Diagnostic Help!

[LexandRex]

I took my wife on a drive up in the mountains this evening and the truck was running great. We drove on a dirt road that I would barely call off roading for around 8 miles and went up 3k feet. We stopped at the top and walked around for a few minutes before getting back in cruiser to drive down. It was parked on a slight down hill incline. As I turn the key the truck turns over fine and starts but sputters for a second and dies. I do this a couple more times and same thing. Ten minutes go by and I try again...it just turns over but doesn't attempt to start actually running at all. We are about to call a friend to come get us and I try one more time after waiting probably 20 minutes now and the truck starts up. We drive all the way down and the truck runs perfect. I got it back home and turned it off and it starts right up like it always has. Does anyone have any thoughts on what is going on and if some part is going bad?

2007 LC w/ 111K miles and it had a full tank of gas. All MX is up to date.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Vapor lock.

 

[Placemotorsports]

or fuel pump going bad

 

[abuck99]

It's prob your evap system- this seems to be the weak link on these trucks when used Offroad in hot- higher altitude-with full tank. Newer 04+ 100s have a more restrictive evap system so they're even more sensitive, and prone to ( for better terms) vapor lock. Do a search on 06/07 tundras - pretty common.

I think the consensus here is running 1/2 to 3/4 tank.

 

[2001LC]

^^^

 

[LexandRex]

It did have a fairly strong smell of gas during the time I was trying to get started and when I opened the gas cap it relieved a lot of pressure build up.

 

[abuck99]

Apparently opening the gas cap makes things worse

As I understand it, altitude and ethanol reduce gasolines boiling point and equalizing the pressure(opening the cap) to the tank makes the condition worse. Several threads regarding Charcoal Canister here to read- which identifies your likely problem- but sorry to say offer no mechaincal mod or fix other than canister replacement, filling 1/2 to 3/4 full. Unfortunately I believe it's a Toyota design flaw that just needs to be planned around.

 

[2001LC]

One issue I've never seen in my 01 before canister (89-02 IIRC) was moved to rear by Mr T.

 

[abuck99]

Yeah- older is better in this case (much higher than & farther from the gas tank & fewer restrictions). I'm repeating what I've read elsewhere, that when the canister was moved to the rear location, it's location was too low- and created the condition where the canister gets easily flooded by sloshing fuel. Assessing the problem could be time consuming. The evap system is complicated- so many points of failure. With all the electronic valves, return lines, connectors, junctions= pita to diagnose.

 

[djernie]

i think when i had this problem a couple of years ago it went away after replacing fuel pump.