HELP! 2015 TRD PRO NO START= TuRD?!

444

444

New member
I have a 2015 TRD Pro. 75,000 miles. Was driving and had about 3 miles before stopping for an errand. The low fuel light came on at that time. No big deal as there was a gas station a couple miles further down the road.

I stopped for the errand for about 30 minutes. Went to start the truck and it didn't start. The battery and starter were completely fine and strong but it sounded like I was out of gas. I called a buddy and he brought 5 gallons of gas to me. Filled the tank to about 1/4 and went to start it and it just wouldn't start. The temperature out was about 75 degrees and low humidity if that matters.

I have a scan tool and no codes came up. We towed it to the closest dealership on a flatbed (10 miles). Tried starting it again- no luck. This was a Saturday so they looked at it Monday morning. They called me and said it started just fine. No codes. I had them drive it and park it and let it cool down and try again. They did that for Monday and Tuesday last week they didn't have any issues.

I picked it up Wed last week and it started up just fine. I filled up the tank the rest of the way (left it running just in case) and drove home. Felt fine. I let it sit for a few days until my mechanic was available. I went to start it this morning and it wouldn't start. Again, the battery and starter sounded great! I couldn't reach the tank to tap on it so I stood on my Shrockworks and rocked the truck back and forth hard for about 15 seconds. I went to start it and it fired right up. I drove it to my mechanic (he's really good but doesn't work on a ton of Toyota's) and it sat for about 2 hours and he went to start it and it was fine. The only code that came up was basically "oops, we failed to start earlier today but now we're OK".

We're thinking fuel pump- maybe just a loose wire?

I want to throw this out to the forum to get everyone's input.

By the way, I've driven about 425,000 miles between my 1994 22RE, my 2005 4Runner and my 2015 4Runner without getting stranded. I guess I was due.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Hello

Ever had to do something about the electrical installation?
Have you ever had electrical components ever added?
Problems with the immobilizer?
It's just an idea
 
Time to get back to basics. The motor needs air, fuel and spark. You can pretty much assume it's getting air. Check for fuel and spark at the motor next time it won't start. If you are cranking it for a few seconds with no start, pull a spark plug. Dry plug means you probably aren't getting fuel. Wet plug means you probably aren't getting spark and go from there.

As you mentioned, I'd wager its a fuel pump or fuel pump relay. Do you routinely let your fuel tank run nearly empty? The fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline it sits in.

Just to verify, you don't have an aftermarket alarm installed, do you?
 
One more note to add.... on the first day of this after it wouldn't start I disconnected the battery and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Reconnected and checked both cables and it didn't make a difference.

Thanks again for the ideas/thoughts.
 
(none) said:
Time to get back to basics. The motor needs air, fuel and spark. You can pretty much assume it's getting air. Check for fuel and spark at the motor next time it won't start. If you are cranking it for a few seconds with no start, pull a spark plug. Dry plug means you probably aren't getting fuel. Wet plug means you probably aren't getting spark and go from there.

As you mentioned, I'd wager its a fuel pump or fuel pump relay. Do you routinely let your fuel tank run nearly empty? The fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline it sits in.

Just to verify, you don't have an aftermarket alarm installed, do you?
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I've only had my fuel tank run almost empty maybe two times total including this one. No aftermarket alarm. The only aftermarket engine parts I have is a K&N CAI and that has been installed for 2 years.

How would rocking the truck assist the fuel pump relay in "waking up?". I'm still thinking it's inside the tank at the fuel pump itself. I'll know more later today.
 
444 said:
I agree with you. I've only had my fuel tank run almost empty maybe two times total including this one. No aftermarket alarm. The only aftermarket engine parts I have is a K&N CAI and that has been installed for 2 years.

How would rocking the truck assist the fuel pump relay in "waking up?". I'm still thinking it's inside the tank at the fuel pump itself. I'll know more later today.
Click to expand...

If you can have someone lay under the truck while you just turn the key to the "on" position, you should be able to hear the fuel pump prime and probably stop.
 
Running the vehicle to empty allows contaminates and water to be sucked up into the system. Water in the fuel filter can cause the exact problems you are describing. Replace the fuel filter now. Replace it again in 500 miles. Be sure to use a quality filter.

