Trouble starting and gas smell..should I be worried?

Hey all,

about six times in the past few weeks, my truck has started up strong, idles for maybe 3 seconds, and then dies. I start it again, and rev the engine a little, and things are fine.
Today, it wouldn't start. The starter was turning over strong, so I don't think its a battery issue. after a few tries, it slugged to life, I could faintly smell gas for a few minutes after. Any ideas?

 

If it can be reliably replicated, dealer. You have a warranty, use it. See if anyone you know has a scanguage or OBD II reader and see if it is throwing a code, then get the dealer to fix it, pronto.

 

Had a similar experience on my 94 yota. Ended up being a corroded fuel line near along the front passenger frame rail. But I would think an 08 would be a little new for corrosion. Any chance you did some off road damage?

 

check your battery terminals. make sure they have good contact and are not corroded

 

I'm going to be honest and say it could be a Fuel Pump issue. I heard a few guys say you have to upgrade the Fuel pump from the OEM when you supercharge it.

What you're stating sounds like Fuel issue. Your truck is way too new for the Starter to go out.

 

sounds like your flooding your engine gas smell is usualy wen it burns in the combusion chamber and goes out your exhaust.. u could have a fuel injection problem..

 

My truck has done this twice. Start up run fine then die. Never had an issue not being able to start it, just dying. Mine is only 5 mths old. One day it started and ran fine but it smoked for a minute and smelled like unburned gas also.

 

Stupid question but did you happen to get a new key? had an 08 sebring and I got a new key made (not from the dealer just cut from ace hardware) and the car had a safety feature. I would turn the key the car would start for 3 seconds then shut down. hopefully its something as simple is this. If not almost sounds like a spark issue if the starter cranks like a champ every time you can rule out the battery. the gas could be either 2 things (leaking fuel line as mentioned before) or the cylinder has too much gas(no ignition to burn it off) so maybe its your ignition coil check all your electrical connections under the hood. hell pull a spark plug out and see if its getting a spark. hopefully its something simple man and good luck! If you have an 08 sounds like a no hassle warranty item?

 

Thats what I'm thinking

 

Well considering it starts strong, its aint elec. or a connection, sounds like a fuel leak or over fueling. If it aint throwing a MIL your wasting your time looking for someone with a code reader. Any puddles on the ground under truck after this happens? Try koeo(Key on engine off) and let the pump run and check for leaks along fuel lines to elliminate that from the equation?

 

im a apprentice mechanic for toyota so iv seen some senerios like this .. usualy if theres no spark u will flood the engine does ur truck start fine after starting it a couple times letting it run then shutting it off???? if so it could be some type of sensor is there a MIL light?

 

Well mine would not start today. Smelled fuel in the cab. Called the dealer and they said well I haven't heard of any such thing and there is nothing they could do unless I can make it happen with the whole dealership standing in front of. Fu**kers. Did the op ever pursue the issue? If so what did they find??? Just got out of the shop saturday for a really loud popping noise now this crap.

Ps - No MIL lights or anything, and I started and shut it off about 5 times after and it was fine.