My 4runner cranks for 5-6+ seconds before starting in cold weather. Ideas?

[CJ3Flyr]

Thanks for the link on the plugs. Are there plugs I can replace the stockers with that will last me longer? Which plugs should I use?

Yes long-lifes are available. Both Denso and NGK make platinum/iridium variants that replace the stock plugs and will offer the longer change interval.

The engines get certified (for emissions) with certain plugs. For whatever reason Toyota certified the V6 with regular plugs and has the 30k plug change interval as part of the list to maintain the emissions warranty. You'll have no problems with the other plugs.

IMHO I would change long-life plugs at 4-5years or 80-90k. I have great anxiety about plugs getting stuck in the head after 8-10years or a full 100-120k. I say get them out even if all you do is look at them every 4-5years at minimum.

:cheers:

 

[Uneek]

Wow... Toyota's own platinum extended warranties as advertised on their own website are underwritten by a 3rd party company? Man... that's kinda crazy.

Check the original paperwork. If it's from Toyota Financial Services (TFS) it's a Toyota warranty. I got a booklet from TFS with the agreement info on the inside cover, the terms inside and the last page has a little card with the Platinum warranty details.

However, this is not to say that dealers will offer only the extended warranty from TFS. A different dealer that I bought my '04 Camry from was negoiating the price of the warranty. Originally, he offered it at $1500-1600, and he illustrated deductibles. He dropped it to $800 after multiple 'no thank you's' from me. He had the paperwork out and it was underwritten by a different company.

 

[Atlanta_man]

No argument that it is a Toyota warranty.
It is obvious that Toyota uses a third party, outsourced, to service it.

The dealer must get the pre-approval go-ahead before starting work from the 800 number which rings a phone at "Autocare North East". The dealer gets a credit card number to charge the repair to. Give them a call if you don't believe it, toll free !

The Toyota Financial Services Platinum warranty is what it is called and if you have one you are not in any Toyota computer. It's a cash deal, at the time of repair for the dealer. Discounted ? who knows...

 

[law021982]

I guess what happens is this is only available in the US? How come this wasn't offered to me by the Canadian dealerships?

 

[colombo]

If car does not start properly it means: nothing to burn or nothing to ignite with. IMHO fuel pressure or plugs-coil. OEM plugs need to be replaced after 30K is a big BS. They will last 100-150K no problem. Then do not forget that you have 6 plugs-cylinders. Couple fires up others will pick up. Check coil or fuel pressure.

 

[jharris2]

OEM plugs need to be replaced after 30K is a big BS. They will last 100-150K no problem.

But if you don't replace at the factory-specified intervals, you risk voiding the emissions warranty.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

They will last 100-150K no problem.

No they won't. They are a standard, non-platinum/iridium style plugs and 30k is it. I replaced my OEM plugs at 15k 'cause I wanted to experiment with E3's and at 15k they were worn. Not worn enough to warrant immediate replacement but definately worn. I would guess 30k on OEM V6 plugs is the "correct" interval even if I didn't read the book.


:cheers:

 

[colombo]

No they won't. They are a standard, non-platinum/iridium style plugs and 30k is it. I replaced my OEM plugs at 15k 'cause I wanted to experiment with E3's and at 15k they were worn. Not worn enough to warrant immediate replacement but definately worn. I would guess 30k on OEM V6 plugs is the "correct" interval even if I didn't read the book.


:cheers:

I can not argue with your facts. Not sure though why you replaced your plugs.
I only operate with my facts which are:

2003 T4R V6 Sport 114K (km) - plugs never replaced and so far I do not see why would I do it.

2000 VW Passat V6 350K (km) - plugs where replaced at 250K because it started misfire at wet weather cold start.

IMHO: plugs need replacement if they fail which you notice as missfire or lack of power. Cause for both might be something else though.

Don't fix, untill it's broken.(LOL)

 

[Threxx~]

I can not argue with your facts. Not sure though why you replaced your plugs.
I only operate with my facts which are:

2003 T4R V6 Sport 114K (km) - plugs never replaced and so far I do not see why would I do it.

2000 VW Passat V6 350K (km) - plugs where replaced at 250K because it started misfire at wet weather cold start.

IMHO: plugs need replacement if they fail which you notice as missfire or lack of power. Cause for both might be something else though.

Don't fix, untill it's broken.(LOL)

Well, I'm sure your power and mileage can start suffering incrementally long before it becomes obvious... as can your emissions.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Don't fix, untill it's broken.(LOL)

Ah! This is where we differ. I fix stuff 'til it's broke and then fixed again:lmao:

If it's workin' for you to do it that way I won't be able to change your mind. I am a big believer in preventative maintenance, especially fluid changes, brakes, belts, hoses and tires. My sweetie drives to and from work at all hours and there's so many freaks the thought of her stuck terrifies me. (She only carries two clips )

The other thing is I get 50% of the cost of maintenance back at resale. I DIY my maint and I get good money for high mileage, like new, runs like new cars. I also save in that I like the car more so I keep it longer.


Good luck! (IMHO you may need it.)

:cheers:

PS- I know I'm not going to convince you. I was trying to explain the "other side".

 

[colombo]

Very probably, you both are right. But this is how I judge reliability. You can call ANY car reliable 99.9% if you spend every weekend doing prevantive maintenance on it. But cars like T4R and Passat (in my case) RELIABLE by deffinition. This is the reason they were bought.
Oil and fluids are out of this discussion. I am talking only for mechanical stuff.

 

[colombo]

The other thing is I get 50% of the cost of maintenance back at resale. I DIY my maint and I get good money for high mileage, like new, runs like new cars. I also save in that I like the car more so I keep it longer.

For normal driving and trails you can go on stock (what most people do) you need just change your oil.

