Weak sounding start up?

Hi everyone,

New to this forum, but definitely not new to Toyota tundras. Recently picked up a 2016 CM. Prior i had a 2014 and a 2012 DC, all with the 5.7. So i feel fairly confident when i say, i know what these engines sound like when the start.

Which brings me to my concern. My 2016 has maybe 2500 miles on it, and probably since 700 miles in, on a cold start (first thing in the morning) it seems very weak when it starts- like it sputters to start. Almost as if its misfiring? But it never throws a code and it does always start, idle, and drive fine. Its only on cold start. After its warmed up no issue, normal start.

Any thoughts? Any one else experience this? Does this warrant a trip to the dealer?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Take it to the dealer it's under warranty.. could be a bad cell on the battery going out.

 

My suggestion is to use your cellphone and film your condition during these cold starts. If what you say is happening only during cold starts the dealer might not be able to replicate your conditions without letting your truck sit around to cool off. (I hate when the shops say they can't replicate the issue). I don't know if there's a simple battery test they can perform to check for a bad cell, but hopefully that's all it is.

 

Any auto parts store has a battery checker to check for bad cells. They do it for free.

 

Sometimes when I start mine it will start, then go to a low RPM for a two or three seconds and then the RPM's will jump back up. Never thought to look at the RPMs while it's doing it but it only does it about 1 out of 20 starts. Doesn't sound like what you are experiencing. Been meaning to ask on here if anyone else's does it? Maybe @LOTSOFTOYS knows?

 

Haven't really heard of this concern. Might need the battery tested... if your worried about the dealer not duplicating it, drop the truck off. Leave it over night and show up in the morning. Start it up in front of the tech and see if it does it. That takes all your mystery out of it. Can't tell u how many times customers start their own car in front of us, and it doesn't do a damn thing. They get so pissed, but atleast it's not at me. They are frustrated with their car... but they believe us then that we could not duplicate it.

Just to give you the other angle at the equation

 

@LOTSOFTOYS @Mike Battery died, replaced it and when we started it back up it starts up fine, no problems but the engine note is quite weak even on a cold start, its like it lost a cylinder it seems weak. Then it idles fine and runs completely fine, what could be the problem.

 

Flex fuel problems. Mine does the same thing on cold starts. Sometimes it drags the starter out and takes a hot minute to actually start.

 

Like others said get battery tested. When my Tacomas have acted this way both needed a new battery. I think average battery life in hot climes is about 3 years.

 

What batt you run?

 

Where are they sold?

 

What are you referring to? Are you using flex fuel or are you saying it is because its a FFE truck?
Mine is FFE but I don't use that stuff; my trucks starts just fine even in single digits.

 

Thanks!

 

My son got one at 4WheelParts...

 

once in a very great while mine will do this too! hasn't happened enough for me to figure out why.

 

I wouldn't support this recommendation. Read deep into battery tech/reputations/longevity a couple years ago when I was worried about power problems in a Suburban. The Odyssey batteries were generally considered overpriced AND underperforming.

 

What do you run?

 

Factory battery works 100% fine for me. Had temps down to single digits already this year and zero troubles.

 

I installed the X2 POWER AGM 27F from Batteries Plus which is a Northstar battery. My truck actually sounds different when starting (stronger?). I wanted an AGM battery due to the deep cycles it goes through when sitting for extended periods.

 

where you get that tie down??

 

4wheel parts can get it for you.

 

I don't have any issues with our 5.7L FFE using 87 octane w/ ethanol in -20F temps. starts right up in 1-2 secs tops.

 

I know this is late to the game, but I have had something similar happening to me. My truck (reg gas) has actually stalled out 4-5 times upon starting, with no consistency of when or why. The dealer looked at it tested the battery, which was fine and told me they would need the truck for an indefinite time so they could put it through a series of tests. I have not done this because that is another way of saying "we have no clue". The truck has 9k miles, and has done it randomly since new. It cranks no problem, revs up to start, then as the rpms drop, they just continue to drop until sputtering out and stalling. It starts right up again, and never has pulled a 2 in a row stall. I told the dealership they can test the truck, but I need a Tundra for a loner... They haven't responded yet but I have my 10k service coming up and will address it then.

 

I don’t use flex fuel at all. I’ve heard it’s the FFE engines/ computer acting up when it’s cold out. Could be the battery tho. I haven’t changed mine out yet

 

This place. I have it on both Tundras and my boat too.

 

I have this exact issue. Posted about it on here. In the middle of last summer I drove about 100 miles let it sit for an hour, went to crank it and it would turn over rev up and die. Happened about 7 times in a row. About 30 min after that, it was fine again. Fast forward to this winter, it would crank, rpms dip and then It levels off. Or it starts very low and slow almost sluggish and then the rpms level off. Took it to the dealer and the assistant manager immediately said they’ve seen this a lot with the flex fuels. It’s something to do with the alcohol content when using 87 octane. They tested my alcohol levels and guess what???? They were off slightly. Their recommendation was to use 89 octane at least in the winter. I filled up 3 consecutive times with 89 and could only tell a very very slight difference. Not enough to keep me paying the 89 prices.

I’ve switched to 87 and think they are slightly full of shit. I live in South Carolina where temps don’t get crazy low and this happens in the morning in my garage which is usually between 62 and 70 degrees in the winter. I’d me more inclined to buy this story if it happened when I was starting in 20 degrees and didn’t happen in my 65 degree garage.