Turns over but won't start - fuel filter?

[One Sick Puppy]

I saw over at another site that a person was having the same problem as me (turns over but won't start) and it was suggested to replace/check the fuel filter, especially if the driver is in the habit of draining the tank in between fill-ups - as I am.

So, I looked under the truck and the filter looked newish, but I removed it anyway. The fuel in and our of the filter was clear as day so I thought, dam - it's not the fuel filter.

However, after reinstalling it, the truck actually started and stayed running. I let it idle for about 5 mins.

Anyhoo. I turned it off and let it sit for a bit. Then tried to start it again, and it had a real difficult time of it, just turning over, over and finally it started again. I tried again and same thing - difficult, or won't start. So, question: even though the fuel filter seems clean, maybe it's still not working well?

It's only $25 for a Beck Arnelly so I'm thinking I'll replace it anyway. Stealership wants $65 for one, and I'd need to wait a week to get one in.

*PS. Only recent work done has been to change the contacts in the starter, 2 weeks ago, which was no longer working and now works like new. Not sure if this could be related?

 

[4Runnermex]

I saw over at another site that a person was having the same problem as me (turns over but won't start) and it was suggested to replace/check the fuel filter, especially if the driver is in the habit of draining the tank in between fill-ups - as I am.



So, I looked under the truck and the filter looked newish, but I removed it anyway. The fuel in and our of the filter was clear as day so I thought, dam - it's not the fuel filter.



However, after reinstalling it, the truck actually started and stayed running. I let it idle for about 5 mins.



Anyhoo. I turned it off and let it sit for a bit. Then tried to start it again, and it had a real difficult time of it, just turning over, over and finally it started again. I tried again and same thing - difficult, or won't start. So, question: even though the fuel filter seems clean, maybe it's still not working well?



It's only $25 for a Beck Arnelly so I'm thinking I'll replace it anyway. Stealership wants $65 for one, and I'd need to wait a week to get one in.



*PS. Only recent work done has been to change the contacts in the starter, 2 weeks ago, which was no longer working and now works like new. Not sure if this could be related?

Have u thought of the Fuel pump? Seem like the things you're pointing out are all fuel pump related.

One small thought Fuel Pressure regulator rarely goes out.

I would put my $ on fuel pump.

 

[baja1]

this happens about once a week, almost always leaving the cantina, before running the battery almost dead I remember the fuel pump interrupt switch I installed a couple months ago! :Cry:

 

[gamefreakgc]

Non-start issues are rarely fuel-related on these engines. Sounds like you have fuel since you got it to start a couple of times but you can check below.

Verify you have good spark, pull a plug and boot and test the spark by holding it on a ground (frame). If unsure how to do that, you can google it for videos and such, or buy a spark plug wire tester (doesn't check for spark intensity this way though).

If you have fuel, the plugs will be wet after trying to fire them. It doesn't take much fuel to get them started. Most fuel pump/filter issues are at higher RPM's where it demands more flow of fuel, not nominal amounts at startup.

If you have fuel and spark, it's something else. Best place to start is the MAF or the crankshaft sensor, they will cut out the fuel if the ECU thinks there's an issue with either. Double check the wiring too!

 

[nissanh]

You can buy a new OEM filter on ebay for about $30.

Toyota fuel pumps are life time and I never heard a fuel pump going bad. Have you tried giving gas during the startup? Can it be a clogged idle air control valve? May be air filter? Are your plugs are dual ground and properly gaped?

How many KM's you have in the engine?

 

[One Sick Puppy]

210 000km on the engine. That's probably about 120 000miles? I cleaned out the air system last year, was pretty clean to start with. Will try to investigate more.

 

[nissanh]

That's 131 K miles. Such a low mile I do not think it is the fuel pump or the filter.
Change your plugs. May be due to heat one or two plugs are failing? Can you start the engine when it is cold?

 

[gamefreakgc]

That's fairly low, I don't think fuel is your issue at all then.

I would look to a faulty sensor then or bad spark plus. Do you have a way to pull check engine light codes at all? That might tell us what's wrong.

 

[gamefreakgc]

That's 131 K miles. Such a low mile I do not think it is the fuel pump or the filter.
Change your plugs. May be due to heat one or two plugs are failing? Can you start the engine when it is cold?

This is my member I'm helping, get your own! Lol j/k.

 

[HiLife]

Hey OP, I know your new but, you need to do some re-searching on this site. This place has so much useful info on here if you take the time and search for it.
This may not be the same problem your having, but, I just was reading a fuel related post last night. He was ready to pull the trigger on a new pump as his old one wasn't working. He went so far as to drop the tank, pull the pump and tested it, and the pump worked.
It ended up being a bad ecm ground. Fixed the ground issue and rig ran fine ever since.

 

[nissanh]

OK, who's truck got problems?

This is my member I'm helping, get your own! Lol j/k.

OK, who's truck got problems? The second 4runner care agent is waiting for a call.... lol....

 

[One Sick Puppy]

Truck has been fine ever since yesterday when I removed and reinstalled the fuel filter. I haven't driven it, but I've started it several times with no issue. I bought a new cheapy fuel filter anyway - can't hurt?

