Will not start after driving

2008 TOYOTA RAV4
180 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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AMANDA LYNN SCHEIBELHOFFER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
If my car has been sitting all night it will start right up if I drive it 5 miles shut off go inside gas station come out it will start . But if I drive 10 miles and I run into the store and come out my car will not start I try again right away you can hear it trying something is not connecting for the start . If I wait about 10 or 15 minutes and keep the cranking going it finally starts . I don't know what the issue is, but it is annoying and embarrassing to keep trying. someone please help
My dad suggested that it's the temperature service switch , my car is not overheating once it gets started it drives fine as long as I don't shut it off once I do then I have to wait and keep trying until it starts .
Jan 30, 2021 at 9:41 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 110,240 POSTS
Hi,

This could be a couple of things. The first thing that comes to mind is a faulty crankshaft position sensor. When they are going bad, heat can cause them to fail. Since it happens after driving and the engine is warm, it makes sense. Do me a favor. Take a look through this link and let me know if it mirrors what you experience.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor

Let me know. I attached a pic below showing the sensor's location on the engine. What I would suggest is to see if spark is lost to the ignition when it won't start. That is a good way of confirming the sensor is the likely cause. Here is a link showing how that is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Let me know.

Take care and God bless,
Joe
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Jan 30, 2021 at 10:02 AM
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