SOLVED: Extended cranking hot starts 3.4L

I will start by saying I swear I've seen something related to this on here or TTORA, but can't find it for the life of me.

I picked my truck up yesterday morning from the shop and they did a large list of things to my truck over the past week. When I went to start it, it took a good 4 seconds before it would start. I'm used to it starting after about 2 seconds or so. For a second I thought there was an issue because I'm not used to it taking that long to start. The truck ran totally fine all the way home. The owner of the shop told me that 5 exhaust valves were out of spec by .002. He re-shimmed it.

I am not sure if this is related to the valve adjustment. The fuel injectors were also pressure cleaned (on the truck), and the timing belt/water pump was done.

UPDATE: I drove around several times last night and didn't have any issues. Stopped to get gas, when I left it was fine.

HOWEVER, today it has hot starting issues after the truck sits for 20-45 minutes. Extended cranking and stumbling start. Would this be timing related? Valves? Injectors? Maybe weak battery? Need suggestions if you have any so I can point them in the right direction.

Battery seems to be hanging out around 13.4 volts while driving today... it was at 13.8 and when I got home it was 13.4. I'm thinking battery at this point. I just replaced the alternator, starter is only a few months old, really don't know where to start with this. Thinking leaky injector due to the amount of time it takes before it doesn't want to start. Any help appreciated!

EDIT: new fuel pump fixed issue

 

The Saga Of Jen and the leaking injectors !!

Injectors leaking get the plugs wet and causes the pressure to drop

Crank and crank till it starts and runs rough till it cleans out..

 

It doesn't run rough after it fires up, but it does struggle to start. It seems to crank fine, just requires a lot of cranking and it will stumble before it starts.

 

Starter? My old gen1 was acting up and I believe that is what my issue was..It was severe cold and sometimes when it was hot. I believe I replaced the timing belt at that time also..
I miss that old Taco! But the beach took its toll after 16yrs..

 

I just replaced the starter this winter too. It seems to crank just fine, just requires multiple cranks. Almost seems like fuel/timing/valve issue related to the recent maintenance

 

I am leaning towards a possible injector issue.. but it doesn't idle rough or anything. I read something about a coolant temp sensor? Could that be it?

 

You said large list..plug wires? solenoid? Plugs? Coil?
If it’s running fine, and only startup, then fuel,fire,oxygen,timing to make it happen?
Good luck!

 

Shop did timing belt, water pump, injector cleaning (on truck by some sort of pressurized system), valve cover gaskets and valve adjustment.

Coils are original. Plugs and wires have maybe 30k on them. Truck has 182k.

I'm leaning coolant temp sensor.. could be dead. But if that were the case I would assume it would have a problem starting immediately after shutting off. If I start it immediately after shutting off, like if I get gas and then restart the truck, it starts fine. Only has a problem after sitting for 30 minutes. This makes me think injector leaking

 

Anyone know how I can diagnose?

 

there are just too many things that it can be for a diagnosis over the internet. If the starter doesnt crank the motor over fast enough it isnt going to start. If the voltage at the ECU/igniter is below a certain voltage the ignitor wont fire. Unfortunatly it is a process of elimination.

 

The starter cranks just fine.. it's not that. It starts fine after sitting for 5 minutes. It will not want to fire up after sitting for more than 20 minutes. Starting after 8 hours is fine.

After sitting for 20+ minutes, starter cranks fine, but it cranks multiple times and then I get stumbly startup. It idles and runs fine after it starts up.

 

Big plume of white smoke yesterday upon startup. I'm thinking I need to run through this

$24 bg44k BG 44K fuel system cleaner power enhancer 11oz.

bg44k in the tank before I draw any conclusions

 

No white smoke today, guess the

$24 BG44k BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44k was super concentrated there. Still took a solid 12 cranks to fire up after leaving Walmart. Starter and battery were both strong.

 

Try looking up how to clean the IAC valve and put on a new $3 gasket then clean the maf sensor for good measure, the IAC acts like a choke. With no codes I would document everything I clean or replace as I go it helps in case it gets worse.

 

I have throttle by wire, there is no IAC on this truck.. it's all electronic (only 03-04 have this). I will try to clean MAF sensor tonight.

 

https://youtu.be/SQPCFxycjrM

 

I saw on another post where an OBDII scanner was hooked up and in two different start/run/shut down procedures the ECT (engine coolant temp sensor) showed a good coolant temp reading on the first but drastically different reading, -40 degrees if I remember correctly, on the second start attempt.

 

I'm not sure if it's that.. it seems consistent with sitting for a long period. It doesn't seem intermittent like it would be for the coolant temp sensor. But if I had an OBDII scanner I would check it.

 

test coils.

 

for resistance?