Fuel pump access- Interior or drop the tank??

[hank14]

My 2016 Flex Fuel Sequoia has an intermittent cold start issue. After doing some reading, I suspect it's the fuel pump, and I'm looking into replacing it.

How can I tell if I need to drop the tank, or if there is an access panel on the inside under the back seats? I thought I could look it up using the VIN, but didn't find anything. And I couldn't find any good info on where to look inside without tearing the back 1/2 of the interior out of it.

 

[vtl]

Have you reset alcohol density?

 

[hank14]

I haven’t. I looked into doing that a couple of years ago but then the problem went away.

This winter it started again and now it has been doing it any time the engine is cold- even with warmer ambient temps.

I’m looking into a bidirectional scan tool now to be able to reset it myself.

Any recommendations for a decent scan tool?

 

[vtl]

I haven’t. I looked into doing that a couple of years ago but then the problem went away.

This winter it started again and now it has been doing it any time the engine is cold- even with warmer ambient temps.

I’m looking into a bidirectional scan tool now to be able to reset it myself.

Any recommendations for a decent scan tool?

No. Both my 3URs are regular gas. But your symptoms jumped to the alcohol density miscalculation in my mind, after years of reading about it online.

I have 35 lbs of the official 2011 Sequoia repair manual. It calls for tank drop for fuel pump replacement. If density reset changes nothing, I can shoot a pump replacement pics the dealer way for you.

 

[hank14]

That sounds good. I found a scan tool to order, so I'll give that a try.

I was thinking fuel pump because I talked to a local independent shop about it a while back, and they said they have had to replace a lot of fuel pumps on the flex fuel motors- maybe due to the fuel pressure regulator valve going bad. But, they may have also been following Toyota repair protocols which never really fixed the problem until the TSB came out about the alcohol sensor.

Would have never bought the flex fuel, but I got a good deal on it and (besides the valley plate leak), it has been great!

 

[hank14]

Well- thanks for jogging my memory @vtl !

I got a scanner and it showed the ECM was set for 85% ethanol.

I reset it and it’s starting up with one crank again.

Glad I didn’t have to replace the fuel pump after all (knock on wood).