2006 Scion TC, starting issues.

[jigen]

This post is for a friend. You guys are always so helpful that I figure I'd ask for suggestions. So starting today his car had trouble starting. Everything turns over fine as far the starter goes, full crank, everything with the battery seems fine. But it will take 30 full seconds until it actually fires up. Seems like a problem with the fuel injection system. Fuel pump maybe?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Artem]

30 seconds sounds like an awful long time to be sitting there just cranking away... You're only suppose to crack for like 10 seconds max per interval.

If this issue is still happening tomorrow, tell him to try priming the fuel system first before he cranks.

*Turn the key to the II position (all the power comes on) and wait 3-4 seconds.
*turn the key back to the #I position and then try starting the car.

If that doesn't work, try priming the system twice by going into the #II key position, back to #1, back to #II, back to 1 and then try starting.

if it doesn't help AT ALL, there's a definite problem.

 

[jigen]

He's not good with cars. Like not at all. I told him that. Lol. I'll let him know.

 

[chrome]

Does it happen right after he fills up the gas? If so, it may be a faulty purge valve allowing vapour into the manifold during fuelling, causing a temporary rich start condition.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Artem
30 seconds sounds like an awful long time to be sitting there just cranking away... You're only suppose to crack for like 10 seconds max per interval.

If this issue is still happening tomorrow, tell him to try priming the fuel system first before he cranks.

*Turn the key to the II position (all the power comes on) and wait 3-4 seconds.
*turn the key back to the #I position and then try starting the car.

If that doesn't work, try priming the system twice by going into the #II key position, back to #1, back to #II, back to 1 and then try starting.

if it doesn't help AT ALL, there's a definite problem.



I thought that Toyota products only ran the pump when the engine was cranking?

Maybe he'll need to bump the motor several times to prime?

 

[jigen]

After hearing his car start, the cranking was very slow and sluggish. So maybe it is a battery issue?

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: jigen
After hearing his car start, the cranking was very slow and sluggish. So maybe it is a battery issue?


Have him go to an autozone of AAP and have the battery tested. if it is the original battery then it might be pretty weak. If it is cranking and not turning over it is typically fuel related. Try a quick squirt of starter fluid before he starts it. if the car turns right over then it is most likely fuel related...