Feels like loss of prime?

Well I decided to get a Toyota to drive back and forth to college (diesel is too much!). Anyways, just bought a 2003 Tacoma with around 115k miles. Kind of pissed cause I bought it "As Is", and I figure out a week later that if it sits for a day or so, it's a pain in the ass to start. It just cranks and cranks for maybe 5-8 seconds until slowly sputtering to a start. Fuel pump? What else can I check? I am a diesel guy so I don't know too much about these 2.7L inline 4's.

Thanks in advance, Alex

 

fuel filter most likely, any dash lights on?

 

haha and by the way i too recently went from diesel to taco had a 2001 CTD qd cab 6 speed and then a 2003 CTD qd cab 6 speed. miss em but couldnt afford the latter had to sell

 

Sounds like either your fuel pressure regulator, or fuel check valve is leaking internally. If you shut it off, and start it right back up again, does it start normally?

 

Haha yeah I went from a 650 hp 2001 Cummins, but I love the reliability of Toyota's and the fuel mileage!!

But yeah after shut off, it will start 'somewhat' right up (better than first start up), but will still stutter.

Keep It Simple Stupid! I will replace fuel filter first and go from there!

 

If you have access to a fuel pressure gauge, I'd check the rest pressure. With the engine running, the gauge should say something like 45 psi (not sure of the exact specs). If it's below specs while running, the fuel filter could indeed be clogged.

But after you shut the engine off, it should hold at roughly the same pressure as when it was running. If it bleeds off to zero, all the pressure in fuel rail is leaking back in to the tank.

Much akin to starting a carbureted car with an empty float bowl.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the help.. It started happening every time I stop for fuel and try to start.. It just starts for less than a second and shuts off, so I keep cranking and keep rpm's up for about a minute and it is fine.. Starting to agitate me. The fuel filter was changed so that's out of the question. But I have also realized when the engine is at operating temp. when coming to a stop, rpm's will go from approx. 1,000 to 750 and run a little rough.

 

^Mine does that too. I'm waiting for the next oil change to see if sea foam will clean it up.

 

Going home this weekend and will be able to work on it, anyone have anything else I can replace, or better yet, test?

 

Alright thank you, sounds good. I never knew these ran around 750 at idle. I will clean TB tonight. And what about the IAC? Is there a correct way to clean it?

 

Yup, 750. Most of the easy fixes for it are pretty cheap and straight forward.

My 2001 V6 did the same stuff when I first bought it, all I had to do was run the seafoam through the vacuum lines, and clean the TB and all was well with it.

 

i got the same problem with losing fuel prime at firts i toutgh that it was parking on the hill side ,but i got worst and i change the pump and fuel filter and still the same,so am trying te get to the root of the problem,this got me puzzle,i am a diesel engine mecanic and this gas engine has me puzzle.if i can find was wrong i will fixed it thanx...