O5 Starting Problems

[ka1imp]

Every so often ( random) my 05 wont start. Just spins over. Normal dash lights are on. If I retry it starts right up. Dealer is useless! Any ideas ?
TIA, Dave

[onemoreokie]

That happens in my dad's 2000 Tundra, always has.....who knows why.

[JeffB]

I have the same problem w/ my 05. The first time it happened was in the service drive at the dealer! I tried to start it again and it started normally so the dealer wouldn’t check in to it further.

The other engine related problem I have is oil smoke on start-up. It's pretty heavy and only happens when the truck has sat for an extended period of time, but it only happens maybe 1% of the time and of course the dealer has not been able to reproduce the problem. Does your truck ever smoke on start-up? Maybe the problems are related somehow.

[tbrown]

My 02 was stubborn and didn't want to turn over first time as well sometimes. I've also had it happen once in my 05. My guess is because these engines have relatively high compression ratios they are a little harder to turn over then your standard lower compression engine. As for the smoke. Are you sure its not steam. Condensation builds up when a vehicle is sitting for some time. Being that you're from Arizona my guess is you don't see this to often but in colder climates we see it all the time. It's totally normal. My 05 looks funny driving down the road on a really cold day (say 32 or below) after start up. I can see in the side view mirror the white plumes of steam coming from the tail pipe as I drive along. It goes away or at least subsides as the engine warms up. Check out the pic bellow. If you didn't know better you'd think all the cars were burning oil but it's just steam from their exhausts due to the really cold temps.
http://www.geocities.com/geography20g_s/images/car-exhaust.jpg

[JeffB]

For sure not steam, I wish it was. It smells like burnt oil and lingers like smoke.

I'm reasonably sure it's a valve stem seal....do I want someone digging in the engine to find out? Probably not till it gets worse. :(

[OlyUpNort]

I have had the exact starting problem you describe with my 05. Seems like it happened more frequently when I first got it. It just turned 10k and I can't say as i remember it happen in the last couple months. No clue why and since I could not predict, I didn't even bother trying to clue the dealer into it.

[white_eskimo]

well call me an idiot but it took me a while to realize the clutch needed to be depressed FULLY to start the truck :rolleyes:... make sure that isnt your problem, although it doesnt sound like it because you said the starter motor turns over... also i have noticed that it takes a longer time than usual to start the tacoma when i compare it to other cars. wierd :confused:

[OR_05Taco]

Mine has done this 3 or 4 times in the year (almost) I've had it. Go to start it and it wont turn over. Let off the key, retry, and every time it has started. I don't know why, and it hasn't happened to mine in at least 3-4 months now. I know it wasn't the clutch because mine is an auto. I was concerned the first time it happened, but until it won't start on the second try, Im not worried about it.

[fast frank]

The truck I drove before I got my Tacoma was an S10 with the 4.3.

That one would normaly start before the motor had completed a whole turn.
I never held the key in the start position for a whole second. All I ever had to do was "Bump" the starter, and it was running.

My '05 Tacoma has NEVER started like that. Not even one time.

This truck always cranks the motor for what sounds to me like at least three or four turns before it will start. I've never timed it, but I think that I have to hold the key in the start position for two seconds before it lights off.

If I try to rush things and let go of the key before it has started, I get to try again.

The truck does this every time, and I have no reason to believe that there's something wrong with it because it idles smoothly, gets the expected mileage, and pulls like a mother if I ask it to.

I think it's just "The nature of the beast".

If I had to guess, I would say that the computer (It's ALL about the computer, you know) has to see something before it will allow the motor to start. I don't know if it's a specified number of signals from a crank or cam position sensor, or oil pressure, or what, but I'm pretty sure that it has a set of requirements it has to meet before it applies fuel and spark.

Yeah, I liked the way the Chevy started.

It always made me feel like it was ready, willing, and able the instant I turned the key.

The real deal, however, is that My Toyota can give that chevy some SERIOUS lessons on ready, willing and able.

You just have to wait about two seconds before you can get them, that's all.

Fast Frank

[Marcopolo]

Same here frank My Chevy full size would crank on command all I would have to do is bump the key for less than a second. I loved that. But my Honda and My Toyota you have to hold it there for about 2 sec. I have the same problem from time to time with my Tacoma I forget to hold the key long enough. But I do like my tacoma better than my chevy.

