Starting Issues 08 Tundra

Sometimes when my crank my Tundra the starter cranks or tries to engage and after trying to crank it multiple times when it finally turns over it tries to crank for about 15 seconds before it finally starts. Then I will not have issues for a couple of days then it does it again randomly. Any ideas?

 

Ask RuggyBuggy, retired Toyota mechanic on the Ask the Toyota Mechanic thread https://www.tundras.com/threads/ask-the-toyota-mechanic.2404/page-73#post-2199850 He is GREAT at answering questions competently.

 

Battery, get it tested, sometimes big drops in temperature will cause battery issues..

 

It could be the starter solenoid getting stuck or the ignition lock cylinder binding.

 

Sticking starter will not crank, it will click and nothing will happen... you can ask me how I know.

 

Battery is brand new. 3 weeks old

 

But why does it turn over for like 15 sec when tge starter acts up?

 

I would still test it, as well as the fuel pump.

 

Crank-to-start function. ECU is timing out the starter run.

Once you've turned the key to START, the start cycle is no longer under your control. ECU sets the proper starting air/fuel ratio (or not), ignition timing, crank time, etc. Try this test: Turn the key to START position and RELEASE. If the engine doesn't start, the starter should continue running until the ECU times out the starter run. Maybe the design start cycle is 15? seconds, which is plenty. Mine always starts in the first second so I haven't had the opportunity to observe.

As to the reason your truck isn't starting, I would suspect fuel, air, or spark in insufficient quantity.

@Ruggybuggy.

 

If it was in the shop Techstream would be coming out and checking to trouble codes. It can also be used to active test starter circuit.

Do the obvious stuff first like checking for a good connection at the battery. Check the connections at the starter and check your grounds. After that Techstream should be used to diag.

 

If your truck is equipped with an Immobilizer, there is a chip in the key that is read by the ignition switch. If that chip goes bad, your truck will not start, and/or will not run. Given the intermittent nature of your problem, that chip may be on the way out. You might try using your spare key to confirm the key chip isn't the issue.

 

My SC400 battery fried a cell and required a replacement battery at 3 weeks, only turned it on twice back then. My Tundra has killed them all at some points, and yes even less than 3 weeks... Obviously batteries sit in some warehouse and shelf for about 1 year to a year and a half before they get purchased...

 

You did not say how many miles you currently have on that truck, it could be just the starter about to go out.