Contaminates and water can enter the tank from a bad load of fuel. Some fuel stations do not change their filters on time. When the station filter becomes plugged it goes into bypass mode. Allowing all contaminates to flow through. This is a bigger problem for diesels.
 
wcjeep said:
Running the vehicle to empty allows contaminates and water to be sucked up into the system. Water in the fuel filter can cause the exact problems you are describing. Replace the fuel filter now. Replace it again in 500 miles. Be sure to use a quality filter.

Contaminates and water can enter the tank from a bad load of fuel. Some fuel stations do not change their filters on time. When the station filter becomes plugged it goes into bypass mode. Allowing all contaminates to flow through. This is a bigger problem for diesels.
Click to expand...

GREAT THOUGHT!!! That could be why having the fuel slosh around (tow and me shaking the truck) kinda cleared it to allow fuel to get through.
 
(none) said:
If you can have someone lay under the truck while you just turn the key to the "on" position, you should be able to hear the fuel pump prime and probably stop.
Click to expand...

If you have a fuel pressure gauge, hook it up to the fuel rail. There have been many times that the pump will run but is weak causing no start or poor running. This will also help you diagnose a clogged fuel filter.
 
444 said:
GREAT THOUGHT!!! That could be why having the fuel slosh around (tow and me shaking the truck) kinda cleared it to allow fuel to get through.
Click to expand...

I used to have the same problem with a Mazda pickup in high school. I could barely afford to buy gas for it. My friends were always behind in paying gas money for their ride to school. I never filled the tank. Always used the cheap fuel with maximum contaminates.
 
Somewhat relevant. Had a boat with an in tank pump, if you ever ran it out of gas, you basically set a time bomb for the pump to fail. Wouldn't clog, but some point down the road it would quit on you.

Root cause, if you run it down, it runs too hot and will fry the bearings. Eventually, it cannot overcome the resistance to start or run. Both times I fried one, it was less than 2 years old and warranty covered it, but it was annoying I had a 45 gallon tank with 30 usable gallons.
 
UPDATE!!!

My mechanic had my vehicle for two days. He has done the following:
Started it cold. Shut it off. Restarted it 10 times. No issue.

Drove it for 10 miles various speeds, slow, reverse, floored it, parked it back at his shop. Let it rest 1 minute. Restarted it just fine.

Let it cool down and tried it 6 hours later. Started up no problem.

Let it sit all night, started it up no problem this morning.

His wife (don't worry, she's a badass!) took it for a an hour drive (30 out and back) city/hwy roads and ran great. Let it cool down again and resarted just fine

He drove it on his off-road coarse behind his shop and needed to use 4wd to get through mud/hills, rocks, etc... Stopped it and restarted it on an uphill and down hill. No issues.

Let it sit for 5 hours. I picked it up tonight and it started just fine.

He's ordering a new fuel pump just in case we need it and we'll put it in just so we can inspect the other one.

We are just baffled at this point.

Thanks for all of the thoughts and ideas. Keep them coming and I'll keep you posted!
 
If you ever ran it out of gas, you basically set a time bomb for the pump to fail. Wouldn't clog, but some point down the road it would quit on you.

Root cause, if you run it down, it runs too hot and will fry the bearings. Eventually, it cannot overcome the resistance to start or run. Both times I fried one, it was less than 2 years old and warranty covered it, but it was annoying I had a 45 gallon tank with 30 usable gallons.
Click to expand...

I'm not buying this.

The OP said the fuel light had just came on. Not that he ran out of gas. I've owned 3 4runners ( an 87, a 99 & 11) I routinely run them down until the fuel light comes on. Sometimes even drive another 15-20 miles after the light comes on. Never had one fail yet. I just don't think that running it until the light comes on means the pump is running dry.

Of course that doesn't mean it's not the pump, I just have a different experience that's all.

BTW, the 99 4Runner had over 220k on it when I traded it in, the 99 has 180k on it now and my 11 has almost 90k. my last fill up was over 21 gallons....on our 23 gallon tank
 
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