Weird Starting Issue

Guys, I have a weird question that I am not sure how to explain. I recently had my '18 Limited CM serviced at my dealer and they checked the usual including the air filter (33k service/oil change). I told them I would change the AF myself and they put her together and called me to come to the service desk. I paid up and left, driving back to the office, noticed nothing out of the ordinary. On the way home later that day, I noticed a shudder/miss when stopped in traffic and upon acceleration from stops. I got home, looked for something undone from service, no wires, plugs, etc. Figured it was a fluke. Next morning on way to work, not a shudder or miss or anything. At lunch I went to local parts house, got and changed AF and on way back to office, missing something awful. I bypassed work and went straight back to dealer. Service Manager saw me there and was not happy that I had service the day before and was back with a misfire issue. At least when I got there, the dash lit up like a Christmas tree and starting throwing codes. They took her in the back and hooked her up to computer and still couldn't figure it out. Rather than making me wait, he gave me a Tacoma to take home since they had it hooked up for about 45 mins and couldn't figure it out. Told me to keep the Taco until they called. Around 4:30 that afternoon they called and problem was solved. A bird feather when the tech had checked the filter had made it's way to the sensor into the intake and was causing the intermittent misfire. Wow! Sorry for the long write up to the weird starting issue in the title. Mostly happens on a cold start, but when I turn key to start it sometimes acts like all the cylinders are not firing upon crank, but then catch and the truck starts up. Warm start ups usually don't duplicate the issue. No codes and everything seems normal.

Any thoughts? I checked the installation of the air filter and don't see anything out of the ordinary. There is a micro filter on the bottom of the pleated air filter that was not on the factory. Looks like a white fiber type almost A/C filter material to screen out smaller particles I guess.

 

I doubt its the problem, but try resetting the ECU. Disconnect negative battery cable for about 15 minutes. When you start your truck for the first time it will start, then die immediately. This is normal.

 

Tried the battery disconnect, still has the weird start up issue. Mostly on initial start up. No codes and everything else seems fine. Just seems like it struggles to light up when first started. Almost like it is starving for gas or air?? I don't know, can't get it to duplicate any other time.

 

There was a fuel pump issue that was causing problems. I think there was a recall on it.

 

Checked my owner's website and I don't have the fuel pump recall on mine. I may get them to look at it next oil change, or sooner if it gets worse.

 

Follow up to the weird starting issue. One day last week it was cold here in South Louisiana, around 35 degrees. My truck took 3 attempts to start that morning in particular. I hustled her to the dealership and told them the problem as I had already called them in reference to the issue to check and see if maybe I was on the fuel pump recall although my owner's website info said no. Anyway, took truck to them and told them problem. They kept the truck and I advised I wanted them to perform a fuel pressure check to see if fuel was bleeding off from the injectors and causing the problem. The waited overnight since the next day was the same weather conditions, and sure enough the truck did not start up correctly. They did perform the pressure check and the fuel pressure was not bleeding off overnight. Went back and forth with them on the problem and they started to lean to bad fuel somewhere in the past. I asked if the fuel was bad, shouldn't the truck run bad during that tank?? No response except to say that it was bad fuel. Kept the truck for the rest of the day and called later that afternoon with a fix. The truck had to "relearn the fuel/alcohol mixture" and then get retested. I said, so it was a computer glitch right?, no it was due to bad fuel. Not covered under the extended warranty. I got them to not charge for the fuel pressure test, but did get the truck back and she starts up just fine. I had them keep it another day just to make sure the next morning it started fine. So far, since last Friday morning no problems.

Has anyone ever heard of that or have any experience with it? I only purchase reputable fuel (not the cheap shit), and I purchase all of my fuel while in town at Sunoco. Never had any issues with any of my previous or other vehicles using that fuel.

Just looking for some input or thoughts, truck is doing fine now.

 

Sounds like a computer glitch to me . Bad fuel would do it all the time not just when it’s cold and only on first start up .

 

Exactly my thoughts. I believe they couldn't figure it out, called Toyota Gulf States, got them to diagnose the problem, reprogram the puter, and POOF, she is as good as new.