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PLEASE HELP - TRUCK WONT START

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by rlofthouse, Feb 14, 2016.

  1. Feb 14, 2016 at 12:54 PM
    #1
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I decided to replace the spark plugs and battery in my truck, the original plugs had been in for 75K miles and battery over 5 years. I thought it would be a good preemptive idea to replace them in my 2008 2.7L. Tacoma. After putting in two new sets of plugs, the car wont start. What is going on?? Here is a breakdown below:

    Yesterday: Bought and installed new Denso SK20HR11 Plugs along with a new car battery. I did not gap these. After starting car- I noticed a pungent smell of gasoline coming through and car could barely keep idle. I thought plugs were maybe defective so I took them back and got a new set of 4.

    Today- Before installing new plugs, I decided to install the OLD Original plugs to make sure the problem was in fact the plugs. Sure enough, the car started (although it still was not idling like it normally does). I then put in the new set of plugs, and now the car wont start..

    Please advise.
     
  2. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:16 PM
    #2
    Joe D

    Joe D .

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    Have you checked ALL the connections?
     
  3. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:19 PM
    #3
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yes, everything seemed to be in order..
     
  4. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:21 PM
    #4
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Anything in particular i should be looking for?
     
  5. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:23 PM
    #5
    Joe D

    Joe D .

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    Man, I'd check the wires by just shaking them...from the cap to the plugs. Otherwise, I'm blank....
     
  6. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:30 PM
    #6
    Silence9

    Silence9 Solve et Coagula

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    Well they're one electrode plugs, so that's not the issue. Toyota doesn't like the dual or quadruple electrode plugs. I don't think your coils are making good contact with the new plugs. Make sure the boots are snugging down firmly on the plug ends. Or, you didn't tighten the plugs down tight enough (don't over-do it though!), or you cross threaded something. Did you get the plugs started off of the ratchet? Remember to never get any threads started on a wrench or ratchet. If those plugs come with a whacky gapping from the factory, it could be why it is having a hard time igniting, as your output to the plugs is tuned to have a certain gap to allow the ignition system to easily create the arc. If none of that is the culprit, try a different brand of plugs.
    Hope this helps. I did my plugs a few months ago and they run like a charm.
     
  7. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:31 PM
    #7
    Watari06V6

    Watari06V6 Faster than a speeding ticket

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  8. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:36 PM
    #8
    Texoma

    Texoma IG: Triple C Chop Shop

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    Yours is 6cyl, his is 4cyl. Try letting the truck run for a while. Disconnecting the battery resets learned timing, the computer knows bad plugs, and you put in new ones, so give it a bit to figure that out.
     
    Watari06V6[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:39 PM
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    Watari06V6

    Watari06V6 Faster than a speeding ticket

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  10. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:50 PM
    #10
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I first hand started the plugs to ensure they would not cross thread- Im sure thats not the cause. I torqued each plug to 15 foot pounds- as suggested on this site. I believe the plugs come pre gaped at .044, where my truck manual specifies .043. Is such a small difference a possible cause?

    If it is the coils- anyway to isolate the bad one instead of replacing all 4?
     
  11. Feb 14, 2016 at 1:53 PM
    #11
    Silence9

    Silence9 Solve et Coagula

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    Ok, that's good. A .001" gap differential won't be the problem. I would then say it is the coils not making good contact with the plugs. Everything ran smooth when you put the old ones back in though? If so, the coils aren't damaged, they're probably just not seating properly.
    As for isolating them, do you have a multimeter?
     
  12. Feb 14, 2016 at 2:00 PM
    #12
    adanfon

    adanfon YNWA

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    Is the pcv hose connected? So it won't run at all? Or just run really rough?
     
  13. Feb 14, 2016 at 2:00 PM
    #13
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Update- in frustration I decided to put the old plugs back in. Car still does NOT start. In addition- I smell gasoline coming from the exhaust. Is this indicative of faulty coils?

    No I do not have a multimeter...
     
  14. Feb 14, 2016 at 2:01 PM
    #14
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    All hoses are connected. It wont start at all
     
  15. Feb 14, 2016 at 7:59 PM
    #15
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Would an OBD Diagnostics Scanner help me isolate the problem?
     
  16. Feb 14, 2016 at 8:13 PM
    #16
    adanfon

    adanfon YNWA

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    maybe, if there are any trouble codes. so it just cranks and cranks right? doesnt seem like it is trying to start?
     
    bogginator likes this.
  17. Feb 14, 2016 at 8:24 PM
    #17
    Jcollins

    Jcollins Well-Known Member

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    If you hold a decent magnet barely over the coil pack you should feel the magnet plus everytime it fires. If you don't then bad coils. Just a little trick I was tought and it works. I have checked a lot of different coils that way
     
  18. Feb 14, 2016 at 8:25 PM
    #18
    Styx586

    Styx586 Well-Known Member

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    If the truck ran fine before you changed the plugs, I highly doubt the coils are bad. I'd say check your fuses... I've seen fuses blow on occasion when changing the battery.
     
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  19. Feb 14, 2016 at 8:31 PM
    #19
    adanfon

    adanfon YNWA

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    ^agree, it has to be something that was done during either spark plugs or battery swap
     
  20. Feb 14, 2016 at 9:14 PM
    #20
    rlofthouse

    rlofthouse [OP] Well-Known Member

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    In terms of battery, I used a 24F battery from Costco, 700CCA. The CCA rating was higher than the recommended 585 CCA (according to the costco battery pamphlet finder). Would this higher CCA rating be a problem?
     

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