SOLVED: Extended cranking hot starts 3.4L

Good idea, you'll have to note that this all started after the injector cleaning process. Curious to know if putting too much pressure through the injectors might have caused it. Pretty damn sure you're to regulate the canistor pressure while the injectors are firing, meaning if you are to run 40psi but the mechanic ran 80psi.

 

Owner said they would take a look at the issue for free, which is nice of them. We will see what they find.

 

Dropped truck off for refrigerant recovery today, owner said he noticed long startup when finished. Said he would definitely check injectors if I set up an appt in a couple weeks.

 

I went to Sam's the other day, it was about a 30 minute highway drive... wandered around the store for a bit, 30 minutes later I came back out and the truck started up fine. I am not sure if a fuel map reset helped or not, because I replaced my alternator not long ago, or if the

$24 BG44K BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44K stuff finally got fully removed from my fuel system, but it seems to be starting up normally again (for now).

 

update.. still having the issue.

took it in, the shop tells me it's the fuel pump due to pressure bleeding off almost immediately. I still find this suspect as I did not have the issue until the injection cleaning service was done. I talked with the tech and he elaborated why he thinks it's the pump, saying if it were leaky injectors I would have black smoke on startup, rough idle on startup, CEL...... what do I do?? I told them I would pay labor for them to check the injectors with a scope (which they didn't do at first even though that was supposed to be the plan).. tho they probably have it in their heads that I'm full of shit at this point.

 

Fuel rail pressure drops to 0 when you shut off a 3.4. This is normal.

 

I didn't ask if he checked pressure via the fuel rail. Well I've made them go ahead and check the injectors with a scope, so next time they call I will let them know. Should the system hold pressure elsewhere? Or would the fuel pump have low pressure while the engine is running if it were bad?

I think they know they will have to do it under warranty if the injectors are fucked ($$$$) so that's why they haven't even so much as looked at them yet.

 

made some edits to my reply @cooper4x4

 

The fuel pressure should hold around 42 psi when it's running, but there's nothing to hold the pressure when it shuts off. When you said they were blaming the fuel pump based on the pressure bleeding immediately, that's normal assuming it's bleeding off on shut down.

 

what would be signs of a failing fuel pump? I just want to be armed with some knowledge in case they insist it's the pump again. Then I can go, well it's not doing x or y... so....

 

Unfortunately a long start or not starting at times can be the result of a failng fuel pump. The little impeller will get caught then after cranking itll free up due to the vibration from cranking

 

would this happen on only hot engines though? Or would it happen intermittently and completely at random? I don't have the issue when I'm starting it up in the morning, or right after shutting it off. Only when it's been sitting hot for a while. How would they know the impeller is getting caught by doing a pressure test? It doesn't seem like pressure testing it was a great diagnosis..

 

I would run away from this place, they don't seem to know any procedures for diagnosing a toyota

 

Leaky injector(s) in my humble opinion!

 

As soon as the leaked fuel evaporates, trucks start right up...

 

Well hopefully they come back and say "we checked your injectors with a borescope and we were wrong about the fuel pump" but I feel like that's a stretch at this point

 

I wouldn't expect to see a leaking injector on a cam, it is usually very slight and could be distributed over a few of them. It isn't uncommon for 5vz injectors

 

I just remember the video of that long ass thread and they found out it was the injectors from scoping it but yeah I guess you're right. However they need to confirm it's that in order for it to be under warranty

 

Oh, well do you trust them to do the work anyway? I had all of my injctors tested on a flowbench because of how hard it is to do on the truck. 5vz have slow restarts anyway, seen friends kill em while wheeling and it takes like 5-8 cranks before it lights off again for whatever reason. Whereas my 3rz is back on it again in 1-2 cranks

 

I mean they did do fine with my timing belt and stuff, I'm just not certain they will do what I want them to do. I don't want to argue with them about what they should be doing with my truck. But on the other hand, they don't want me to tell them to do something for free (under warranty)