2009 tacoma starts up and then dies

my money is on a bad fuel pump....

 

I would say fuel pump, my 06 would occasionally stall immediately after turning over, then it eventually quit altogether, that was @ 140k. A good way to check this is when it has one of its stalling fits, grab some starter fluid (ether) and a friend, have them spray into the intake tube while you're cranking if she stays running on the ether then you have a fuel delivery issue.

 

I had this very same thing happen to me after having the dealership make me another key for my used 2009 Tacoma that I bought. I had gotten the key on eBay and it was a cheap knockoff. I asked the dealership to cut it and program the chip which they did. They also informed me that they could not guarantee that it would work properly since it wasn't from Toyota. I told them that I understood but was just trying to save a few bucks. It worked fine for a couple of days and then started acting up, frequently dying after starting it. I went back to the dealership, paid about $75 for an authentic Toyota key and I've never had the problem again and it's been over 1.5 years.

The cheap knockoff key was jacking with the Theft Deterrent System (Engine Immobilizer System) therefore killing or "immobilizing" the engine. I'm not saying that is your problem, but it might be worth a try.

***I've been reading the forums for almost two years now after I bought my used '09. I finally joined two weeks ago...first post!! Thanks for all the good info guys!!***

 

This reminds me, I need to get a spare key, if i lose my original i'm F'd in the A.

 

I swapped keys last night....Will see what happens...

After it dies on the first start, the next start up I have kept my foot on the floor. It will rev up to 5000 - 6000 RPMs and then die. I have also kept it around 2500 RPMs and it dies. I have pumped the gas while starting and while it is turned off. It will not start back up until 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes it starts up and runs great.

When it starts it runs normal. Idles around 1000 and when in gear around 500. It does not jump up and down and feel like it is going to die.

 

Another shot in the dark... does oil dip stick smell REALLY smell like gas? Did you pull plugs and check them out? Could be bad fuel injector leaking gas into cylider...? Cylinder floods, you get it to turn over, plug fowls, you let it sit, the wetness on the plug evaperates in 15 minutes before enough gas leaks back into cylinder to flood it, it starts and runs? Again, shot in the dark...

 

Quick question! When the problem is happening is the theft LED indicator flashing or blinking? Usually when there is a good key the light will come on and then it will go off even when is cranking. If the light is blinking then the key that you are using it is not being recognized. You know the other quick check up you can do is if the truck is not starting, spray a little bit of brake cleaner to the intake manifold. It could be thru a vacuum hose like the one that is going to the PCV valve on the driver side intake manifold. If the truck starts and runs on brake cleaner you'll know is starving for fuel. It is not that accurate but it will lead you to fuel delivery system. There could be particles in the fuel tank as well that the filter for the fuel pump can be clogging up.

 

Another idea from left field... when you do get it to start and stay running, do both cad. converters heat up at about the same rate? Could be a clogged caddy? Im still leaning towards an injector issue i think. This has me stumpted and curious. Don't worry, I'm confident that with the help of the folks here the prob will be sorted out.