Difficulty starting 2012 Tacoma

My 09 does this on occasion. Long crank time and won't fire the first attempt. Only once did it take a 3rd crank and a push of the gas peddle then it fired right up. A bit of a rough idle but it goes away seconds after firing.

I have 30k miles.

 

My 07 had the same issue (wouldn't start the first/second attemp) and had to push down the gas pedal. I took it back a week or two after purchase and they performed a tsb...hasn't happened since. If I remember correctly the tsb recalibrated the ecu. Here's the tsb...
EG011-07 JUL 07 Engine Controls - Intermittent No Start Condition

 

My 2012 has done this once, I have 2300 miles on it so far..

 

5000km on my 2012 and it has happened to me three times so far. Today was the third, it took almost 8 seconds of cranking and it started.

 

If its rarely intermit. i wouldnt worry about it, unless you can start to hear those flywheel teeth grinding then yeah take it in.

 

If you try to start your truck immediately after you get in, it takes the key transponder a second to register. Once I trained myself to wait a second before turning over the ignition, I haven't had this issue.

 

Believe it or not, this is a fairly common issue to new vehicles or even when you pull your battery cable to reset the computer.

What happens is that the factor default setting for the A/F ratio runs rich causing hard starts, that is where you are getting your long cranks from. The vehicle computer needs to learn the ideal A/F ratio for you area, driving style and habits which does take time, a few thousand miles.

When ever I go from my flat land by the ocean to my local mountains which exceed 6000 ft elevation, I get hard starts when I'm in the hills. The computer is used to more air then it normally gets. It's using a circumstancially rich A/F ratio.

Hopefully this clarifies things.

 

^ Thanks for that. I've noticed that mine did this more often when it was newer. Now at 13k miles it practically never does it.

 

Happened to me two times, however I have only noticed it when i have disconnected the battery.. It starts and then dies and then starts up with no problems.... Its weird, but i still love this truck over my Nissan!

 

Amazing! Took your advice and now start ups are fast and furious. Best tip I picked up on this forum yet.

 

Glad I could help!

 

This happened to me today, never had this happen with my 2008..

 

Has happened a couple times in my '10. I think it's compounded by the fact that crank time becomes a habit - so you crank for the 0.75 seconds or whatever is normal for you and you've let off before you realize that it hasn't fired. Then you need to wait a few seconds before you try it again. Annoying, yes - something to worry about? Probably not.

It happened more when I first got the truck, because I was used to my Mustang firing up a little quicker than my Taco does. Now that I'm used to the truck, it rarely if ever happens.

 

Okay, I have had this failure to start problem on several occasions. It is ridiculous and the dealer says they can't find anything wrong with it. Each time it has been in very windy conditions and very cold 20-35 degrees outside. The last time it happened the only way it started was for me to push down on the gas peddle. In addition, I noticed a couple of instances where it idles rough (completely random). This is very frustrating considering this is my first toyota and I expected quality and dependability. I love my little truck but my old honda accord never let me down like this? It only has 19k miles on it. Any suggestions or fixes would be greatly appreciated. Maybe I have the "one" lemon from Toyota?

 

That was said a year ago and Toyota still hasn't issued a TSB. I suppose because it still starts eventually, it doesn't throw a code, is random, and somewhat not-widespread, it isn't a pressing concern for them.

 

Speaking of strange problems... I let my truck sit for three days while on vacation. 2012 1gr- Fe. When i returned and started it up it ran fine for about thirty seconds and then it sounded like someone poured rocks into the motor and chocked it down a little. It came back to life immediately and ran normal. It has only happened one other time when it was really cold out. Anyone else have this problem?