SOLVED: LandCruiser Mystery Starting Problem - 80, 70 & 60 series

Here I explain a relatively common problem that occurs in old landcruisers. It usually appears as intermittent starting problems and eventually it won't start at all. Symptoms make it seem like a bad starter, but when the starter is replaced, the problem remains. Here i explain how it happens and how to fix it.
I kept calling the starter relay a starter solenoid… so you can have fun figuring out which one I meant when ;)

[@henrydavies1768]

Thanks bro. I replaced the starter and didn’t work. Spent ages scratching my head, multimetering everything and researching and this video got me back on the road. Legend.

[@SAXONWARLORD1000AD]

glad you showed the diagram at the end - i was lost until then

[@izakiel93]

ALSO - an important note here - some people replace their starter and it fixes the problem at least for a little while! But the starter was never the issue! Why?

[@carlo5608]

What a bloody hero of a video. Mines just 'starting ' this bullshot. Will check it tomorrow

[@adventurefilms]

So when you had the multimeter hooked up to test the starter voltage going in, you show the red lead in the starter plastic connector... where was the black multimeter lead connected to?

[@biozone886]

Hello, just wondering. it looks like you have left the original wire from the OEM relay to the starter in the drawing. do you mean run the pin 87 on new relay to the starter wire red/black. Then pin 86 to the other connection on the starter red/black wire? so the original crank wire now is formed into the relay circuit?

[@KevinCassidy1331ydissaCniveK]

This video was so helpful! Thank you so much!

[@AussieInsider]

OMG! I been having this problem for years and nobody could work out what was up! Didn't help that it wouldn't do it while a mechanic was lookin

[@user-ds1de2uv8w]

Hi, i tested my BJ40 and got 11.5 v, just clicks from the relay and non-turning starter motor with clunking sound from the bendix gear hitting the flywheel. Shorting the small black red post to the large one connected straight from a brand new battery with 12.6 volt and still no crank. I guess your trick won't help my problem right? Oh forgot to mention, it will crank the first time in the morning every day and that's it

[@neilmckay8649]

Thank you so much for that clue. Tested mine and got 12.3V. I could hear the starter trying to engage, once every 30 attempts it would engage. Concluded bent shaft... I did find the top motor bolt about 2cm untightened... felt secure but presumably torque of engaging with the untight bolt was source of problem. Motor being looked at now. Thanks again.

[@adventurefilms]

what relay did you use to solve this issue, can you share that name/part number or link?

[@knifeofwar]

Amperage considerations for the new relay/wire and fuse?

[@popeofdopeification]

Just subscribed great video thank you for your hard work good sir

[@SukhrajSingh-xj9li]

Do you have a 24V starter or 12V? Thanks

[@slzbuildz]

The relay you used. Is it just a generic starter relay?

[@dathom13]

I think it's my problem with my LJ 70 🤞

[@annemissluna2330]

Very nice solution

[@nasonmarua3868]

Im having a cold start,can u help?

[@flexi80]

About to troubleshoot the same problem in mine. But why wouldn't you just unplug the factory starter relay and see if it is getting 12V there first? I suspect, as I do for mine the contacts in the starter relay are sad which is where the voltage drop is occuring. Alternatively you could have just pulled the trigger wire out of the plug for the factory starter really, seems dumb to use 2 relays to start it.

[@adammcgeorge3538]

Thanks for the tip. Any ideas which battery on the 80series is the starter battery when you have dual factory batteries on a diesel VX? Having some alternator issues and need to charge the starter battery.