Very strange starting issue - anyone experience this?

I have a 2012 4runner for a few years now which has never given me a minute of trouble. I have an issue happening that two mechanics can't find the issue so they can't fix it.

When I turn the key, it sometimes turns over but doesn't catch. I wait 10 - 30 minutes and then it starts. I want the truck to start every time. Other than new brakes and a flush mid October nothing new was done except the key.

I will try to make a long story short.

1. The key broke in the ignition but it was sticking out and I removed it cleanly with no problem. The spare works but did not have the fob. I called the dealer and they wanted $350 for the key plus $50-$100 to program the key. Up to $450 for a key is a bit much.

2. Went to Amazon and bought two blanks with fob.

3. Went to Home Depot and had the blanks cut.

4. Had a locksmith program the keys.

5. Total cost was $250 for everything - great, good deal!

Three weeks later, went to start car, turned over, wouldn't catch. Had towed to our mechanic (used them for almost 10 years and trust them. They are not a dealer). AAA and mechanic says need a new battery. Get a new one. Good to go.

A week later, on the beach and go to start car. It won't. Couldn't find a tow but 30 minutes later, starts up. Fishing was good so I kept it running for another 2 hours without turning off then drove home. Mechanic says there is a bad cell in the new battery. Replace it, good to go.

A week later, same thing happened and wouldn't start. Had it towed to mechanic, starts every time. They can't figure it out. I call another mechanic, they never heard of this. Call dealer, new to them.

A friend says change the battery in remote, who knows how old since from Amazon. I do and has only happened twice in last three weeks.

Any idea of what on earth is going on and how to fix it? Mechanic says starter is good and not the issue.

 

Sounds like the transponder in the key fob may be faulty.

 

Neutral safety switch?

 

Never heard of that, will have to have the mechanic check.

 

It's old enough for that to be possible. I haven't had one go bad on a 4R, but I have on other vehicles. The failure to start became more frequent over time. When I figured out what was happening, tweaking the gear shift lever position would overcome it for while, but that eventually stopped working, too.

 

My favorite part of your story was leaving the truck running for two hours because fishing was good.

 

Neutral safety switch won't cause a crank no start which is what it sounds like your describing, no? Catching it acting up with scan tool to see if key is valid is where I'd look.

 

Yeah, it would be no-crank no-start.

 

Since you said it was fine until you got the Amazon keys, I would suspect the key. Did you try the other amazon key you had programmed? I suppose you don’t have the second factory key?

Can you try putting the fob portion of the broken key near the itnition switch next time it happens? That might help nail the diagnosis for sure.

Kinda sucks that the keys still cost a lot money and they might be junk. But the fact it cranks but doesn’t light sounds like what would happen if you used a key with no transponder.

 

Got to have your priorities straight, the fish were biting!

 

I did try that and it did not seem to work. I did try that with my original spare and the same thing happened the one time and that was it.

 

Ah, I reread your original post and see that you used the original spare key as well.

But I’m a bit confused…you said it doesn’t have the fob? What do you mean? I’m confused because I’m pretty sure the transponder is in the key housing, not on a seperate fob.

The original spare should have a plastic key housing of some sort, does yours?

 

The spare that came with the 4runner has no fob but must have something as there is a large rubber "mound" at the top of the key covering something.. It was for the glove box. The locksmith reprogrammed that to be an original spare now.

 

Check, all your connections to your battery (clean up the terminals ) and cables down to the starter and see what happens

 

when you mean won’t start like not crank over at all or just not fire up after it’s been cranking,?

 

An update.

I still have this problem about once every 2-3 weeks.

The last time it happened, I saw the security light flash once every two seconds on the dashboard.

I went to a different dealer that I found has a very good reputation.

They said it was the aftermarketkey. They sold me a new key and programmed it for $375, less expensive than the original dealer I dealt with and much better experience. I believe they are correct.

The fob works, all doors open with double click every time, the aftermarket just half the time.

So far, the car has started every time. It has only been three days and if it happens again, I will share but I think this has been solved.

 

I hope it’s solved but if not the above is good advice, I had issues with other vehicles in the past once it was connection on my neg terminal wasn’t the best and once I had a starter motor that when warm drew way too much current.