2013 Tacoma fuel system and long startup?

Hello,

I'm new here with my first Tacoma that I bought last July. It's a 2013 single cab 4 cylinder. I bought it with 9800 miles on it and it had 21,xxx on it now.

So the issue I've been having now that's it's been getting warm out is a long startup time. I did a lot of digging and it's apparently very common but no one seems to know how to fix it or it's not a big enough issue for them to try. I think because my truck is black that the issue is happening more and at a lower temperature.

I replaced the battery because it tested bad but still had the issue. Ran premium and seafoam through to try and clean it out and no luck.

After digging the issue seams to be a design flaw in that the fuel pump doesn't pressurize the system when you click the key to on before startup, it only turns on while turning over. So I think the fuel system is loosing pressure or becoming vapor locked or draining back down into the tank.

This has been happening a lot and is very annoying. I have 2 warranties on it but it's not throwing any codes and it has to sit for a while before it happens so you can't just pull in and show them. The dealership I bought it from is 2 1/2 hours away. I'm going to try and get the local place to reflash the computer but if that doesn't work I want to look into installing a fuel check valve somewhere in the fuel line. I need more info on how feasible this is and what a good location would be. Flow and pressure requirements would be great too.

Thanks!

 

It's happening to me, but it's not an issue really. It got warm out and it's been taking maybe 2 seconds of cranking to start. It feels like a long time because it started immediately before. I wouldn't worry about it, but how long exactly does it crank in your case before starting?

Also, tell me more about running seafoam through the battery, I am intrigued...

 

It doesn't matter where you bought it. For warranty you can go to any dealer for repairs.

Let it sit and then check the fuel pressure.

 

It's anywhere from 3-6 real seconds (counting 1 Mississippi, etc) depending on the day. To the point where I stop cranking and try again sometimes. It isn't instant the 2nd try either. After it's been running or when I leave to work in the morning and it's colder out it's not an issue and there's times it starts on what seems to be the first crank. How do I check the fuel pressure or do I have to take it to the dealer?

I went into the dealer here with a leaky tire and full wheel and tire coverage and it was like they didn't know anything about my warranty.

It's an annoyance and is new and might as well try and fix it while I have the warranties. I worry about this being hard on the starter in the long term.

 

mines kinda of doing the same thing since warmer weather,i noticed a few times it didn't catch and start right away(2 times) as it usually does and got the idiot lights illuminated like flooded but once I extended the cranking it started up

 

Yeah it didn't happen last summer when I bought it but ever since winter it's been doing it.

 

fuel pump does prime.

put the key in turn it to ON let it sit for a few secs then try cranking.

 

I'm almost certain it doesn't, unless it's completely silent. My old ranger did and I always waited and you could hear it clearly. I tried waiting and it didn't help either way.

 

If you still have warranty why are you doing anything. It may be a pain but make them honor the warranty. Get Corporate involved if need be. Be NICE but be Firm.

 

I still would suggest you let it sit with the key on for at least 5 seconds before cranking, see if that helps. I can't hear my fuel pump either but I am sure it's running when the ignition is on.

My truck does not have a "long crank when hot" situation but occasionally it seems like it will fire one cylinder and not start. (It flubs, for lack for a better description.) Then on next try it will start up fine. Doesn't even do it all the time, very inconsistent, except that it only happens when it's been sitting between 5-10 minutes approx. My research has shown it's part of the ECM calculation, getting ready for a hot start. One user said "the computer calculates the orbit of the moon before it is ready to fire the injectors." Pretty much sums it up.

 

So my truck sat for multiple days over the weekend and it was very hot. When I got up to leave early in the morning it started up fine and it got me thinking, if it was due to lost pressure then it should have not started to fine because it was baking in the weekend heat.

What if the heat causes the fuel to expand and actually over pressurizes the system causing it to flood on startup because the computer doesn't expect the lunge of fuel. It would make sense then that when the truck cooled down that morning I left it started up fine.

Any thoughts? I let it sit for 5+ seconds and it still did it today,

 

The first thing the pcm looks at on startup is coolant temp. If you have access to a simple code/data reader you may be able to catch a funny temp sensor reading when the problem happens

 

You tried running a tank of hi-grade gas yet? See if it has any impact on starting?

 

Yeah I ran premium with seafoam through it. I'll have to try and get my hands on a tester. It's never visually thrown any codes.