Random long cranks after fuel filter change - 5vz

I've owned the truck about 2 months, with no crank issues up until now. It's a 5vz. About a week ago I changed the fuel filter, using an OEM filter. Everything went fine.

BUT, twice this week I've come to my truck after it has sat for a few hours and experienced a long crank, followed by a weak start. After it catches, I can shut it off an start it no problem. As of now, it's a random thing.

Has this happened to anyone else? Any ideas about what to check out? It's running fine, just these random long cranks.

 

Have you checked your connections at the new fuel filter for leaks? If it's leaking it will cause weak fuel pressure up to the engine.

 

Yeah, I've checked it a few times and they were dry. But maybe I need to check all day today, right after I shut the car off. Could be that every time I've looked, the gas has already evaporated.

 

Sounds like a old / weak battery and not a fuel issue. If that filter was leaking even a little you would smell it. Probably a coincidence, but who knows.

 

What does your engine temp look like on restart?

I know you said a few hours and you're in oakland, so it shouldn't be too hot...

The pump only primes when the engine is turning and I have hot start issues due to a slowly failing pump. There's a thread hiding somewhere on here where OP worked through the entire ignition/fuel system and only saw an improvement when replacing the pump.

 

Did you put the filter on correctly? in has a flow arrow on it sounds like you have it backwards...

 

I too am thinking it might be some coincidence. Maybe even the relay that I pulled to do the work is crapping out. It's just hard to diagnose since it's very random now.

 

Yeah, the filter is on the right way. If it wasn't, I'm sure I'd have more problems than a very intermittent long crank.

 

my last tacoma was a 2003 2.7L so i know it isn't the same but I had that for the 7 years I had the truck but less frequent. maybe once every other month but it never needed a battery or jump and always started without fail.