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Asked: Mar 31, 2009 - 09:29 AM

Status: Closed

2009 Toyota Tacoma (Colorado) hard to start in cold weather.

Cold mornings the truck is hard to start. Need to pump the gas pedal a few times then the truck starts. Is this normal ?

In Vehicle Type > Truck
In Makes & Models > Toyota > Tacoma
In Maintenance & Repair > Engine > No start
4 answers - 236 days ago

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mr_shiftright

Date: Mar 31, 2009
Time: 01:00 PM

Pumping the gas pedal doesn't really do anything. That's just an air flap (throttle plate) in a fuel injected car. You can dance on that pedal for ten hours and it won't put one drop of gas in your engine.

Having said that, the position of the throttle plate does send a signal to the computer. Ideally, on a cold day the gas pedal should barely be touched. A cold engine should be harder to start with the gas pedal in motion than if it is closed----so your actions suggest that the gas pedal has nothing to do with it and that maybe you have a sensor problem related to cold start enrichment.

Best thing to do is read the owner's manual on the proper way to start the car. All cars are a bit different here. Since you are under warranty, I'd take it back and have them "dial it in" and make sure you are getting proper fuel enrichment on cold start.


avatar

steve_

Date: Mar 31, 2009
Time: 02:03 PM

Some people find that their cars start a bit easier if they turn the ignition to ON for ~5 seconds to let the fuel system pressurize.

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mr_shiftright

Date: Mar 31, 2009
Time: 04:07 PM

Oh THAT'S a good idea---or perhaps you have a problem with the fuel pressure regulator, and so the fuel pressure in the fuel rail bleeds out overnight, requiring you to crank and crank in order to re-pressurize the fuel rail with the fuel pump. You might have the dealer check fuel rail pressure after the car sits for a while.

avatar

canddmeyer

Date: Apr 01, 2009
Time: 04:20 AM

If all the recommendations fail, take it to the dealer.....of course it may have to stay overnight to duplicate the condition. The warranty should cover everything but a rent-a-car.

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