Prado engine turning over while I was inside

[Streaker]

Hope someone can help me.
I was inside preparing tea and could hear a cranking noise. I went to the garage and be buggered my engine was cranking over continually. No one was in the car and the key was nearby.
I jump in the car and started it but in the back ground I could still hear the starter motor turning over even after the car was started.
I had to disconnect the battery before the cranking would stop.
I waited a while about 30 minutes and reconnected the battery terminals and away it went again the engine just started cranking over.
The only thing that I have done with the car was I washed it about 8 hours earlier. I never washed the engine compartment.
Can anyone help solve this or has it happened to anyone here.
Thanks Wayne.

[Homer_Jay]

I would be calling a priest!

You didn’t see a girl in the back seat with her head spinning around??

[odieman150]

I would be calling a priest!

You didn’t see a girl in the back seat with her head spinning around??
Definitely a poltergeist at play there mate.:devil:

[gunna]

Do you have a brake controller fitted (for towing). Mine did funny lectric things turning lights on, and resetting the brake controller fixed it.

[Streaker]

Hi Gunna
Yes brake controller dual batteries and a winch.
I placed a leads back on this morning fired her up and all is good. The stranges bloody think..
Thanks for your reply.

[catshark]

never heard that one before, initial guess would be water bridging the solenoid on the starter thingy( very wild guess and im not a mechanic) just a thinker.

[Jason Green]

Can you start it remotely with the key might just have had some sort of interference some how
My favourite prank lately with the Colorado when I walk out of a shop and see someone standing next to it is to start it up wirelessly



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[Crunchy]

Prado’s kerp cranking until engine starts even when you let go the key so possibly something to do with that system?

[Noelm]

Lots of newer cars have this remote start feature, I really don't see any advantage in being able to do it, unless maybe you were being chased by crooks and needed a quick getaway! I have nothing against technology as such, but this just seems to me to be an answer looking for a question! push button start almost fits into the same thing, neat? maybe even handy? but necessary, nah...the old FJ Holden had push button start, but you had to have the key in the ignition, or a two bob (20c) piece.

[Crunchy]

Lots of newer cars have this remote start feature, I really don't see any advantage in being able to do it, unless maybe you were being chased by crooks and needed a quick getaway! I have nothing against technology as such, but this just seems to me to be an answer looking for a question! push button start almost fits into the same thing, neat? maybe even handy? but necessary, nah...the old FJ Holden had push button start, but you had to have the key in the ignition, or a two bob (20c) piece.

Except when you live in a frozen climate! I used to have to go and start the car 15 mins before driving it to de-ice the windscreen and make it a habitable place to be....used to think "wish someone would invent remote starting"

[Noelm]

Not too many aussies would have to worry about ice on the car! but I guess it's at least one instance where it is at least usefull. My daughter has a new Trailblazer, and it has that many "features" it makes you dizzy trying to remember them all, even winding a window down a tad so you can close the door without getting that air lock kind of thing, then winds it up when the door closes, kind of nifty, but let's face it, who cares?

[Crunchy]

No to mention all these cars turning off when you stop at the lights, that would piss me off!

[Noelm]

Yeah, that does take some getting used to, my mate has a VW that does that, you can't even hear the starter engage, it's instantaneous, doesn't matter how quick you are to get your foot off the brake and onto the accelerator, it's already started.

[TheRealPoMo]

If it's a VW you can turn the auto stop off with a smartphone obd2 dongle.
Did it in my Audi. Much better.
I do miss the remote start the Jeep had though on those hot days where you can get the aircon going before you get in.

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[Moonlighter]

Really dont know why you would want to turn the auto stop function off?

I have it on my CX5 Akera diesel, and had it on the leased one before this for 3 years. So have lived with it for about 5 years now.

It really works quite seamlessly. And you can manage it with how hard you press the brake pedal or move the steering wheel.

You just have to get your head around the change to a new way of doing things.

It cannot be turned off permanently on the Mazda in any case. Its part of the total engine operating system as tested for emissions, that is my understanding why it cannot be turned off permanently.

I am somewhat surprised to hear it can be turned off on the Audi - errr hang on, Audi is part of VW, I take that back, I am not surprised by them doing anything!! Maybe just another little software trick of theirs ......

[TheRealPoMo]

Because it is a PITA Moonlighter. Number of times the Jeep shut off just as I was about to shoot into a traffic gap I've lost count of. Yes, fairly seamless but unnerving when trying to get that gap and driving for everyone else on the road too. Oh and the aircon dies with the engine too.
If you are referring to the VW Audi fuel stat thing...they have all been doing it for years...just that in typical German fashion, they were not subtle and slightly arrogant. I don't give a rat's personally. As an example, all modern motorcycles are tuned hideously lean to meet same ends. The software tweak is not sanctioned by Audi Australia but the ability to tweak is there because some markets don't have some features but the ECUs are all the same.
No there is no easy way to disable on the Mazda (or Jeep).
Sort of like an iPhone versus Android.

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[Noelm]

Don't own a Jeep, and probably not likely to, but I can assure you, on the VW, it is near impossible to detect any "lag" when taking off after the engine turned off, that said, unless you were a full on all day city driver, it's just another feature that's nice, but, to me, hardly necessary.

