Sequoia intermittent starting

Good morning.

I am writing because i cannot seem to track down the reason for an issue i have had for several months.

(2008 5.7L 4x4 Limited 170,000 miles for reference)

In the mornings when i go to start my vehicle, it does not start.
After several attempts, it turns over. It does not usually give me trouble for the rest of the day.

This was much worse a few months ago before I got another key cut by Toyota.

I took it to a shop and they replaced my crankshaft sensor - once with an aftermarket one, and then replaced with a toyota one because the aftermarket one "was not playing nice".

This did not fix the issue. The problem is when i take it there for them to check it out, the truck magically turns over for them.

I have heard that replacing the starter relay may help the problem, i have not tried that yet.

Has anyone experienced this problem or have a fix? I do not believe it is the starter.
It is throwing no codes, there are no lights.

Any help is appreciated

 

Does it crank and rejects to start, or does it click and nothing happens?

 

So key turns, goes into accessory mode, all lights working, radio on etc. When i go to turn the key a small click, not a repeated quick clicking, nothing happens. I do this several times, eventually it turns over and starts. Sometimes it turns over slowly and does not start all the way.

A few things i have done also in the past 6 months.
Replaced Fuel Pump - did not do this before that - probably unrelated/
Replaced a broken battery cable - it did not do that before the cable was replaced
Replaced all spark plugs

All of the work was done at shops - the shop that replaced my battery cable checked the vehicle for that issue and was stumped - the next shop i took it to said that it was the crank shaft sensor and replaced that

 

Sounds like a starter on its way out.

 

Sorry about your luck op …You can pull the starter relay & jumper the connections to rule out a bad starter relay . Does your truck require you to push the brake pedal to start? If so id check that switch by bypassing it

 

I had this exact issue on my 2008 with 180k, it's likely the starter. My symptoms were the same.

Don't wait until it never starts...you'll be towing it, ask me how I know .

The starter is a total pain to replace, you can do it DIY but takes a long time, youtube videos will help if you want to try without taking exhaust headers off. Definitely easier to have dealer do it.