Truck fails to start on 1st try. Always starts on 2nd attempt

Hey all,

I have a 2021 TRD Offroad 4x4 Auto with 17,000 miles. Recently, it has failed to start on the first attempt every time. I have push to start and regardless of how long I hold down the button the the starter will click once and the truck will not turn over. The 2nd attempt it always fires up no problem. Once it fires up the truck runs great.

This problem shows up every time the truck sits for more than 15 minutes between start ups.

I'm almost certain it's the starter but would like a 2nd opinion before I replace it.

I drove thru deep water about 2 months ago but have since put about 1500 trouble-free miles on the truck.

I doubt the dealership will honor any sort of warranty since my truck is modified.

Thanks!

 

If it has warranty just take it to the dealer. Just dont say you drove through water.

 

I don't think they're going to honor the warranty. Despite selling lifted trucks the service department has already given me a hard time about my ARB kit

 

Did you "mod" starter/starter button?...if not take her in...Let Toyota tell you its not covered...jmho

 

FWIW. I carefully washed the engine bay in my 2007 ranger and the starter started smoking and died about a week after. Never again I will be washing my engine bays.

Been through some deep water up to my doors in the taco and the starter is still good.

 

ARB lift kit?

 

I think worry way too much about modifications altering warranties. A modification does not “void” your entire warranty, but it can cause certain repairs to be denied if they think the failure was not a manufacturing defect. How many times have you had a repair done under warranty and how many times was a warranty repair denied?

Personally, I have had 1 warranty repair done (clutch master cylinder and pedal assembly) on my obviously modified truck with no complications.

As far as your issue goes, I suspect an electrical or fuel issue instead of a mechanical issue with the starter, but your description isn’t very detailed.

 

I would be interested to see what the dealer finds .
First thing I would do is a computer scan followed by a fuel pressure test

 

Have your battery load tested. Also look at any electrical modifications, you could have a draw discharging your battery.

 

There was/is a TSB for the clutch pedal assembly, so I guess they couldn’t refuse your warranty.

 

If I had replaced my master cylinder assembly with an aftermarket one, I’m guessing they would have refused to fix it for free.

 

In that case yes, they would definitely refuse.

 

Yes I think common sense would win the day, but I don’t people are using common sense when they are worrying about their entire warranty being null and void due to a modification; albeit their might be very rare ones that do, e.g. converting the truck to a desert racer and then racing it at KOH or mounted a 50bmg in the bed and used it to fight ISIS.

 

If your mod didn't cause the problem, the warranty is still valid.

 

that's odd. i have washed many engine bays, including on my '22 taco, and never had an issue. if a moderate amount of water sprayed under the hood was an issue, i'd be a nervous wreck driving in a rain or snowstorm.

 

Modifications aren’t going to void an entire warranty. If Toyota can prove that a certain modification caused the defect of the affected part, then they may refuse to cover it. But it’s up to them to prove. Take the truck in and have it looked at.

 

They don’t need to prove to deny a warranty repair, but otherwise I agree. You could I suppose take them to court, but that’s not likely going to save you any money.

 

You don't take them to court. You report them to the AG. It costs you nothing, but can lead to complications.

 

Ok, “prove” might not be the best word, but they can’t just arbitrarily say your “lift kit” caused a malfunction with your starter button or whatever. There has to be a reasonable connection between the two.

 

Can you push the start button once or twice without foot on brake then try it normal and see if it will crank. Trying to build some pressure in fuel system.