2001-2004 Tacoma having trouble starting when warm

Hello,

I’ve done the deck plate mod and changed spark plugs. I have a V6 version of the truck. And recently changed the battery.

it starts perfectly when the engine is cold (ie when it’s been off for several hours) but when I park the car to get gas or something, it won’t start on the first try. Usually the second try but it starts very unwillingly with low RPMs.

do you guys know of a reason why this is and any way I can fix it?
Thanks

 

Possible issue:
Open circuit relay
Leaking injectors
Low pressure fuel pump (can trigger a p0171)

 

What would you say would be the mostly likely with the least amount of diagnosing work? Trying to pick the lowest hanging fruit

 

Open circuit will be easiest but not cheap to buy for testing purpose, unless you know someone with one you can borrow to test on your vehicle.

Or option B: drop it off at a reputable shop for diagnose.

 

Will fuel injector cleaners like sea foam work?

 

How many miles ??

Sure sounds like leaky injectors

 

Only 130K

 

I have the same symptoms in my 95 2.7L. I thought the injector cleaner might help, but I have to say, I think it made it worse. I ran cleaner through 4 tanks of fuel. It may have cleaned away residue and only made the pressure bleed off quicker through whichever injector(s) is leaking.

Basically, if I shutoff and start again in less than say 10 minutes, starts right up. Then between about 10 and about 45 minutes(cooled down), the engine has to turn over about twice as many times to start, and there is a smell of raw fuel from the exhaust. Engine runs fine otherwise.

If you have these symptoms, you probably have a leaky injector.

 

I suppose it is possible for the coil of the circuit opening relay to drop in and out shutting off fuel pressure .

That should not foul the plugs and will fail completely when the truck is in the worse place .

Low fuel pump pressure would be more noticed for lack of rpm.

The rough idle sure sounds like wet plugs needing to clean off before smoothing out

With fuel pressure bleeding off extra cranking is a given as the fuel pump is only energized on cranking and the engine running

 

If the leaking injectors are the culprit there should be a "clear flood mode". Press the accelerator pedal to the floor then crank her for a few seconds, turn the key off then try to start normaly. This is supposed to shut the signal off to fire the injectors, have I verified this no.