Motor wants to quit right after starting

Not a good week, I must have pissed off my truck in a previous life or something.

This happened once about a month ago - after fueling up I cranked it and it started for just a second then died. I wasn't really paying attention (putting my wallet away) and I thought I just short cranked it. I cranked it again, gave it gas for several seconds and it was fine.

Truck has been sitting since yesterday afternoon. I just went out to start it, it cranked and started for a second but then died. I cranked it again, gave it gas and it wanted to die but as long as I was giving it gas it was okay. After about 15 seconds it stayed running, although at a low idle. After a few minutes I shut it down, waited 30 seconds and tried it again. Same deal.

No CEL. Any ideas on what I'm looking at and how to check? I'm thinking fuel issue of some kind. It's got a clean air filter, clean MAF and plugs with about 1500 miles on them. Battery is about 5 months old. Any insight is appreciated.

 

Fuel Pump Failing?

 

Your throttle body might need some cleaning. I’d start with that.

 

Any news?

 

On Monday afternoon I went out to start it and it was difficult to start, I had to really give it throttle to keep it going. After shutting it off and trying to restart it did the same thing (multiple times). So on Tuesday afternoon I decided to take it into the shop. It was difficult to start again and was wanting to die, idle was rough. On the drive to the shop I was having to put it in neutral and rev it to keep it running. When I was pulling into the shop's parking lot it actually died and I almost crashed it when I lost the power steering.

I explained everything and they said they'd check it out and get back to me the next day. Talked to them yesterday afternoon. They said it started no problem yesterday morning, they ran diagnostics on it (no codes), checked vacuum lines, maf, throttle body (did a minor cleaning), etc. and then they drove it around doing parts runs, etc. Unable to replicate the issue. They are keeping it another day and are going to keep driving it, praying they can figure out what the issue is.

 

I'm gonna LMAO if it's a fuel pump ground.

 

Really?

 

my money is on a dirty throttle body.

 

A self cleaning throttle body?

 

I would probably side with grounding of the fuel pump as well. I'd advise get a resistance check from the ECM to the fuel pump and from the fuel pump to the ECM.. similar symptoms to my 1uz ECM where it stopped sending power to the fuel pump.. so I had the ECM rebuilt

 

Idle troubles are often vacuum related. If the fuel pump ground was the issue (is this a thing?) trying to give it gas would make it worse, would it not? Need more fuel supply when driving than when idling. Could it just be bad gas?

 

I had a similar issue with mine. It stayed running as long as I gave it gas. Cleaned my throttle body real good and fixed it. A stuck close throttle body can cause these type of symptoms.

 

How many miles on truck?

Reason for asking: Denso Fuel Pump reviewers average about 200k (+/- 20k) miles at replacement.

 

The truck has 140k miles on it. I just picked it up at the shop, they cleaned the throttle body and drove it for the past couple days. They probably put 50 miles on it and they said it runs great and that I should drive it until I have an issue again. They are a good shop with a great reputation, I'm not concerned that they're trying to hose me. They didn't charge me anything - including for cleaning the throttle body. The truck drove home fine and actually seems to be idling a good bit smoother and about 100rpm less. So I'll drive it and hope that the throttle body cleaning fixed the problem.

 

Mine died at 235,000 so right around where you said

 

Thanks for this confirmation. I’ll be replacing mine this spring with 174k miles (plus 8% for larger tires) and some idle time mixed in. New cost about $125 from Denso Store.

 

I knew it lol. Glad you got it fixed.