Another reason might be low fuel, I don’t know for certain but my Honda if I have less than 1/3 tank of fuel it won’t start on the first try, Honda dealer told me it was programmed in the computer that way so as to alert the driver on his/her fuel level. Maybe Toyota did it also.

[ToyoTaco]

The truck I drove before I got my Tacoma was an S10 with the 4.3.

That one would normaly start before the motor had completed a whole turn.
I never held the key in the start position for a whole second. All I ever had to do was "Bump" the starter, and it was running.

My '05 Tacoma has NEVER started like that. Not even one time.

This truck always cranks the motor for what sounds to me like at least three or four turns before it will start. I've never timed it, but I think that I have to hold the key in the start position for two seconds before it lights off.

If I try to rush things and let go of the key before it has started, I get to try again.

The truck does this every time, and I have no reason to believe that there's something wrong with it because it idles smoothly, gets the expected mileage, and pulls like a mother if I ask it to.

I think it's just "The nature of the beast".

If I had to guess, I would say that the computer (It's ALL about the computer, you know) has to see something before it will allow the motor to start. I don't know if it's a specified number of signals from a crank or cam position sensor, or oil pressure, or what, but I'm pretty sure that it has a set of requirements it has to meet before it applies fuel and spark.

Yeah, I liked the way the Chevy started.

It always made me feel like it was ready, willing, and able the instant I turned the key.

The real deal, however, is that My Toyota can give that chevy some SERIOUS lessons on ready, willing and able.

You just have to wait about two seconds before you can get them, that's all.

Fast Frank


Ditto with my 05.......and instead of Chevys, all my past Ford trucks always fired up the first second I hit the starter (unless they were due for a tune up! :rolleyes:

[paulv]

If my 85 Wagoneer sat for more than three days without being started, it would crank for 10 to 15 seconds. Always caught, but I would just sit there and think of what was happening - or not happening - inside that engine block the whole time.

[white_eskimo]

Another reason might be low fuel, I don’t know for certain but my Honda if I have less than 1/3 tank of fuel it won’t start on the first try, Honda dealer told me it was programmed in the computer that way so as to alert the driver on his/her fuel level. Maybe Toyota did it also.

that kinda sounds like :bs: to me but who knows, maybe the dealership knew what they were talking about. I perfer the light feature instead of having to insert, take out, and then reinsert your key each time you had less than 1/3 of a tank left...

[tacokid1187]

This really doesnt have anything to do with the 05's but my 98 takes longer to start then my old S-10 Blazer did. I have the 3.4 V6 but i think another thing is the length of the intake tract. The tacomas have a really long intake as compared to some other vehicles (ie S-10's) which in my experience with other similar cars takes a few more revolutions to start. Motorcycles are even worse because of their small displacement. Bikes with short intakes start quicker but long intake tracts supposedly produce more torque in the normal operating range. I have never worried about it. a pro to this is more oil pressure on startup which really helps to reduce wear. just my 2 cents worth.

[white_eskimo]

Motorcycles are even worse because of their small displacement. Bikes with short intakes start quicker but long intake tracts supposedly produce more torque in the normal operating range. I have never worried about it. a pro to this is more oil pressure on startup which really helps to reduce wear. just my 2 cents worth.

Are you referring to the intake port? This may sound like a n00b question, but i am curious why a long intake tract would produce more torque... it doesnt seem logical to me since power is created in an engine when the valves are closed and a spark ignites the fuel and air mixture in the cumbustion chamber. I thought the size of the combustion chamber was directly related to the power output of the motor. I dont understand why the lengths of the intake tracts would have anything to do with the power produced....

Also, something that is completely off the topic, but i noticed an advertisement for the Chevy Vortec MAX engine, which claims to "create a ferocious vortex inside the cumbustion chamber [...] to generate formidable power". How does a vortex inside of of the combustion chamber result in more power produced, or is it just that the fuel and air are better mixed together and thus ignites faster... Again i am a n00b and but if someone could answer these questions for me that would be very helpful. Sorry for getting so far off topic :)

[fast frank]

This really doesnt have anything to do with the 05's but my 98 takes longer to start then my old S-10 Blazer did. I have the 3.4 V6 but i think another thing is the length of the intake tract. The tacomas have a really long intake as compared to some other vehicles (ie S-10's) which in my experience with other similar cars takes a few more revolutions to start. Motorcycles are even worse because of their small displacement. Bikes with short intakes start quicker but long intake tracts supposedly produce more torque in the normal operating range. I have never worried about it. a pro to this is more oil pressure on startup which really helps to reduce wear. just my 2 cents worth.

