Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 10:42 am, by: Graeme Allison(Topgun)
Hi everyone. Needing some advice. I have only just bought my 1991 V8 Soarer a month ago and i am having problems already. Story goes i bought the car doing all the normal checks. It drove perfect for say 3 weeks then at the start of last week my problem began. I was driving along on say 10 mile journey and the engine wanted to die/cut out just the once at this moment giving no warning lights/codes on dash then it drove fine again. Next day/journey it cut out twice then drove ok, next day/journey 3 or 4 times then ok and so on then eventually over say a 5 day period it was cutting out every 100 yards but it would reverse no problems. You could get it to go forward in Drive if you didn't press the accelerator and let it build up speed itself to around 10Mph then gently press the gas pedal and gradually it could reach 30/40 mph but as soon as you came to a roundabout/junction and had to stop then try to take off again it would die on me completely but still no codes on the display. The point i am at now is basically its not drivable. Sometimes it starts but its rough on idle and occasionally it will rev fine but most of the time it wont even idle or drive it just stops. If it does drive at all its only for 5 yards and cuts out again like a kangaroo. Eventually a japanese code has appeared just in the last day (4 at the end of sign) which i think is the engine electrics correct me if i am wrong there if that helps. I am really stuck now because i took the car to my local "Toyota" dealership and the couldn't even put it on their machine claiming the aren't allowed as its a "Lexus" and they do not have the software to plug in too it anyway which i find unbelievable as it says 2 Toyota on the engine. Auto electricians aren't in abundance in my area so that is a no no so i am really hoping someone on here can point me in the right direction. Thanks for your time and hopefully i will get to the root of the problem asap. Cheers - Graeme
Ps - if anyone wants to ask me any more questions on the problem fire away i will try my best to explain whats happening !!!
Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 11:32 am, by: Lyndon Scanlan(Memmi87)
Because the soarer is an import, most local toyota dealers arent able to get the software, and because it technically is a Lexus, it has similar if not the same software as the australian release model. I had the same problem with my celsior trying to get it diagnosed at a Toyota dealer...
But from the sound of your problem, im thinking it could be a couple of things, most logically the AFM (Air Flow Meter) because when its failed or disconnected your engine will not know that air is coming into the engine and therefore choke and stall or be jerky... alternatively it could be your TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) that has failed or is faulty.
It is a similar problem that I Experienced with my celsior (same engine as your V8 Soarer), and mine was both AFM and TPS, as my car ran rough and stalled on me, because my engine wasnt recognising any air coming into the engine, until i slowly put the accelerator on, and gradually let it build up speed...
Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 01:45 pm, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Guys.
Graeme, remove, clean and refit (tightly) your battery terminals. It might not help, but it doesn't cost anything and has been known to fix random cut outs.
Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 04:36 pm, by: Ben Kelly(Ace)
umm being technically incompetent this advice may be suspect: 1) try fitting/tightening a ground lead from your battery to the car body (helped me with random cutting out's), 2) change spark plugs/leads.
Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 05:48 pm, by: Graeme Allison(Topgun)
Thanks for the replys guys. I cleaned the battery terminals unfortunately it didnt' work but i have booked the car into a auto electrician to see if he can work it out he has a good reputation so i am hopeful. The spark plugs are not long changed to a platinum set so it cant be them. I will update you on Saturday. Cheers - Graeme
Thursday, September 13, 2007 - 09:26 pm, by: Bruce Shepherd(Shepo)
Try the fuel filter, if you put your foot down and no go then may be no fuel????? The filters are fun to change so may have not been changed for some time. Only a suggestion.
Friday, November 12, 2010 - 08:30 pm, by: Norman Corry(Normatmoe)
My soarer is much the same. V8 and is not always happy starting. usually can get it going if i i use central locking and when reopening the immobiliser resets (I think). Car runs beautifully when held over 1000rpm. no obvious lack of power. Just need to remember to keep revs up. when cold it always starts, but does not continue when idling. Have noticed the when it starts if i keep revs at about 1500rpm for 10 secs, it may or may not idle. Do not think its a fuel pump as when running it has plenty of power. Interesting issue is that a mate of mine has exactly the same problem, with his 91 model (same as mine but i have ABS. also noticed that his fuel ECu was different to mine so we could not check this out. Will try ICSV, TPS, AFM this weekend. Any one who had identical problems, could they please post their solution, assuming they found one. Thanks NORM
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - 11:57 am, by: Glen Muller(Doom_and_gloom)
Your problem sounds like the issue I had with my POS R31 Skyline before I junked it. The crank angle sensor harness was corroded and overheated under certain parameters which took me a while to nut out.