Long/hard start, truck doesn't always start need to hit the gas - 2003 Tacoma TRD

Hi, I have a 2003 TRD Tacoma 3.4L with about 170 000 miles. I bought it 2 months ago, last owner didn't drive it much and it's now my daily driver.

Couple days after owning the truck, check engine light came on and thought it was just the fuel cap that wasn't sealed correctly so I unplugged the battery to reset it. Light didn't came back but from that time the truck has been developing a problem (if I can correlate to this moment, it might not be related).

It doesn't always happen, sometimes the truck just start like it should but it seems like it is more frequent when I have driven the truck left it for an hour or two- and then come back out to start it, it takes a lot of cranking to get the engine to turn over. The problem is intermittent but sometimes I have to hit the gas pedal so the truck can start.

Last owner changed the spark plugs and I have since changed the fuel filter thinking it might solve the problem but it didn't. Even if I keep the key to the on position before starting the truck it doesn't help much.

Looking for any suggestions. Could it be the fuel pump ? I also read somewhere it could be a TSB issue these trucks have about the engine not electrically grounded correctly?

I took a video of an example of the problem.

https://streamable.com/s/8ted0/jhxh...TyqmFvHHr2ulXoDlJ_7sbpURmGBE1b6mkx3Ji8IfA7ZLA

Thank guys

 

Had a similar issue with mine. Double check that the spark plugs are the correct type. Previous owner of my truck had installed incorrect spark plugs and a cheap Chinese MAF. Replacing plugs and MAF with OEM parts cleared up the issue for me.

 

I read long and hard and you immediately got my attention. Prob wrong plugs. Get em from the dealer and change out. This is a common mistake.

 

I will check that out, thanks. Although I would assume they're the right ones since he works at a Toyota dealer and got everything changed there.

 

Any other suggestion on the cause? Check engine light came back on yesterday night.

 

How is your battery? If it's going out the cranking amps can fluctuate. When my last one went out it would be fine for the most part but left me trying to crank it a couple times after turning the truck off for a few minutes in the school pickup line.

Would be fine sitting over night but couldn't handle a quick restart after shutting off for a few minutes.

 

Fuel injectors.

The long starts after it has been sitting for a couple hours tells me this. The injectors are leaking raw fuel into the intake for those 2 hours. When you go to start it, the engine is flooded with raw fuel.

I'm guessing you never have this problem when it sits overnight. The raw fuel has time to evaporate when it sits all night.

 

What is the code?

 

before spending any more time/money get the codes read, both the current issue and the pending issues. Keep in mind that what ever the current code is that set the light it is a symptom and is not necessarily "the" thing that is wrong. Most modern fuel injected motors have waht is called a "clear flood crank" mode which is engaged by putting the throttle to the floor then cranking the motor over. This stops the signal to the injectors and is just like an old carbed V8, clearing a flood condition by putting more air into the motor than fuel.

 

I'm gonna go out and guess that the code is PO420.

Let us know what the code is. You can stop by any chain auto parts store and get the engine scanned and then the codes will be listed.

 

Unfortunately I've been trying to track down the same issue myself. When my truck has the long crank or intermittent start, it sounds exactly the same as your taco did in your video. Usually happens on a hot/warm start after driving and it's sat for an hour or so. After trying everything I could at the time (short on money) I had to bite the bullet and take it to the stealership. They charged me $150 for the diagnosis and held my vehicle for 4 days. Unfortunately the issue was so intermittent that they couldn't recreate the problem. They did check the battery, I put in new spark plugs, wire set, and boots and that didn't fix anything. Cleaned the MAF sensor as well as my whole throttle body assembly. I even made sure the engine and battery grounds were solid and were metal on metal, still no luck. I need to do the fuel filter anyways, so that's next, but after doing some research, my guess is leaking fuel injectors as well. Let me know if you find a fix!

