What Are the Reasons for the Long Starting Time of the Highlander?
3 Answers
The reasons for the long starting time of the Highlander may include insufficient gasoline pressure, insufficient cylinder pressure, or incorrect ignition timing. Simply check for leaks in the fuel inlet pipe, blockages in the gasoline filter, leaks in the cylinder gasket, and adjust the ignition timing. Common fault points for weak starting include: 1. Long-term parking of the car: The usage time of the car battery is the main cause of power loss. Typically, the lifespan of a car battery is two to three years. If it exceeds this period, the car is highly likely to experience power loss after being parked for two to three days, leading to weak starting. 2. Forgetting to turn off the air conditioning before shutting down the engine: Most car owners are accustomed to not turning off the air conditioning or letting it start automatically when the vehicle is started. This causes the air conditioning system to automatically start working every time the ignition switch is turned on, directly resulting in an excessive instantaneous power load on the vehicle. Over time, this can cause wear and tear on the battery. 3. Damage to the starter motor: Wear of the carbon brushes inside the starter motor leads to insufficient rotation speed of the starter motor, making it difficult to drive the engine's flywheel, thus resulting in the symptom of weak starting.
My Highlander had this issue last winter, where it took several seconds of turning the key to start. I figure there are quite a few possible reasons. An aging battery is definitely a culprit, especially after three or four years when its capacity noticeably drops. Worn starter motor carbon brushes are also common, often making a rattling noise when turning. The fuel pump might not be delivering enough fuel, either due to a clogged filter or fuel line pressure loss. The most easily overlooked issue is carbon buildup when the engine is cold—a dirty throttle body reduces air intake, messing up the air-fuel mixture. Thick engine oil can also cause trouble; switching to 0W-20 oil in winter helps a lot. My advice? Test the battery voltage first, then check the starter motor—it’s better than replacing parts blindly.
A long startup time is most likely due to current conduction issues. Oxidized or rusted battery terminals are often hidden culprits, causing poor contact and unstable current flow. Loose grounding points in the fuse box can also increase resistance, especially after getting damp in rainy weather. Aging wiring harnesses are another major cause—high engine bay temperatures can make insulation brittle, exposing copper wires and leading to short circuits. Some car enthusiasts install audio systems haphazardly, inadvertently draining the startup current. It's advisable to use a multimeter to check the voltage during startup; anything below 10 volts is definitely abnormal. Also, inspect the wiring harness for signs of rodent damage—extra caution is needed in neighborhoods with stray cats.