[TheRealPoMo]

TBH Noelm I only had the Audi a day or 2 before I turned the auto stop off so you are likely correct. The experience with the Jeep turned me off that technology for good I think.
Do you have the DSG transmission? Now THAT is a thing of beauty.

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[Dignity]

My wife has the Mazda CX5, we turn the IStop off as we found it a PIA in city driving (yes the Sunshine Coast is starting to feel like it). Initially didn't notice it but after a while it was noticeable, once had to plant the foot due to some idiot about to ram us and just got out in time as we wondered why the stupid car wasn't moving. Another time a vehicle behind us was about to ram us, driver busy texting, once again just moved forward in time. Is there a difference in fuel consumption, negligible, 0.5 litres /100km. Even my wife now turns it off, Supposed to be environmentally friendly, but this stop start phenomenon is pretty hard on batteries which apart from requiring a larger heavier duty battery than a non stop vehicle, require replacing more frequently, talk to an RACQ technician about the number they have to replace.

[Noelm]

I wonder if the day will come that when you have car troubles you call some offshore help desk, and they will run you through a dozen useless steps to try to rectify the problem, can you imagine? here you are, in traffic and suddenly your steering goes full lock, the seat warmer burns your bum and your external mirrors start flapping in and out....you call and a foreign voice asks you to identify yourself, then can you switch it off for 30 seconds, can you check the cables, did that fix it? no, sorry about that, I think you have a problem, I will put you on hold for 20 minutes while I get my supervisor.......

[Noelm]

OH, and PLEASE, don't mention Telstra, I have just had a 5 week "issue" with them!! anyone old enough to remember the three stooges will know what happens when someone says "Niagara Falls" well, that's me with Telstra.

[TheRealPoMo]

Yes with the battery thing. They are much more expensive than the old Exides or Centurys and do not last long. You know they are on the way out when auto stop/start stops working. Shame the ECU doesn't tell you....it just dies completely soon after.
Telstra. ...according to the customer satisfaction scores you are all completely happy with offshore service and that is the senior management view. You need to start doing the end of call surveys. We were all warned what would happen if our network got sold off and we all let it happen.

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[Noelm]

Hey, don't worry, I have done that survey dozens of times, and I am NOT happy......

[Moonlighter]

The Mazda iStop system works very well. Lived with it for over 5 years now and rarely bothers me.

The only occasions it does, is sometimes when you stop and intend to turn the car off, iStop might activate before you can press the engine stop button, you end up pressing the stop button a couple times to turn the engine off. No big deal, really. Doesnt happen very often.

Like all “new” things, you just need to learn and adjust your driving habits.

Many people dont know/didnt read the owners manual, so are not aware that iStop is sensitive to the amount of pressure put on the brake pedal. You can be stopped with your foot on the brake at a red light with the engine running, put some extra pressure on the brake pedal and iStop will activate.

It works the opposite too - ease the brake pedal pressure off a touch (still easily enough to keep the car stopped) and the engine instantly restarts. So, if you are looking for a quicker getaway, thats exactly what you do - anticipate the gap, and ease the brake pressure off a touch.

The Mazda restart is so quick in my experience, by the time you have got your foot off the brake and onto the accelerator pedal, the engine is running.

While all iStop systems do put greater demands on the battery, the Mazda (petrol engine) version doesnt even use the starter motor to restart the engine. Battery effort is thus minimised.

I will probably jinx myself by saying this, but IMO the battery life of the Mazda EFB batteries they use is as good as normal batteries in other modern cars - PROVIDED they are maintained properly. I am amazed at how many people think they have maintenance free batteries when in fact they dont, and then bitch about them failing after 18 months after never being topped up.

The Audi would run a AGM, doesnt it?

The batteries are designed for the extra workload, that is why they specify the EFB models, which have many similar characteristics to a AGM battery.

My first CX5 I drove for 3 years and 90k kms and original battery was still fine. Current one is 2yrs old and 30k kms still fine. Both 2.2 turbo diesel.

I have seen reports of a few CX5 batteries in the early days failing early after 18 months or so, and generally Mazda has covered them under warranty, if a Mazda dealer has done the scheduled servicing.

[Dignity]

Still turn IStop off soon as I get in the CX 5, interestingly all the Mazda staff that pick up my wife's car for service (one of the very few companies that do) turn it off also. The other interesting fact that I've found is that most cars voltage will drop to around 11.3 Volts on startup, apparently to do with all the system checks, all the sensors including ABS brakes, hill starts, airbags, fuel pump, starter motor etc all running at the same time. Once upon a time anything less than 12.2 V was considered an issue, no wonder we now need bigger capacity batteries.

[TheRealPoMo]

Pretty sure the Audi has an AGM - haven't taken the cover off to check. Jeep certainly was, hence the price.

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[Streaker]

Latest update.
The thing has done again.
For the 150 series prado owners with CTek dual battery system.
Is it possible to wire the system incorrect.
I wired it the same as a 80 series cruiser. Someone has said that it might be wired wrong.
Can anyone help.