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

Was this before or after you flooded the interior??

 

About 2 months and 1500 miles after flooding the interior. If you look at my other post about that you'll see I disassembled the entire interior after that. Did not find water in any of the electrical connectors

 

I would be surprised if its fuel related. The engine doesn't turn over on the first attempt - just a click from the starter and nothing else. 2nd attempt it always turns over and fires up as normal.

 

I think the dunk in the water is more reason to deny a warranty repair than your modifications; albeit I don’t know what modifications you made or how easily Toyota could detect water damage.

Semi-related, Apple puts (or at least to) sensors in their phones to detect water damage and refuse warranty repairs. I had it happen to me. I took my iPhone for a swim. I wasn’t super mad about it. It was my bad. I’m glad the newer iPhones have much better water resistance.

 

It's really easy to say this in a vacuum but when you're handed a bill and told it's because your truck is heavily modified what are you going to do? I've owned 12 cars in the past 8 years and let me tell you: Dealers in New York will find any reason to deny warranty. You can be "right" about the law all you want but that's not going to motivate them to cover the bill unless you sue them (which takes years here) and until then what will I do? Not have my truck? Fingers crossed I don't have a negative experience when I drop the car off tomorrow...

I have a winch and Auxbeam 8-Channel Gang Switch with the controller add-a-fused to IGN 2. I've had the winch for two years. I've had the Gang Switch for 4 months before the issue started. I guess it's possible the battery crapped-out after 18 months... but I'm more inclined to think it has to do with water damaging the starter

 

Simple stuff first, my guess in issue with the push to crank button/system. Toyotas have all ways had tough starters. Two of my 300K mile ones had the original starters and my 2011 160K.

 

You find out BEFORE having work done. You don't wait to be handed a bill. If they balk, report them wherever you can. If they are denying warranty work they shouldn't, then you notify your state AG.

 

I have an ARB Lift, SPC Upper Control Arms, 33" Tires, Front Loop Bumper, steel skids, sliders, a cap, a winch, offroad floods front and rear, airbag helpers in the rear, an on-board compressor with bluetooth controller and a re-gear to 5.29.

 

I'm sure the AG of New York state will get right on it... Last time I tried to report a business for illegal activity I gave up after the 6th transfer went nowhere.

 

Oh ok I read attempt to start missed the starter doesn’t do anything part

 

Ya I was confused by “attempts to start”. I’m not sure what that means. In my experience these are the starting behaviors :

1) no sound no nothing
2) clicking sounds
3) slowly rotates the engine but not fast enough to cause combustion
4) rotates engine fast, but no combustion occurs
5) rotates engine fast, a few combustions happen but not enough to start.
6) engine starts and then dies
7) engine starts and stays running.

In all cases it is attempting to start.

I left out the presence of dash lights and other electrical devices.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I edited the post for clarity

 

The starter clicks once on the first attempt. All of the normal start-up lights come on. On the 2nd attempt the engine will turn over at it's normal speed and fire up without issue.

Its leading me to believe that the starter is potentially corroded. First attempt breaks it loose and by the 2nd attempt it's spinning freely. After about 15 mins if I turn off the motor and try to start again the issue returns - no turn over on first attempt, normal turn over on the 2nd attempt

 

could be,,, but I always start with the basics, address what I know, and not what I think.

 

If you are in the warranty period, it seems like a no brainer to bring it to the dealer. What’s the worse thing that could happen?

 

Sure corrodes fast.

 

I have heard from another poster on this site of starter problems after going through deep water, so you maybe on the right track. There is one connection under the battery that leads to the Starter you might want to check that out. IIRC it is just a single conductor connector with a red wire encased in a protective wrap. Also check the two connections at the Starter. There is a thread on changing out the starter here somewhere, quite a pain.

 

What does fuel pressure have to do with the starter not cranking the engine?

 

Try putting a jump starter before you even do the first attempt. Do that a couple of times to check off the battery as culprit from your list.

 

Im sure they will, if not try the next dealer nearby