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From: williammaw on 28 May 2010 11:16
My Previa van suddenly quit without warning. I was just leaving home
and the engine suddenly quit about a block down the road. All the
instrument panel lights came on, and the the motor would turn over as
usual, but just wouldn't start.

It has over 400 K KMs and has been a solid driver up till that point.
There were a couple of incidents during the past year or so. When I
turn the ignition on, there would be no electricity, i.e. no lights on
the instrument panel, and nothing happens when you turn the key. You
let it sit for a few minutes and it is all back to normal again.
That's about the only there is.

I am wondering if anyone has any idea what might be the problem.

Thank you in advance ...
From: Jeff Strickland on 28 May 2010 12:21

<williammaw(a)aol.com> wrote in message
news:747698db-dada-4929-89c4-f67653dd01b8(a)a16g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
> My Previa van suddenly quit without warning. I was just leaving home
> and the engine suddenly quit about a block down the road. All the
> instrument panel lights came on, and the the motor would turn over as
> usual, but just wouldn't start.
>
> It has over 400 K KMs and has been a solid driver up till that point.
> There were a couple of incidents during the past year or so. When I
> turn the ignition on, there would be no electricity, i.e. no lights on
> the instrument panel, and nothing happens when you turn the key. You
> let it sit for a few minutes and it is all back to normal again.
> That's about the only there is.
>
> I am wondering if anyone has any idea what might be the problem.
>
> Thank you in advance ...


Given the history as you describe it, my money is on a failed Ignition
Switch.

Of course, the easy stuff is a blown Fusable Link -- which as a fancy name
for a fuse on steroids.

Normally, the fusable links live in a box mounted in the engine bay. They
are typically larger, both physically and electrically, than a normal fuse.
The trouble with a blown fusable link diagnosis is that it is fatal until
replaced, and you report the car does not respond to the key, but later it
does without having done anything. A blown fusable link does not fit this
profile, but at this point it must be considered.

After checking the electrics in a logical pattern using normally accepted
methods, I think you will find the Ignition Switch has failed. The ignition
switch may or may not be the same device you plug the key into. Some systems
use a linkage between the ignition lockset and the ignition switch. If your
car uses this method, the switch is a part that should run somewhere in the
neighborhood of 10 bucks.

I have no clue how to replace your ignition switch, so you're on your own.






From: williammaw on 28 May 2010 13:30
On May 28, 10:21 am, "Jeff Strickland" <crwlrj...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> <william...(a)aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:747698db-dada-4929-89c4-f67653dd01b8(a)a16g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> Given the history as you describe it, my money is on a failed Ignition
> Switch.
>
> Of course, the easy stuff is a blown Fusable Link -- which as a fancy name
> for a fuse on steroids.
>
> Normally, the fusable links live in a box mounted in the engine bay. They
> are typically larger, both physically and electrically, than a normal fuse.
> The trouble with a blown fusable link diagnosis is that it is fatal until
> replaced, and you report the car does not respond to the key, but later it
> does without having done anything. A blown fusable link does not fit this
> profile, but at this point it must be considered.
>
> After checking the electrics in a logical pattern using normally accepted
> methods, I think you will find the Ignition Switch has failed. The ignition
> switch may or may not be the same device you plug the key into. Some systems
> use a linkage between the ignition lockset and the ignition switch. If your
> car uses this method, the switch is a part that should run somewhere in the
> neighborhood of 10 bucks.
>
> I have no clue how to replace your ignition switch, so you're on your own..

I visually checked the fusable links under the hood. They all seem
intact. I think Toyotas have a thing called an ignitor. Would that
be the equivalent of an ignition switch or a link?
From: Jeff Strickland on 28 May 2010 13:50

<williammaw(a)aol.com> wrote in message
news:c71f6875-b7a6-4164-84c6-c5657978fa8a(a)z33g2000vbb.googlegroups.com...
On May 28, 10:21 am, "Jeff Strickland" <crwlrj...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> <william...(a)aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:747698db-dada-4929-89c4-f67653dd01b8(a)a16g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> Given the history as you describe it, my money is on a failed Ignition
> Switch.
>
> Of course, the easy stuff is a blown Fusable Link -- which as a fancy name
> for a fuse on steroids.
>
> Normally, the fusable links live in a box mounted in the engine bay. They
> are typically larger, both physically and electrically, than a normal
> fuse.
> The trouble with a blown fusable link diagnosis is that it is fatal until
> replaced, and you report the car does not respond to the key, but later it
> does without having done anything. A blown fusable link does not fit this
> profile, but at this point it must be considered.
>
> After checking the electrics in a logical pattern using normally accepted
> methods, I think you will find the Ignition Switch has failed. The
> ignition
> switch may or may not be the same device you plug the key into. Some
> systems
> use a linkage between the ignition lockset and the ignition switch. If
> your
> car uses this method, the switch is a part that should run somewhere in
> the
> neighborhood of 10 bucks.
>
> I have no clue how to replace your ignition switch, so you're on your own.

I visually checked the fusable links under the hood. They all seem
intact. I think Toyotas have a thing called an ignitor. Would that
be the equivalent of an ignition switch or a link?

<JS>

I think an igniter is the same as an ignition coil. The ignition coil(s)
provide the spark for the plugs.

There are several ways to implement the spark circuit -- a single coil and
distributor that fires for all plugs, two coils that are connected to
opposing spark plugs and are fired by the computer, and a separate coil for
each spark plug that are fired by the computer. I do not know how the spark
circuit is implemented in your Previa, bit I'm pretty sure it isn't your
problem. If it is your problem there should be an OBD II code for it. Have
you bothered to pull codes? There could be an important clue there.


</JS>






From: williammaw on 28 May 2010 14:24
On May 28, 11:50 am, "Jeff Strickland" <crwlrj...(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
> <william...(a)aol.com> wrote in message
>
> <JS>
>
> I think an igniter is the same as an ignition coil. The ignition coil(s)
> provide the spark for the plugs.
>
> There are several ways to implement the spark circuit -- a single coil and
> distributor that fires for all plugs, two coils that are connected to
> opposing spark plugs and are fired by the computer, and a separate coil for
> each spark plug that are fired by the computer. I do not know how the spark
> circuit is implemented in your Previa, bit I'm pretty sure it isn't your
> problem. If it is your problem there should be an OBD II code for it. Have
> you bothered to pull codes? There could be an important clue there.
>
> </JS>

I don't have a code reader for the Previa. I took a quick look at the
ECU under the seat and noticed that there is a diagnostics connector
on top. May be I should get one. Wonder how much they cost?
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