2018 Cold Start Problems

Looking for suggestions...

This morning in NW Florida it was a grueling 42° F; the truck took 4 times to start.

This happened about this time last year, searched the forum and found the TSB-0166-19, Extended crank... Took it to the stealership, showed them the TSB, and they dropped the tank, replaced the fuel pump, reflashed ECU, etc... Started fine for a bit.

A few months back, it started showing the same symptoms as last winter but it would always start. Earlier this month, with about the same temperature, the truck took four times to start. Brought it to the dealership, and they were unable to find anything wrong after it sat for several days there. They said it might be a leaking fuel injector but were unsure and also reflashed the ECU. This past month, the truck hasn't displayed any codes or had anything stored in the ECU like last year.

My battery was replaced last March and still checks good through Advance Auto's tester. The truck starts fine when the engine is warm.

Has anybody experienced something similar and been able to pinpoint what could be causing my truck not to start?

Truck has 86,XXX miles on it.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ntZ7xsgeUJA?feature=share

 

Sounds like a fuel pump problem.

 

MatD13, I’m having the same issue very intermittently. Were you able to find a fix that has worked for you? I’d like to not have to replace a fuel pump and everything only to find out that’s not the problem since I do all the work myself.

 

Is your truck a flex fuel?

 

My 2018 had the hard start problem at about 50,000 miles. Happened after some brutally cold weather. It was the fuel pump. And my truck wasn't part of the recall.

 

Negative. There's another thread floating around with some people having the same issue. Frustrating and still happening.

 

My truck wasn't part of the recall either, but after I showed the dealership the TSB I initially stated in my first post, they dropped the tank and replaced the pump

 

My truck is a flex fuel yes. Does that bring up any ideas? I normally just use 87 unleaded in it. Nothing crazy.

 

Mines flex too. Wonder if non ethanol has would make a difference

 

Avoid Flex-fuel if possible, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AutoLean.puregas

 

I wonder if, when they replaced the fuel pump, they checked how tight the connections were. If the connections weren't tight it would cause the same symptoms as a bad fuel pump. Eric O on South Main Auto ran into this on a tundra.
https://youtu.be/miNUy43Qy48

 

Same issue here in Austin when it is below 40....

 

Found the issue, at least with my truck. I put non ethanol gas in last week and it’s been firing up great ever since

 

NICE!! Hopefully that has solved the problem

 

So my 2018 seems to have had started having similar issue this week. Takes 2-3 start cycles after sitting overnight or long periods of time to get started. Just over 30 degrees this morning outside.

Is there a TSB for the fuel pump on my truck? Is there a free place to look TSBs or would I have to pay a subscription on a site to get that access?

 

Same issue here in upper Michigan. Started last January cold at hell 0 degrees. Fuel pump was on back order 3 months at the time. By time it came in it warmed up and issue was resolved. Now it’s cold again and it’s back. Just had new fuel pump installed and still the same. Was slightly better for few days. Only on cold starts does this happen. The stealership said it was the fuel pump the first time. They claimed it was like sipping gas thinking it was e-85 whatever that means vs pumping it. So it’s a smart fuel pump or a special needs fuel pump. Idk but still dealing with it. Need to fix

 

Been having the same problem for awhile. I just got back from the dealer for the same issue. I knew they wouldn’t be able to duplicate it so every time my truck did this(2018 SR5) I took a video with my phone.
When explaining the problem to the service manager of course they had no idea what I was talking about and basically told me if there’s no code there’s nothing they can do.
Knowing that would be their answer I pulled out the TSB that I printed and brought with me and emailed her all the videos of my truck taking three attempts to start.
They called me an hour later and told me they’re ordering all the parts that the TSB lists and will change at no cost to me. Also they will flash the ECU.
I was actually shocked especially since my truck has 71k miles on it.

This is the service bulletin
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10170730-9999.pdf

 

If you are having issues with the dealer - get a cheap OBD reader, mine is bluetooth. Download Torque or similar app then check the Fuel Alcohol %. Mine was up near 80% when my truck started having a rough start. I downloaded techstream (ih8mud write up I followed) and then did a Fuel Alcohol Relearn. Fixed the issue so far, alcohol % is still at 0. I'd at least start there to rule out the alcohol issue. Truck also started getting better MPG and had more pep.

 

I’m in Aiken,SC. I’m dealing with the same issue. Replaced the fuel pump in 2023 under warranty. Now I’m dealing with infrequent Cold crank starts on my 2018 Tundra. Dealer was able to replicate the issue. They are going to reset the ECM. Sounds like this is a temporary fix. Has anyone found a permanent fix?

 

E85 burns different so if computer thinks you have e85 but you really have normal gas, the mix is wrong in cylinders and you end up basically flooding it. You may smell strong gas smell after cranking due to this.

If you have an obd2 device like Scangage, you can read % alcohol and long term fuel trims to confirm if ethanol reading it out of whack.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/info-for-flex-fuel-hard-start-alcohol-density-issues-owners.100347/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/res...ge-level-with-bidirectional-scan-tool.123799/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/will-bd-tuner-fix-the-dreaded-5-7-ffv-ethanol-gas-issue.84154/

 

My 2018 Toyota Tundra SRS with 40,000 miles is having the very same issue that all in this forum have described. A cold start issue when temps drop at or below 40 degrees. My brother had a tester and it revealed that the 87 octane I was running contained 67% Ethanol and I thought I had filled my tank with bad gas so I ran the tank to half and added dry gas and Non Ethanol gas and the problem seemed resolved for a short while but it seems the problem has resurfaced. My truck is currently at the Toyota Dealership being looked at. From my understanding there’s a class action lawsuit on the fuel pump but the dealer is trying to tell me that my fuel pump is not included. Sounds like I’ll need a new fuel pump from what all of you are also experiencing.

 

Hello all, I found this page today as my 2018 Tundra has been having this issue for over a month now. A few weeks ago my mechanic replaced the starter, fixed some wiring and a fuel injector part that was all gunked up? (I may be missing a detail here) Everything worked great for a week or so and then it started again…

BUT today was something new…I immediately smelled electrical burning and some smoke and nasty exhaust smell on the initial crank. The last couple of days the engine had struggled to really get going on the initial crank but would hold on and stay running. I thought maybe it’s just the extreme cold. BUT Today’s electrical smell and smoke and exhaust smell scared me.

thoughts?

 

Seems like a lot of dealers are throwing parts at this problem without a clue as to what is causing it. Mine started doing this on a mid 30 degree morning at deer lease after running a rough road for about a mile in 4lo. When I got home I read several threads on here. I bought a TopDon scanner and checked alcohol density. Sure enough it was 85% and I have NEVER run anything higher then E10. Reset the alcohol density and starts like it should.

When the engine was warm it started fine regardless of air temps. I think part of the problem is dealers start truck when engine is warm or maybe keep it in shop over night.

 

Subscribing as I now have the crank no start issue. New fpdm and crank sensor still having the issue. I’ll try a few things see what’s what.

 

I've been having this problem on and off for a couple of years. It is NOT temperature related for me as this truck has never seen sub 60 degree temperatures. I have noticed that it is worse with a full tank of gas. I am intrigued by the ethanol component so I will run marine fuel in it for a couple of tanks. Looks like there may not be a fix, or if there is no one from 2021 is coming back to the tread to share it!!

 

Are you actually getting marine fuel at a marina or just referring to non ethanol as marine fuel?

 

common issue on FF equipped trucks and very easy/inexpensive fix with a bi-directional scan tool to reset the fuel alcohol percentage

https://www.tundras.com/threads/res...ge-level-with-bidirectional-scan-tool.123799/