Out of Options: Perhaps Tacoma World Can Help Draw Attention to This??

I know I have another thread already for this (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/weird-starting-issue.688624/) but I'm hoping maybe Tacoma World people can help me draw attention to this so I can stop getting screwed by Toyota and finally get my truck fixed. Like and share this video: https://youtu.be/Z-W-fD8GziU


I purchased this 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road in July and it now has around 10,000 miles. This problem has been happening since around mid September. I have brought the truck in five separate times to two separate Toyota dealerships and they have continually told me that they cannot duplicate the issue despite me explaining EXACTLY when and why it happens. I was advised by my Toyota Corporate Customer Care Case Manager to bring the truck in and show them the issue myself; so that's what I did. When I started it up in front of the master technician and it made the same terrible startup noise, he pretended nothing was wrong and insisted that it is by design. He even went as far as to tell me that it sounds like it is in vapor lock which is by design for this truck and is common on more modern vehicles. I told him that he is simply lying because vapor lock is not EVER a design feature, that it is an even less common occurrence on modern direct injection vehicles, and that it is a symptom of a bigger problem with the engine. He told me that he had hooked up a diagnostic tool and it revealed no issues and therefore Toyota cannot do anything about it. He stated that they won't do any further diagnostic work on it because Toyota does not pay them to do diagnostic work unless they can confirm something is wrong. So I told them that I have done many hours of my own research on the problem and have narrowed it down to only a few main culprits and if they can't take the time to diagnose, then maybe they can just replace the parts that are very likely to be causing the issue. I even provided case numbers of other people who have had the *exact* same issue with their trucks (w/ video proof) and the cases document exactly what was tried and what was replaced. They still said they couldn't do anything and both the service advisor and the master technician were extremely rude. So I called the Toyota Case Manager(s) and spoke to them about my case that has been open for several months now and they continually attempt to avoid doing any legitimate work with the excuse that "it needs to be confirmed as an issue first". I asked them how they can pretend that these videos are not indicative of a problem and they simply asked me to send them the videos which I have already done prior. I then asked how they are supposed to confirm that something is wrong if the dealership refuses to diagnostic work to diagnose that something is wrong. I even offered to pay to have a private shop diagnose the problem and then bring it back to Toyota to fix, to which they told me that Toyota won't accept outside diagnostic results as legitimate. Currently I am waiting on a call back from Toyota Corporate that is supposed to come within the next three business days. I am not trying to bash Toyota (I have recommended them at every single opportunity that I can. My family owns six of them currently and two others previously.), I am simply trying to get this out there to hopefully get the attention of Toyota and get them to do the work that should be done to get my truck running properly.

 

Did your get your fuel pump replaced through the TSB?

 

OP, I think you're on the right track as far a trying to bring attention to the issue. If there are many more people out there that have the same issue, and begin documenting the problem at dealerships, perhaps Toyota will see it as something more than an isolated case.

Other options are for you (and others experiencing the same issue) to submit a complaint to NHTSA. These are definitely not ignored, and as far as I can tell...they are permanently logged on the website under the make/model/year.

Good luck, keep us in the loop.

 

Apparently mine is not included in the recall. At least not yet. The issue does not seem to be related to the fuel pump however, due to the fact that it is only a warm start issue and runs perfect after starting along with many other reasons.

 

Every car I’ve ever owned, including my taco, does this after a stall. It’s usually caused by flooding the engine. The injectors still fire a shot of fuel right when the car stalls.

Obviously yours isn’t stalling to cause this, but it’s possible the warm start is injecting too much fuel for the actual engine temp. Maybe a temp sensor problem or something (idk I work on old tech).

Give this a try. Apply full throttle before starting it and hold it until it starts. If it doesn’t make the sound then it’s almost certainly a overly rich mixture at start up.

if it still makes the sound then disregard this advice.

 

What is the issue?

 

Seriously? He posted an entire thread and a video detailing this.

 

I will definitely submit to the NHTSA. I have also already submitted to the BBB.

I appreciate all the helpful advice. I will give definitely give this a try. I have already narrowed down the issue to where I’m nearly positive that leaking injectors or a bad fuel pressure check valve are to blame but this may help get it just a little further. I made this thread more or less as just a way to get attention to this so Toyota will hopefully fix at least something instead of just pretending nothing is wrong.

 

I didn’t read OTHER thread. With the radio and other bells in the video, it wasn’t obvious to me.

So yea, seriously mofo.

 

I do not hear any issue in the first two starts. The last one sounds like mine from time to time. I have had it in other vehicles also, including motorcycles. Just weak misfire.

In my honest opinion, I don't feel that it is anything to worry about.

 

Damn son.

 

My Taco sounded the same. I didn't think there was a problem and I never had any issues in 70K miles.

 

I agree it wouldn’t bother me either. I highly doubt there will be any long term repercussions.
but it is annoying so I understand.

 

No harm no foul. I’ve been called worse lol.

 

I've had this happen a couple of times on my 2020 in cold weather cold starts but not this bad. It doesn't sound right. Have you tried working with another dealer? Good luck and keep us posted.

 

But like why? Why even go on the forum then?

People need to chill, go have a beer or something.

 

How about some pic’s of your Opal GT... I haven’t seen one in a very long time, I had the Manta

 

A little burp and backfire adds character. The long turnovers can be a bit odd, but it purrs otherwise.

 

As a 2019 owner I haven't heard that issue. It is really hard to hear in your video OP.

Not that it ISN'T an issue but sounds like as someone else stated perhaps there was more fuel left over and it tried to do something.

 

Sorry but thats not how it should act when starting. That massive "ping" on the third vid is definitely not right.

There's no such thing as vapor lock on a fuel injected engine unless an injector or two are leaking when the vehicle is off.
The videos shows exactly what an engine sounds like and starts like when it is flooded. Goes for carbed or FI. Sounds like it fires, dies, then fires again and runs. Indicative of being flooded. Could also be ignition related. Wasn't there a crank sensor issue for some people on these?

Maybe get it to do it again but turn it off right before it starts. Then pull a spark plug, see if wet or black. Or crank it for second or two without starting it and then smell the tail pipe for gas fumes.


FWIW - here's mine starting. Soon as engine fires, its running. Even on 10 volts.