 

[thomas_guerra]

Truck has been fine ever since yesterday when I removed and reinstalled the fuel filter. I haven't driven it, but I've started it several times with no issue. I bought a new cheapy fuel filter anyway - can't hurt?

Hey, hows the truck holding up? Just curious because I have a very similar problem. Mine would crank away and eventually start, sometimes. Sometimes would leave me stranded for a while. We did that and it worked well for a day, before regressing back to its previous behaviour of hard starts.

 

[One Sick Puppy]

Thanks for the reminder to update. As mentioned, the truck seemed to start ok after I removed and reinstalled the fuel filter. So, for $25 CAD, I decided I'd replace it even thought it looked in great shape and gas was clear as day coming out both ends.

So, having replaced the fuel filter, still no more problem. Crossing my fingers that that was the problem. Maybe some of the paper/material inside was loose? It's a cheap fuel filter - says made in china on it. And so does my Beck Arnelly replacement.

Anyhoo... so far so good. However, I've only driven it once, a very short distance. But I've test started it about 10 times with no problem.

Gonna take the family out shopping now, though. Bringing my 14 and 10mm wrenches. *crosses fingers*

I'm not gonna say for sure it was the fuel filter, but it seemed like maybe?

P.s. I don't think my fill cap was loose, either, but it's possible. It is also one that I bought from Canadian Tire (a cheapy) since I lost my OEM one. Maybe it was a pressure leak at the cap? We'll see...

 

[jacknanita55]

I saw over at another site that a person was having the same problem as me (turns over but won't start) and it was suggested to replace/check the fuel filter, especially if the driver is in the habit of draining the tank in between fill-ups - as I am.

So, I looked under the truck and the filter looked newish, but I removed it anyway. The fuel in and our of the filter was clear as day so I thought, dam - it's not the fuel filter.

However, after reinstalling it, the truck actually started and stayed running. I let it idle for about 5 mins.

Anyhoo. I turned it off and let it sit for a bit. Then tried to start it again, and it had a real difficult time of it, just turning over, over and finally it started again. I tried again and same thing - difficult, or won't start. So, question: even though the fuel filter seems clean, maybe it's still not working well?

It's only $25 for a Beck Arnelly so I'm thinking I'll replace it anyway. Stealership wants $65 for one, and I'd need to wait a week to get one in.

*PS. Only recent work done has been to change the contacts in the starter, 2 weeks ago, which was no longer working and now works like new. Not sure if this could be related?

If you havn't found the issue try the EFI relay. I had a similar issue. $17.00 later back on the road no issues since.

 

[sugjavier]

I'm trying to find more diagnostic troubleshooting for my car.

It cranks strong but no start. Checked for spark by pulling the plug and boot and holding in on a ground (frame) and it does a 1 and done.
I believe it's supposed to continue sparking right???

So it doesn't seem like the fuel....can anyone tell me what other LIST of stuff i need to check which might cause the 1 small spark?

 

[BoomerBob]

I'm trying to find more diagnostic troubleshooting for my car.

It cranks strong but no start. Checked for spark by pulling the plug and boot and holding in on a ground (frame) and it does a 1 and done.
I believe it's supposed to continue sparking right???

So it doesn't seem like the fuel....can anyone tell me what other LIST of stuff i need to check which might cause the 1 small spark?

If this happened all of a sudden and wasn't a gradual problem then I'd be thinking something electrical like a crank/cam position sensor or fuel pump. I think checking the fuel pressure on these are a pain. They don't have a schrader valve that's easy to get at if I remember right.

 

[Captsolo]

I've heard only OEM fuel pump (made in Japan). AM - no good.:behindsofa:

Fuel pumps are computer controlled.

 

[sugjavier]

If this happened all of a sudden and wasn't a gradual problem then I'd be thinking something electrical like a crank/cam position sensor or fuel pump. I think checking the fuel pressure on these are a pain. They don't have a schrader valve that's easy to get at if I remember right.

I've had battery/alternator issues like 6 months ago that I thought was the issue but accessories work like normal / it's cranking strong so my mechanic said we can eliminate that and that this is either a fuel/spark issue.

Other than that, it just happened today...it's been cold in MI for a couple weeks now

 

[TheDurk]

I've had battery/alternator issues like 6 months ago that I thought was the issue but accessories work like normal / it's cranking strong so my mechanic said we can eliminate that and that this is either a fuel/spark issue.

Other than that, it just happened today...it's been cold in MI for a couple weeks now

Did you check more than one plug? Are there any codes?

I have to assume it's in the chain igniter>>coils>>wires>>plugs. If you are due for wires and plugs, I'd just do those, then check spark from all three coils, and go forward, as described here:

http://www.teamtoyota4x4.org/archivio/1996%20to%202002%20Toyota%204Runner%20Repair%20and%20Wiring%20Manuals/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/02toyrm/02toypdf/02rmsour/2002/024runne/ig5vzfe/ignsy/ovi.pdf