2002 Sport Hard to start and smokes and stumbles after having ignition on

[jskingry]

Hello everybody,

My 4runner has had this problem for a while and I am finally following up and trying to find out what is going on. Here is the problem in a nutshell:

If I turn the ignition on with the car off for even just a minute the next time I try to start the car it is hard to start like a flooded engine and when it does start it stumbles for a minute and releases a big ball of grey smoke. Then it runs fine. Under normal conditions the 4runner starts and runs great, just when I have the ignition on before starting does this happen. Such as tonight I turned the ignition on in the garage to test the brake light I had replaced, then when I went to start it the problem happened.

It really acts like a flooded engine but I thought being a fuel injected engine that was not possible.

Does anybody have any thoughts or something I can check?

Thanks

Jeremy

 

[HotRodKing]

Hello everybody,

My 4runner has had this problem for a while and I am finally following up and trying to find out what is going on. Here is the problem in a nutshell:

If I turn the ignition on with the car off for even just a minute the next time I try to start the car it is hard to start like a flooded engine and when it does start it stumbles for a minute and releases a big ball of grey smoke. Then it runs fine. Under normal conditions the 4runner starts and runs great, just when I have the ignition on before starting does this happen. Such as tonight I turned the ignition on in the garage to test the brake light I had replaced, then when I went to start it the problem happened.

It really acts like a flooded engine but I thought being a fuel injected engine that was not possible.

Does anybody have any thoughts or something I can check?

Thanks

Jeremy

Maybe the fuel pump is turning on, thus flooding the engine? I know my Chevy pickup has an electric fuel pump that runs right before you turn it on. My parents had a Chevy Equinox that would flood like you are saying, but the pump would keep running after the car was shut off.

Not an expert, just my 2 cents.

 

[gs300tt]

If I had to guess off your discription you might have a stuck injector. Try running a good high quality injector cleaner with some good 93 oct gass and see if it clears up. If that does not work pull the injectors and have them tested.

 

[jskingry]

Thanks for the reply. That does make sense, I will try a cleaner and see what happens.

Thanks

 

[chadsy]

Go with the seafoam treatment and if that doesn't work I'd go for the "BG Treatment".

BG Findashop - Search for an authorized BG service center near you!

 

[jeu510]

i'd say a leaking injector.....not able to hold fuel pressure when engine isnt running.

 

[hambob]

Our trucks don't prime the fuel system when the ignition is on. The fuel pump starts pumping when the starter is engaged. Sounds like head gasket to me, just guessing. Does the smoke smell sweet? Are you losing any coolant?