2003 Tundra V8 cranks but won't start (intermittent)

Every once in a while my 2003 Tundra will crank but not start. This morning it wasn't until the fourth try that it started. I believe every other time the second try it has started.

I think throttle position may have aided the start - I stepped on the pedal before and during the cycle where it started.

Possible troubleshooting help: it was parked on a slope with the left side high. It had just been started on a cold day here in the Denver area, run 30 seconds, and shut down. I thought I should leave it running to warm it up - went to restart and it just cranked. The other times this has happened the truck was not parked on an angle.

140,000 miles automatic trans.

Seems like Lotsoftoys is the go-to man on this forum much of the time. Thanks for any help you all can lend!

 

Simple things first and gotta ask: Terminals clean? Is it an old battery?

 

Thanks - neither of those are an issue. Battery near new with new terminals that were coated on install.

4000 miles ago did the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, serpentine belt, fan clutch, and plugs.

 

Is that when the starting issues started?

 

No - happened before that maintenance as well.

 

Fuel pump relay?

 

I like that idea - that is one I had thought of as well. Anyone else with input on that - is this a common problem with these 1st gen Tundras? I have had that happen on my old Porsche 928S4.

I would not expect the pump itself to be intermittent like that - and would expect that hot days after the truck has been run would be where you would see problems with the fuel pump come to life.

I saw another post here where someone spoke of going to full throttle either momentarily or holding the pedal down and seeing that solve the problem.

 

I had a 1st Gen, but never had that problem.

I had a 1994 Explorer that did have an intermittent problem. It quit on me on the trail, and I waited all day for someone to come rescue me with a flat bed. Started right up when we went to load it.