 

Fuel pump fixed my long start issue. Had same problems as you except I never put my foot on the gas when cranking - I am not convinced that makes a difference with modern vehicles. I had 180k on my fuel pump - so yours sounds about due for a new one.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/solved-extended-cranking-hot-starts-3-4l.549968/

 

I have had a similar occasional issue the OP is having it sounds like, except mine is once in a blue moon so I haven't worried about it much. But once every few months I go to start my truck, and it just turns over...then it will start to catch but won't unless I feather the gas pedal, then it fires right up. It's like it just barely gets itself started but once that happens and I give it some throttle/gas, it gets going all the way. Dunno if that describes it very well but I think that might be what the OP is describing too.

Mine has done this randomly for 3 years, and in that time I've changed the fuel pump, spark plugs, fuel filter, virtually every sensor (MAF, O2, a/f, etc.) and several other things along the way and yet it still does this a handful of times a year. But...not enough that I've really worried too much about it. It's never failed to start entirely, just struggles once every so often.

Really the only thing I haven't messed with that I sometimes think might be the issue are the fuel injectors. But when it does do it, it sometimes happens warm or cold and I've heard that injectors usually act up when the truck is warm.

I almost wonder if maybe it's related to the clutch or clutch pedal somehow.

 

Random question: Which fuel filter did you throw in? I've been looking at K&N because they are rumored to work well and be easy to remove/install. I'm interested in what you ran?

My starting issue is really intermittent as well. My guess is fuel injectors as stated in my other post. When they are warm, they leak and then when I go to start the mix isn't right/flooded with fuel. If it sits long enough the gas evaporates so the issue doesn't occur. But like you said, typically that's a hot start issue. Do you notice it happening more in the summer? Perhaps the warmer temps don't let it cool down enough so it's always in a "warm" start type environment? I talked to my dad about it, and he thinks there could be an issue with the choke, but we both don't have enough knowledge to test that theory, AND I don't really know how intermittent a choke issue would be. You would think it would happen a lot more if that were the case.

Long story short, I have no idea, but I'd love to find a fix! Let me know what fuel filter you ran if you don't mind!

 

I did a bit of research and found that Wix fuel filters are on par with the ones Toyota uses so I went with one of those, that was almost 3 years ago.

I don't seem to notice more in any kind of weather, honestly it just happens randomly with no real rhyme or reason. Sometimes it'll happen more frequently over a few weeks and then it'll go several months before it happens again.

I do intend on getting my injectors serviced one of these days, we'll see if that fixes it. I ran a can of

$25 BG44k BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44k fuel system cleaner through the tank about a month ago and haven't noticed the hard start since, but then again it might just be awhile before it happens.

 

I appreciate the quick reply. Yea, it's definitely a tricky issue that I've seen quite a few people try to track down on here.

 

after re-reading I can offer 2 suggestions. The first is to take the oil dipstick out and sniff it for fuel... if the injectors are leaking it has to go some where. The next time it has an excessive crank time dont crank it until it starts, shut if off, put the gas pedal to the floor then crank her for a few seconds then shut it off, take your foot off the gas pedal and start her... this is what is called "clear flood mode". In this mode the fuel pump is not allowed to activate. Toyota should have this mode as most all other manufacturers do.

 

Talking about it on this thread must have jinxed me, because when I left work yesterday afternoon my truck did it again lol. Crank crank crank crank crank...start to catch....give it throttle...comes to life.

Normally it comes to life on it's own after 2 or 3 cranks.

 

Sorry for the bad luck. Yea, I just went out to check the oil (Alarmingly Low ) and then I went to start it and it started, but it almost long cranked me. Luckily I've never been stranded and it's never taken more than 3 turns of the key, but it's not a great feeling when it happens. I decided I think I'm going to run

$25 BG44K BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44K through it, then I will change the fuel filter after that tank is run through. Looks like I'll be doing an oil change too. I would rather try the cleaner and potentially have it work instead of drop more money than I'd like to for the injector replacements.

 

If it truly is an injector issue, then the only real way to service those is to remove them and have them tested and cleaned (or replaced)...

$25 BG44k BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44k is a great fuel system cleaner, probably the best, but a truly clogged or faulty injector won't be fixed with it by adding to the gas tank. It's more of a preventative measure to prevent clogging. Either way it can't hurt to try first and see.

Do you have any oil leaks, maybe the valve covers?