 

[colombo]

I am going to be away for a week.
Talk to you later guys.

 

[alaskaman]

well my 2 cents is coming from a gov't backround

"if it ain't broke fix it til it is". that said when a woman is involved CJ is right. anything short of an armed response is unnaceptable.

 

[Threxx~]

Update

I took a video per the suggestions here. My wife will be out of town for about 2 weeks so the Friday before she leaves we're going to take the 4runner up there, show them the video, and sternly but nicely tell them they have a full two weeks to hold on to the car and experiment with the cold starts... it better be fixed when she gets back.

http://picasaweb.google.com/threxx/4runnerStartup02#5291223684571687042

New observations:
-I was wrong. 93 octane doesn't help anything. Maybe I was just imagining things before. Maybe it's only particular brands of 93 octane. I dunno.

-The plugs are now changed because they needed to be changed not because I thought it'd help the issue. It didn't, though. Neither did a can of BG 44k.

-We had a week of unseasonably warm weather a few weeks ago and I noticed the problem still happened, though it seemed to not happen as often or as bad. Possibly related to the winter fuel mixture?

 

[Threxx~]

Well as an update to my last update my service advisor claims they all do this... something to do with the automatic startup system being setup with a bias to start the car lean in order to reduce emissions. I call BS though... my wife's sister has a 4runner ordered on the same day as my wife's, identical equipment... they were built on the same day in the same factory probably by the same people and the other 4runner always starts right up.

The startup time in the video I posted is only 3-4 seconds but it does get as high as 5-6 seconds. It's now winter time again and it's back to doing it. I mean it takes a bit longer than normal the rest of the year too but in the winter is when it gets so bad that people riding with my wife make some sort of a concerned comment about her car not seeming right. Heck one guy has been telling her if she ever sells it he'll buy it from her (because we keep our cars in mint condition) but then he heard her start it up last week after it had gotten cold and said he'd have second thoughts after hearing how it started up.

This is complete BS and if this ever leads to a flat-out starting system failure even if my 7yr 100k mile warranty is up I'm going to raise hell that they fix the issue for free plus refund my prior 'diagnostics fees' and rental car fees that have totaled about $250 so far (we won't even get into my time wasted on this issue).

 

[alaskaman]

Well as an update to my last update my service advisor claims they all do this... something to do with the automatic startup system being setup with a bias to start the car lean in order to reduce emissions. I call BS though... my wife's sister has a 4runner ordered on the same day as my wife's, identical equipment... they were built on the same day in the same factory probably by the same people and the other 4runner always starts right up.

The startup time in the video I posted is only 3-4 seconds but it does get as high as 5-6 seconds. It's now winter time again and it's back to doing it. I mean it takes a bit longer than normal the rest of the year too but in the winter is when it gets so bad that people riding with my wife make some sort of a concerned comment about her car not seeming right. Heck one guy has been telling her if she ever sells it he'll buy it from her (because we keep our cars in mint condition) but then he heard her start it up last week after it had gotten cold and said he'd have second thoughts after hearing how it started up.

This is complete BS and if this ever leads to a flat-out starting system failure even if my 7yr 100k mile warranty is up I'm going to raise hell that they fix the issue for free plus refund my prior 'diagnostics fees' and rental car fees that have totaled about $250 so far (we won't even get into my time wasted on this issue).

I cant imagine having this issue in really cold weather. Is there a lemon law in your locale?

 

[Threxx~]

I cant imagine having this issue in really cold weather. Is there a lemon law in your locale?

There are lemon laws but I think in order to even begin heading in that direction I'd have to prove there's an issue. Right now they claim this is normal so they haven't even admitted there's an issue.

I think I'm going to try to get another video or two... maybe in the garage from the outside where you can really hear the car struggling to start... then email the service manager explaining to him his dealership has already had 3 chances to fix the issue and requesting he provide me a demonstration of a new 4runner on his lot with a similar startup time to prove this is normal.

 

[law021982]

I have tried a few things on this Issue,

First, it used to take me 5 or more seconds before my truck turned over. What I did was changed all the spark plugs on the car.
Second, trucks are like hybrids, if you leave it on the ACCESS ON position for 2 seconds and then turn the crank that should take last time.

I was at the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Launch and we test driven the vehicles and while we were waiting for the next round of events he talked about the Lexus IS 250h. The keyfob acts as an starter so before you get to your vehicle. it only takes 2 secs to for the whole car to run all the fluids (fuel lines, oil, etc..) so you're not cold starting.

Give that a shot and see what happens but my truck is doing so much better now.:lookout:

 

[Threxx~]

I have tried a few things on this Issue,

First, it used to take me 5 or more seconds before my truck turned over. What I did was changed all the spark plugs on the car.
Second, trucks are like hybrids, if you leave it on the ACCESS ON position for 2 seconds and then turn the crank that should take last time.

I was at the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Launch and we test driven the vehicles and while we were waiting for the next round of events he talked about the Lexus IS 250h. The keyfob acts as an starter so before you get to your vehicle. it only takes 2 secs to for the whole car to run all the fluids (fuel lines, oil, etc..) so you're not cold starting.

Give that a shot and see what happens but my truck is doing so much better now.:lookout:

Oh wow are you saying you have a similar issue to mine? If so you are the first person I've encountered with it. I don't know if I mentioned it in this thread but I have already changed the plugs... I assumed they were 100k mile plugs but found out they were 30k mile plugs or whatever. I've now got 100k mile plugs in there with only about 10k on them so far but that didn't seem to help the issue at all.

So you're saying you let the fuel pump prime in the accessory position for a couple seconds before you actually try to start it?

How much did the plugs help vs the fuel pump priming? Is the delay gone completely?