Hard starting PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

[Scrapedknuckles]

I did a search but didn't find quite what I needed. Since christmas day I've been having an issue where it takes more cranking and gas pedal to get my truck to start ('96FZJ80). Then today leaving work after the hard start it feels like I've run out of gas. (half a tank) Pedal pumped and nothing. Finally it starts to go and ran fine all the way home. It has a new fuel filter, starter, battery, wires, plugs, rotor... I cleaned the contacts on the fuel pump relay last night and have a new one coming tomorrow. Any other ideas or experiences? Thanks, Eddie

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Check your fuel pump located in the tank as well.

 

[BILT4ME]

Pumping your gas pedal before cranking does absolutely nothing on an electronically controlled, fuel injected engine. It's not like the old carbureted engines.

Is your check engine light on? If so, what codes?

Could also be the fuel sock in the tank, but you've changed a bunch of other things recently, so I'd look at those first.

Is there a fuel leak from the new fuel filter?

Did you use Toyota plugs, wires, cap, and rotor? It seems to make a difference.

 

[Scrapedknuckles]

Pumping your gas pedal before cranking does absolutely nothing on an electronically controlled, fuel injected engine. It's not like the old carbureted engines.

Is your check engine light on? If so, what codes?

Could also be the fuel sock in the tank, but you've changed a bunch of other things recently, so I'd look at those first.

Is there a fuel leak from the new fuel filter?

Did you use Toyota plugs, wires, cap, and rotor? It seems to make a difference.

Got a PO171 code. When it started happening. Denso part where I could.

 

[BILT4ME]

The PO 171 indicates a lean condition.

Do a search on this forum for that code and you'll get a number of threads that show similar symptoms and solutions.

Also check out your intake hose. If it's cracked after being manhandled, that may cause what you're getting.

 

[Scrapedknuckles]

Ok, new fuel pump relay, cleaned the MAF and installed new intake hose. Still hard starting and acts like its starving for fuel and hesitates when accelerating from a dead stop but then drives ok once up to speed. I have a new fuel pump but it the original seems ok once I get rolling. Any other ideas what may be causing the hard start and hesitation? Thanks

 

[Scrapedknuckles]

Problem solved!! ceylonfj40nut called it. Fuel pump. Sock was covered in gunk, when I pulled the unit out of the tank the little hose wasn't even attached to the pump. I'm amazed the truck even ran. I don't think the pump was bad but after 300k miles a new one was a wise decision.

 

[Scrapedknuckles]

The rubber cushion was toast. I think some of it was sitting in the tank. After installing the new pump the fuel gauge was a little slow when I put gas in the tank. I'll have to keep my eye on it to see if its actually working.
Thank you all for the insight, advise and knowledge, Eddie

 

[Kernal]

What's the black thingy at the bottom of the tank?

That's a lot of fine dust; was the flat oval rubber gasket for the pump bracket in place correctly when you opened it up? Do you get your fuel from a modern gas station? Drive without the gas cap in place? Angry Ex with access to your vehicle?

For comparison when replacing the fuel pump in my 96 FZJ80 a few years ago (original pump and sock at 325,000 miles) it only had a small button of debris on the sock.

 

[Scrapedknuckles]

What's the black thingy at the bottom of the tank?

That's a lot of fine dust; was the flat oval rubber gasket for the pump bracket in place correctly when you open it up? Do you get your fuel from a modern gas station? Drive without the gas cap in place? Angry Ex with access to your vehicle?

For comparison when replacing the fuel pump in my 96 FZJ80 a few years ago (original pump and sock at 325,000 miles) it only had a small button of debris on the sock.

View attachment 2177900

Hahaha... had to be the PO's angry ex. Unbelievable the damn truck even ran. Thank you Mr. Toyota.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Amazing indeed it worked still. Designed for the third world. Awesome.