This is a really weird one for me with my 96 SR 3.5. Sometimes the car will be fine for a day or two, and sometimes this will happen 5 times in one day. Basically what will happen is that during the day (not on a cold start, but could be 5 min later), after turning off the car, I come to turn it on...but it just cranks. If I wait 10 minutes and try again...it starts. Given that it cranks, I'm guessing it is not the ignition switch. Today it happened while at the mechanic. They sprayed the intake with carb cleaner, but it didn't help. Plus they could smell the fuel. So their thought was the it is not fuel, but spark basically. The car has never stalled or turned off on me, making me believe it to not be a coil or spark plug. No codes either. I do have another issue where at idle it will feel like there is a light misfire but again no codes. (just mentioning the idle issue in case that relates to this issue) So basically, this can happen when the car is warm and has been running all day or it can happen after 5 minutes of driving (like going to get gas and turning it off). But usually if the car has been sitting a couple of hours or all night, it starts up and runs just fine (although again, after five min and turning off, it might not start)

What could it be? My mechanic thinks it could be the ECU....just a guess. He also says this behavior is seen with aftermarket alarms...but this car doesn't have one. And I don't think the factory keyless entry could disable the car. Any relays that could play a part in this?

Neutral Safety Switch in the console. It's prob full of coke, and cheerio dust.

I think he has an intermittant crank = no start. Some shops have a co-pilot that you can drive with and it will capture the frame of time of the failure when it is duplicated. This gives them a freeze frame to work with for the readings.

Might not hurt to ask. If your mechanic is not so high tech you might check with the dealer and see what they have - possibly a TSB or tech update out there they could track with the VIN.

IIRC, if its the neutral safety switch. it wont allow it to crank.

Spark, Air, and Fuel are the 3 things needed. You have Fuel and presumably air since it does run sometimes. I'd check your spark at the ignition source including your ECU. Simply remove and inspect it.

have you checked the 10 cent hose that drove me nuts ?????? sounds like the same problem i had...... remove the fuel pump from the tank and check the little 2 inch long hose that goes from the fuel pump the the pick up tube in the tank mine had cracked and when the car was cold would start right up when the fuel warmed up the crack would expand and dump the fuel back into the tank when you would try to start it when warm it was a no go when it cooled down it worked fine

i also have have a good ecu if you need one

The center console area is definitely dirty. But since the car cranks, I don't think it is the neutral safety switch...unless that allows the car to crank.

The problem is that with this issue, there is no clear answer. So I don't want to spend a lot of money on a shop to check everything...like the gas tank hose. I presume that means dropping the tank and then checking...ain't gonna be cheap I assume. If there was a consensus...then I'll do whatever the consensus suggests.

It's just that it can happen when turning the car off after five minute of driving or after a full day of driving. Could be day or night, hot or cold. But when the car runs, it runs just fine (except for the misfire like feel at idle). I would think if something mechanical was bad, the car would cut out on me while driving as well. Since that doesn't happen, I'm guessing/hoping electronics...hence ECU. Plus swapping ECUs and using it for a couple of days should be easy enough to use to eliminate.

I've spent a lot of time searching the forums trying to find someone else with a similar problem...but can't seem to. If it was a BAD IAC (or ECU section that controls the IAC) then holding the gas pedal open a little bid would resolve it. For the gas tank hose, I'd suspect checking the pressure of the fuel system would also help show if that is the issue or not.

If I can borrow an ECU (as it was suggested here) for a few days, I'd greatly appreciate it. Otherwise I have to buy one from eBay.

fold your rear seat forward and pull the carpet back in the rear cargo area on the drivers side under the bottom of the rear seat there is a panel remove it and unbolt the fuel pump from the tank and check the fuel hose <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> you 4 wheelers are getting softer and softer do you not have a book on your truck ?????

He's new here, Mikie. Welcome Mike5.

MxMike has some good ideas, he's a little spare with the words sometimes, though. Still gonna have to make it to Quartsite again one day, Mx.

John B.

Thanks MX. If it's that easy...I'm all for it. Since it is super hot in Los Angeles right now, I'll put it off 'til the morning and check then.

BTW: I do have a digital copy of the FSM...sometimes it seems very useful and sometimes the instructions are lacking (for me anyway).

One question: Could the MFI relay cause strange behavior?

Thanks again!