I guess you are saying that it takes a while to suck the fuel down the intake tract, and that makes it take longer to start.

This is a cool idea, but not valid.

If we were talking carbs, then we would be putting the fuel into the intake air at the place where the throttle plate is.

But we're talking fuel injection.

The fuel is put into the intake at the injectors.

The injectors are in the intake port, pointing at the intake valve.

No time delay there.

Fast Frank

[white_eskimo]

Are you referring to the intake port? This may sound like a n00b question, but i am curious why a long intake tract would produce more torque... it doesnt seem logical to me since power is created in an engine when the valves are closed and a spark ignites the fuel and air mixture in the cumbustion chamber. I thought the size of the combustion chamber was directly related to the power output of the motor. I dont understand why the lengths of the intake tracts would have anything to do with the power produced....

Also, something that is completely off the topic, but i noticed an advertisement for the Chevy Vortec MAX engine, which claims to "create a ferocious vortex inside the cumbustion chamber [...] to generate formidable power". How does a vortex inside of of the combustion chamber result in more power produced, or is it just that the fuel and air are better mixed together and thus ignites faster... Again i am a n00b and but if someone could answer these questions for me that would be very helpful. Sorry for getting so far off topic :)

someone answer my damn question so i can stop wondering about it :) :D

[Marcopolo]

that kinda sounds like :bs: to me but who knows, maybe the dealership knew what they were talking about. I perfer the light feature instead of having to insert, take out, and then reinsert your key each time you had less than 1/3 of a tank left...

I did not have to physically pull the key out just had to try to start it then release the key they try to start it the second time. It has a light also when the fuel was low. I know a few others that have Hondas and they all do the same, when low on fuel.

[tbrown]

There is a TSB for this condition. See if this could be it for you. Take a look, print it off, and take it to your dealer if you think this you.
Here it is in a nut shell.

TSB-EG043-05
Some customers may experience a “no start” condition and/or M.I.L. “ON” with DTCs P0300, P0171, and P0174 after the vehicle has cold soaked in sub–freezing ambient air temperatures. To correct this condition a new fuel pump sub–tank assembly is now available. Follow the repair procedure to replace the fuel pump sub–tank assembly.

It's for the following Toyota vehicles:

�� 2003 – 2005 model year 4Runner vehicles produced BEFORE the Production
Change Effective VINs shown in this TSB.
�� 2004 – 2005 model year Highlander and Sienna vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown in this TSB.
�� 2005 model year Sequoia, Tacoma, and Tundra vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown in this TSB.

MODEL PLANT DRIVETRAIN PRODUCTION CHANGE EFFECTIVE VIN

Tacoma
NUMMI 2TR–FE/1GR–FE
5TE###42N35Z109433
TMMBC
2WD and 4WD 3TM###2N45M004884
1GR–FE 2WD 5TBJU321#5S454226
2UZ–FE 2WD 5TBRT3#1#5S470388

[05 taco access cab]

There is a TSB for this condition. See if this could be it for you. Take a look, print it off, and take it to your dealer if you think this you.
Here it is in a nut shell.



It's for the following Toyota vehicles:
that is the best solution i have seen for this problem great job. thanks for the help.

[fast frank]

someone answer my damn question so i can stop wondering about it :) :D

That is not something that can be explained with just a few words, and I don't feel like typing all night.

So, here's what I did-

I went to GOOGLE.

I Typed in "Intake runner tuning".

I hit "Enter".

I looked at the search results.

The first one there... How stuff works.

I clicked on it.

Total time invested, about half a minute.

Try it! You might learn something!

Fast Frank

[hossmaster]

I thought that the new Tacomas had the one touch starting thingamabob like the Tundras and 4Runners? My wifes 4Runner doesn't start with a bump either, but all I have to do is hit the starter once and let go of the key and the starter keeps running until the motor hits or it times out. My bud's Tundra does the same thing.

[fast frank]

I thought that the new Tacomas had the one touch starting thingamabob like the Tundras and 4Runners? My wifes 4Runner doesn't start with a bump either, but all I have to do is hit the starter once and let go of the key and the starter keeps running until the motor hits or it times out. My bud's Tundra does the same thing.

Nope.

The starter in mine is plain-Jane "Turn the key".

Fast Frank