2020 Tundra hot start issue

happened twice. Both times, ambient temp was 115F+. I've driven the car a while, stopped, then car will fail to start. Called roadside, but they were few hours out (not surprising, in 115F weather, more cars break down, everything moves slower). Finally car started after ~1 hour.

Car cranks over easily, but just won't fire up.

once (separate from 2 incidents above) the car took ~4 seconds before it fired up, weather was 112F.

Took the car to dealership, they can't duplicate it (of course, we rarely get 110F+).

Now I am stuck. I am scared of driving my new Tundra in hot weather. If I do, I don't dare turn the car off unless I know I won't need the car for a while. Getting stuck in 115F weather is not pleasant. I've asked the dealer to escalate it, but I think they blew me off. They said Toyota has no TSB on this either.

I can't imagine I am the only one with the issue.

 

What was fuel level?

 

fuel level was 1/4. first thing I did, was removing fuel cap and reinstall. I also though a possibility of bad fuel gauge, so I added 2 gallons (I was close to a gas station). After I got it started after an hour, I filled it up. can confirm it indeed was 1/4 tank earlier.

2nd time, I knew what the issue was. Luckily I was at home. just left it alone and took another car. fuel level was may be 1/3 tank.

btw, I never overfill the tank. always stop at the click.

 

Well here is what I'm thinking:

Bad fuel pump--sounds similar to the fuel pump recall.
Vapor control system fault leading to entrained vapors in fuel.
Fuel pressure control/regulator fault when hot.
Contaminated fuel/fuel tank
Plugged or defective in tank filter

Outside of fuel system, it could be
crank sensor or cam sensor that isn't synchronized right. Defective sensor may only have fault when hot.
Leaky injector
Throttle body issue
MAF sensor

 

any recommendation what do to now? how do I escalate this with Toyota.

 

an update:
it is a little worse now. Even in 100F weather, it will take a few cranks to start the car, but it does start.

called Toyota, Toyota said nothing they can do unless they can replicate it.

 

Is this a flex fuel configuration?

 

Surely, you can get it happening on video multiple times. Take the truck down, show the video, then either fix it or give me a new truck. It is a 2020 after all.

 

park it at the dealer in the heat and have them out to start it up with you the next day

 

I have the video. but it still starts. weather is getting cooler, so it probably will fix itself in winter.

no, it is no flex fuel. I wish they are, I was looking for flex fuel 1/2 ton, but couldn't find ANY new.

 

When it won’t start, have you tried disconnecting and then reconnecting the battery after a few mins to see if that would help?

 

only times (twice) it didn't start were in 115F+ weather. I don't think we gonna get that kind of weather any more.

 

no, I did not. but what's the reason for that? there are no CEL. but I always carry an OBD reader, so I can reset it if needs to.

 

I did escalate it to Toyota headquarter. They sided with dealer. if it aint broken when I took it in, nothing they can do.

 

can you measure the battery voltage ? batteries dont like extreme heat. and toyota batteries are far from being reliable.

 

I will try that next time it has issues.

 

an update:

it got worse and worse. next time it wouldn't start was in 103F weather. then happened again in 95F weather. Both times, it started after 1/2 hour sitting.

There is a Toyota dealer was on my way to work. so I started driving to the dealer every morning. Turns the engine off, and waited a few minutes before starting it again. 3rd time was the charm. it stalled in the dealer's driveway and blocked service entrance (kinda happy as they wouldn’t fix it till then).... They installed a fuel pump (tech was surprised that it was a 2020, not 18/19), just picked up the car. will report later. but weather has gotten cooler......

 

At least they have seen it and documented it! Hopefully that was it

 

Did the new fuel pump solve the problem? I'm having the same issue with my 2020 now.

 

Yes. New fuel pump fixed it.

 

Great! I'll see how it goes with mine at the dealer tomorrow.

 

you're not the only one with this issue. Ive had it for 2 1/2 years and I live in Hawaii so it's every day. hate this truck. have had everything tested. replaced purge valve, battery, fuel pump brain. its been at Toyota 3 times for multiple days at a time. They say it always starts for them. right. they are useless. if anyone has had success fixing this please let me know.