work and I'm worried she will be stranded alone in a parking lot so I'd like to get this fixed.

Thanks!s. Sometimes the thing will not start at all. When it does not start, I have found that if I hold the key in the ENGINE START position for around 5-10 seconds, it eventually kicks into life and starts. I tried jumping the battery but this has no effect in this situation. Any ideas to what this can be? My daughter uses this to take to work and I'm worried she will be stranded alone in a parking lot so I'd like to get this fixed.

Thanks!

 

[Movingmomma]

I have a similar issue with a same year Sienna. Mine started with *very* occasional trouble starting, only after being garaged after driving in the rain with less than half a tank of gas, but it's now happening about every other start attempt. It will crank but not turn over. I let it sit for a bit and then restart while depressing the gas pedal and it starts. Once it turned over but then the idle ran very low, the lights dimmed, and the van would not accelerate, all for several seconds until it revved up and drove home fine. I'll be taking it in tomorrow. With four kids, one a baby, I can't afford to get stranded. I'll try to remember to post the fix after it's serviced.

 

[guvnor]

I have a similar issue with a same year Sienna. Mine started with *very* occasional trouble starting, only after being garaged after driving in the rain with less than half a tank of gas, but it's now happening about every other start attempt. It will crank but not turn over. I let it sit for a bit and then restart while depressing the gas pedal and it starts. Once it turned over but then the idle ran very low, the lights dimmed, and the van would not accelerate, all for several seconds until it revved up and drove home fine. I'll be taking it in tomorrow. With four kids, one a baby, I can't afford to get stranded. I'll try to remember to post the fix after it's serviced.

It turned out to be a bad battery. I'm not sure why it wouldn't jump start but there you go. I found my battery load tester and took a look. If you test the voltage and it is less than 12.4 volts without the keys in the ignition, the battery is suspect and should be replaced. That also explains why the lights dim when trying to start it. It is struggling to supply the power. If you or a friend has a DC voltage meter, try that before taking it in to get ripped off. Or get someone to take the battery to Pep Boys or AutoZone for a free battery load test. I got a new battery from Costco and now it runs like a champ. Good luck With those kids. Been there, done that BTW, all nuts are 10mm if you or someone need to tighten/untighten them. Also, give the terminals a good clean with a wire brush as they might not be making contact properly.