Intermittent extended cranking

My 2012 has recently been suffering from this at random like many of you from the past. I know there is a reflash TSB OUT but what I have noticed is that some of you benefitted from a simple spark plug swap because apparently Toyota thinks it was a cool idea to put in mismatching plugs from the factory. How genius!

My main question is, does anyone know if the 2012's also have mismatched plugs as well? If so those plugs leave my engine ASAP!

 

3 Denso and 3 NGK plugs are installed from the factory.

 

Mine is more noticeable when there is a big temperature shift in the weather. Dealer suggests it could be vapour lock.

 

Go some where else. They don't vapor lock.

 

Hell no it is vapor lock. Mine is weird when there is a shift in weather too. That being said it only does it if I go out there and initially start it on a cold day. It will not even close to do it afterwards.

 

Why do they use 2 different kinds..?

 

That's what I'm wondering too.

That's the most craptastic idea Toyota has EVER had! How stupid.

 

Your Dealer is an Idiot!

 

They do it to balance suppliers. It is a smart move as if one supplier has issues the other will pick up the slack. As far as the specifications go on the plugs they are probably exactly the same.

Of course you do not have to continue and you can install all of either type or just another brand all together.

 

I would imagine the heat range is the same even though the two spark plug manufacturers are different. Nevertheless, no two brands are equally exact. No wonder there are odd issues. That's like me putting on a Nike sock on my left foot and an under armor sock on the right foot. Sure it will work and it will let me get done what I need to do, but that doesn't mean it's correct.

 

I get this every once in a while too and it does seem to coincide with extreme shifts in weather. Has happened probably 5 times in 18+ months of ownership.

 

My '07 did it, my '10 does it and my buddies '09 does it as well. I was never really able to track a pattern and it isn't often enough to concern me terribly but it is a bit unnerving when it happens. I've written it off as a characteristic of the trucks.

 

This right here. The weather plays a major role in the issue. It does tend to occur when the weather drops more often then not. It has happened to me a good handful of time in my 18+ of owning it as well. I'm going to swap out the plugs here when I get the chance and report back as to how it operates then.

I would in no way define extended cranking under normal operating temperatures and conditions a characteristic. It's not normal and if all is in good condition there is no reason as to why it should do it. I may have a chat with the dealer and see if there is a reflash available for these beasts, regardless though. I will be swapping out those plugs as soon as possible. I do not like having two brands in the truck. That's like running a denso o2 sensor on bank 1 and a Bosch o2 in bank 2. I'm not for that.

 

So this is normal. Thank god. I started noticing it on my 2011 lately. Not too often but usually on a very cold morning or sometimes on a humid night. I have 56k miles and haven't changed my spark plugs yet. I need to get to it when it warms up.

 

What's odd is my 2012 used to do that about twice a month and after i changed my spark plugs at 30,000 I have not noticed it doing it anymore. i'm at 45,000 now. ??

 

Mine does it too. I know it's not vapor lock, but could something be causing low fuel pressure?

I try to stop the key on "run" for a second or two before trying to start it - to let the fuel pressure build up. Seems like when I forget, it happens.

 

Respectfully, I didn't say it was normal but certainly with the number of instances reported it is "characteristic". I guess the point I was trying to make to the OP and others is that there is nothing wrong with their trucks and I can live with the condition. If there is a solution that's cool too.

 

My 2009 used to do it a lot. I've replaced all 6 plugs with long life iridiums and have not had the problem once since then, for what it's worth.

 

my 2012 has done it about 4 times in 2 years (13,500 miles), usually when its wet and cold......I did not know they had 2 different manufacturers of sparkplugs, that just sounds stupid too me. i'll change them out when the time comes. Problem isn't reoccurring enough to warrant replacing them early, but good to know others have the same problem!

 

Let us know if the spark plugs help and or if there is a reflash. It does seem strange that they take so long to start. Sure every vehicle is designed differently, but my old Cavalier even on extremely cold mornings would fire up instantly.