Extended Cranking Time '01 3.4L

[Cheenist]

Wow, I have had my Runner for almost 14 years and it is still the fastest engine to start I have ever owned. Less than a second in normal weather, and not much more when it's cold. I think 5speeds crank faster, just a guess (easier to spin a flywheel than a cold torque converter).

Hmmm--that's really interesting. When I read comments like this, it makes me hesitant to replace the fuel pump or an O2 sensor because this makes me think it's not an age/wear related issue. It would lead me to believe it's something else, such as poor grounding that's been causing the extra cranking time all along.

It seems like the vast majority of 3rd gen owners say the extra cranking is "normal," but a few claim their rigs fire quickly and always have.

 

[quicksilvr]

How would a "poor" ground cause it to crank longer? Either the pump wiring is grounded, and it works, or the ground is bad/poor....and then it only works sometimes or not at all. A poor ground wouldn't make the truck consistently and regularly crank for 2-3 seconds. The sign of bad grounding or electrical problems is random irregularity. My old truck would long crank when it was warm, but not cold. Some people report the opposite, but no matter what it's consistent in what it does.

The next owner of my old truck replaced the fuel pump, and the long cranking was fixed. Several other people have reported the same thing. You can pretty much pin the long cranking on the fuel pump. Probably not 100% of the time, but most of the time.

 

[Cheenist]

How would a "poor" ground cause it to crank longer? Either the pump wiring is grounded, and it works, or the ground is bad/poor....and then it only works sometimes or not at all. A poor ground wouldn't make the truck consistently and regularly crank for 2-3 seconds. The sign of bad grounding or electrical problems is random irregularity. My old truck would long crank when it was warm, but not cold. Some people report the opposite, but no matter what it's consistent in what it does.

The next owner of my old truck replaced the fuel pump, and the long cranking was fixed. Several other people have reported the same thing. You can pretty much pin the long cranking on the fuel pump. Probably not 100% of the time, but most of the time.

Well, I guess you raise a valid point. I'm not a savvy enough mechanic to say one way or the other.

I guess a good thing to know would be how these trucks started when they were brand new. Did they fire quickly back then, or did a lot of them have to crank for quite a while even when new?

 

[LittleCaesar]

The previous owner of my 4runner back in 06 (it is a 99) had their shop put a new starter on it (the shop uses NAPA parts usually) rather than replace the contacts. It cranks quickly but a 1/2 second slower than an OEM I have used for base comparison.

Test for spark if you think it is ignition based. Pull the plug and ground it against the manifold while someone else cranks.

My father on his Silverdao had a hot start/poor cranking symptom after his starter was replaced. Every single time it happened. After performing a spark test, we knew it was the ignition system that was failing. It turns out his battery ground cable that had not been attached back to the back of the alternator housing years ago by some dumb mechanic. Cleaned up the connector and put it back where it belonged. Started up within a second and has for two years straight.

Grounds are finicky; thus check the one by the Diagnostic box. But I will stand with Quicksilver in saying it is most likely the pump.

 

[iamadam1122]

My 2000 has the same "problem". It has 140k and has done it since I've owned it (100k).

Things I've replaced are starter contacts (they were pretty bad looking), fuel filter, plugs, wires, battery, iac valve, cleaned Maf and throttle body. I'm assuming it is either the fuel pump or its just normal, I never heard a new/low mileage 3.4 startup.

I learned to live with it and whenever I'm at a gas station and see a tacoma/4runner with a 3.4 I always listen when they start it lol, usually takes a few seconds like mine.


Edit: replaced front O2 sensor also.

 

[nissanh]

I assume you're referring to the first O2 sensor? Were you getting any codes or a CEL with the old sensor?

NO CEL with the old AFR sensor (yes, the 1st sensor BEFORE the catalytic converter). How many miles you have in your 4runner?

AFR sensor is something important to replace in like 100 K miles

Did you you a toothbrush (bristles 90 degrees to the brush) or paper towel to clean the throttle body? tooth brush works best. My cousin has a 99 pathfinder and had long cranking times and after cleaning the throttle body, he said the cranking time is less than a second

Can you post a video?