Startup-->Immediately Dies. Intermittent.

[LeeMajors]

Need some ideas.

2000 4Runner V6. 203k miles.

Today I had three instances where I started up, and it immediately died. I was able to start up a minute or so later each time. Truck runs well when running. No rough idle. No pending or current codes. Vehicle is well maintained.

Plugs/Wires were done maybe 30k ago, but I haven't had any other problems recently.

It seems to only happen when tooling around town with short intervals between startups. It's happened in isolated instances and similar conditions over the prior month (maybe 4x total), but it happened 3x today.

What should I check?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Maybe the ECU fuse? Sounds electrical in nature. May also be the ignition switch.

Still in Charleston? Evacuating? I am on Edisto Beach at the moment.

 

[TheDurk]

I'd check crank and cam position sensors and their wiring. ECU uses the STA signal from the starter to run ignition while cranking. If no crank or cam signal when cranking stops, engine dies right there.

It can also happen if crank bolt is loose and crank sprocket has slid forward (I hope it's not that), or if a magnetic tooth has broken off.

 

[LeeMajors]

Maybe the ECU fuse? Sounds electrical in nature. May also be the ignition switch.

Still in Charleston? Evacuating? I am on Edisto Beach at the moment.

If it were the fuse I'd think it'd never start, but it seems to start on the second or third try.

Still here but no evac for me--I work EMS so I'll be here for the duration. Wife and baby are heading to NC though and away from the beach.

I'd check crank and cam position sensors and their wiring. ECU uses the STA signal from the starter to run ignition while cranking. If no crank or cam signal when cranking stops, engine dies right there.

It can also happen if crank bolt is loose and crank sprocket has slid forward (I hope it's not that), or if a magnetic tooth has broken off.

I hope none of those are the case but I'll check the wires and make sure everything is good.

Bc I'm likely to be recalled tomorrow I took it to a shop this am and they said symptoms sound like 'classic idle control motor failure' and said they were booked solid today.

Does that sound possible for the IAC to be bad? That's a p easy replacement.

 

[AntleredRuin]

You said it runs well when it runs? No surging, sputtering, etc, when you step on it?

Could be a fuel pressure issue as well. Faulty FPS?

 

[LeeMajors]

You said it runs well when it runs? No surging, sputtering, etc, when you step on it?

Could be a fuel pressure issue as well. Faulty FPS?

Yeah, only at startup and really kinda rare--usually when I've been tooling around town a bit and the truck is warm.

 

[Abraham2018]

I'm experiencing the same issue here , so far I've done a tune up new spark
Plugs and wires, water pump and belts changed.
I've also replaced fuel filter yesterday and I'll see if it fixed the issue.
It's intermittent and usually does it when it sits for a few hrs. But this morning I tried it after replacing the fuel filter and sitting over night , it started rt up .
I'll try it again today after getting of work. I'll keep you updated. Thanks guys!
2000 4Runner 4x4 3.4 V6 233k miles

 

[LittleCaesar]

The fuse can start to go, where it may make contact, may not. In charleston's climate, fuses don't last forever.

My cousin had an ES300 that would die at red lights, stop signs, and it turned out to be that the IAC was just gummed up like no tomorrow. I cleaned it and she was good for another 30,000 miles until she sold it.

Good luck with the hurricane and stay safe. I may be with friends outside of Moncks Corner, but may end up in Greenville. Rural gas stations are out of gas today.

 

[LeeMajors]

The fuse can start to go, where it may make contact, may not. In charleston's climate, fuses don't last forever.

My cousin had an ES300 that would die at red lights, stop signs, and it turned out to be that the IAC was just gummed up like no tomorrow. I cleaned it and she was good for another 30,000 miles until she sold it.

Good luck with the hurricane and stay safe. I may be with friends outside of Moncks Corner, but may end up in Greenville. Rural gas stations are out of gas today.

Thanks for the info I'll prob just replace that fuse just to see how it does.

Thanks for the well-wishing too---stay safe yourself. Who knows whats going to happen.

Also, assuming I need to replace IAC - what's a good aftermarket, or should I stick w/ Toyota only? I know OEM is canon here usually, but 221$ stings.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I know my friend before he sold his Tacoma bought an Airtex/Wells one and it worked fine. I would think that if he had just cleaned it he would have been OK.

Ever replaced the PCV valve? That needs to be OEM.

 

[tystaco]

Also, assuming I need to replace IAC - what's a good aftermarket, or should I stick w/ Toyota only? I know OEM is canon here usually, but 221$ stings.

IF cleaning it doesn't work...I'd probably go after one in the junkyard

 

[LeeMajors]

I know my friend before he sold his Tacoma bought an Airtex/Wells one and it worked fine. I would think that if he had just cleaned it he would have been OK.

Ever replaced the PCV valve? That needs to be OEM.

Yeah, but now that I think about it, I think it's been 45k miles or so.

I'll probably pull it and scrub it again. I cleaned that IAC along with the TB when I was having some intermittent hwy stumbling issues about a year ago (ended up replacing TPS from junkyard and it fixed the problem *shrug*).

 

[LittleCaesar]

If the TB is dirty, then it may just be getting some blow by from the PCV.

If it is rather clean, then the solenoid for the plunger so to speak may be dying. If I had my FSM handy I would tell you how to test it.

 

[LeeMajors]

So minor update--

Didn't go all in on IAC - I had some 10A fuses in my truck from my gauge cluster crisis so I replaced ECU-IG which seemed a bit corroded.

Haven't had it die on me since. :shrug:

So, probably too early to tell but it seems like it may have fixed the problem for now.

 

[Bundy07]

Idle Issue

Hello,

I recently replaced my alternator as my 07 4Runner SR5 would need to be jumped to get started again. Now after doing this I'm having more issues.

The vehicle will turn over fine and then idle for a few seconds and then die. I can keep it running for a while by giving it gas but it will still turn itself off. The codes thrown are P0351-P0356. I have pulled all of the coils and swapped them. Same thing happens. Could all six coils have gone out at the same time? or is the possibly a sensor issue? I have recently replaced the cam position sensor as well. Any help would be great!

 

[phattyduck]

Hello,

I recently replaced my alternator as my 07 4Runner SR5 would need to be jumped to get started again. Now after doing this I'm having more issues.

The vehicle will turn over fine and then idle for a few seconds and then die. I can keep it running for a while by giving it gas but it will still turn itself off. The codes thrown are P0351-P0356. I have pulled all of the coils and swapped them. Same thing happens. Could all six coils have gone out at the same time? or is the possibly a sensor issue? I have recently replaced the cam position sensor as well. Any help would be great!

You should post this in the 4th gen 4Runner section...

-Charlie