2017 weird very intermittent starting issue

2017 tundra SR5 XP double cab. Flex fuel model. Was leased first 3 years so I cannot say if it has had flex fuel ever, but I always add unleaded fuel or ethanol free fuel(had leftover gas from last hurricane season so I used it instead of letting it just sit)

My starting issue...when truck has been sitting for hours it sometimes won't start. The starter engages and clicks repeatedly until the start up sequence stops. It will do this up to 3 times. If it doesn't start running before the 3rd try, the 4th start up it will run. Once it is running the problem will not recreate itself unless the truck has been sitting for a long time. I have this issue either first thing in the morning or after I've worked 8+ hours. Happens more when it is cold but last week did it most of the week. I have an appointment today to get tires, oil change, and diagnostic check. Truck is under warranty but only for another 2500 miles and it's been days since the problem has occurred.

I replaced the battery within a year. Problem happened before and after.

Looking for known fixes or examples of similar issues. Just something for the dealer to hopefully figure it out. Link for YouTube for videos of it

https://youtu.be/DG3wDmpOUE4

https://youtu.be/W9u8GgcYKPw

https://youtu.be/G6q7GUa3JiM
Thanks in advance

 

This is likely a flex fuel issue. There’s a tsb on this that calls for fuel pump replacement and an ECU reflash. Root of the issue is the computer “reads” the fuel to check for ethanol content in the flex fuel models. It then assigns an ethanol % and adjusts fuel mapping accordingly. The ECU will incorrectly store a higher ethanol level and fails to readjust for regular gas. Creates hard starting issues like yours. Several threads on here about this issue.

 

Thanks for the reply. The service advisor seemed excited to tell me about the tab for this issue today when I dropped my truck off. Downside is that it sounded like it will be months before I can get the fuel pump swapped due to them being on backorder. They are still doing the diagnostic check to see if they think it is in fact the cause

 

My brother in law is in the same boat with the FFV hard start and no available pumps. I’m not convinced the fuel pump has as much to do with it as the ECU.

 

They said they got another one that's been waiting like 4 months for the fix and can't be driven...so I feel lucky that at least mine isn't too bad

 

What octane rating fuel was being used? Would using 91 moot the issue?

 

So the final update is that there is a known issue(not a recall though) for this. There is a tsb for it. The tsb calls for the fuel pump to be replaced and a computer (can't remember which) to be flashed/or updated. The fuel pumps are on back order and they said specifically that they didn't believe that all fuel pumps needed to be replaced. And since they couldn't get one they flashed the computer (tried to charge me for it which I had them remove cause they were not going to charge for the fuel pump) and I (knock on wood) have not had an issue since. The issue is that the fuel management system thinks there is a different type of fuel present and changes the startup sequence...and that's why after a few tries it readjusts itself and will start. Sorry for the lack of terms. I just can't remember all the specifics