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Not starting well

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by donnermel, Dec 24, 2024.

  1. Dec 24, 2024 at 4:05 PM
    #1
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    Hi all,

    My 4Runner is slow to start, sometimes. Doesn’t seem like it’s the battery (it’s a red top less than 2 yrs old), I don’t know if it’s the alternator. Could it be a fuel pump? It feels like it’s not getting enough gas to start. This problem only happens 60% of the time when starting now. But it’s getting worse. Any ideas?
     
  2. Dec 24, 2024 at 5:20 PM
    #2
    Imdav2u

    Imdav2u Living and dying in three quarter time.

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    Does it seem to lag when starting or does the motor spin pretty fast? If it's spinning over like normal and not firing, you have another ussue.
     
  3. Dec 24, 2024 at 5:31 PM
    #3
    Charlievee

    Charlievee Not new member.

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    Eibach stage 2, load lifter kit, Maggie w/ OTT tune... Other stuff.
    Optima red top?
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2024
    donnermel[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  4. Dec 24, 2024 at 5:36 PM
    #4
    cuse93

    cuse93 Ice Station Zebra

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    I'd start with a fresh tank of 93 octane fuel and a can of Seafoam
     
  5. Dec 24, 2024 at 7:40 PM
    #5
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    Dobinsons lift and UCA, RCI sliders and front engine skid, H9 bulb swap, Sprint Booster, KnN air filter, Canvasback covers, Raingler cargo net, AVS Window Shade deflectors, Heritage Grill with raptor lights Summer Wheels: Ryder RR03 matte gunmetal with Falken Wildpeaks 285/75/17 Winter Wheels: 18” KD Wheels with Blizzaks Rack is OEM - but changed to black with LFD crossbars Diode Dynamics Ss3 fogs
    Yes
     
  6. Dec 24, 2024 at 7:40 PM
    #6
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    Dobinsons lift and UCA, RCI sliders and front engine skid, H9 bulb swap, Sprint Booster, KnN air filter, Canvasback covers, Raingler cargo net, AVS Window Shade deflectors, Heritage Grill with raptor lights Summer Wheels: Ryder RR03 matte gunmetal with Falken Wildpeaks 285/75/17 Winter Wheels: 18” KD Wheels with Blizzaks Rack is OEM - but changed to black with LFD crossbars Diode Dynamics Ss3 fogs
    It definitely lags when I try to start it.
     
    Imdav2u[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Dec 24, 2024 at 7:43 PM
    #7
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    Dobinsons lift and UCA, RCI sliders and front engine skid, H9 bulb swap, Sprint Booster, KnN air filter, Canvasback covers, Raingler cargo net, AVS Window Shade deflectors, Heritage Grill with raptor lights Summer Wheels: Ryder RR03 matte gunmetal with Falken Wildpeaks 285/75/17 Winter Wheels: 18” KD Wheels with Blizzaks Rack is OEM - but changed to black with LFD crossbars Diode Dynamics Ss3 fogs
    That’s a great idea. Seafoam is added to the oil? What about adding something to my fuel?
     
  8. Dec 24, 2024 at 7:43 PM
    #8
    Imdav2u

    Imdav2u Living and dying in three quarter time.

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    I live in the most hated state in America
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    You can go to Autozone or O'Reilly and they can test it for free. If you trust your dealer you can have it tested there, my daughter's battery died in her Rav4, the dealer in Murray Kentucky installed a 7 year Toyota battery for $193 out the door.
     
    donnermel[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  9. Dec 24, 2024 at 7:44 PM
    #9
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    Dobinsons lift and UCA, RCI sliders and front engine skid, H9 bulb swap, Sprint Booster, KnN air filter, Canvasback covers, Raingler cargo net, AVS Window Shade deflectors, Heritage Grill with raptor lights Summer Wheels: Ryder RR03 matte gunmetal with Falken Wildpeaks 285/75/17 Winter Wheels: 18” KD Wheels with Blizzaks Rack is OEM - but changed to black with LFD crossbars Diode Dynamics Ss3 fogs
    Great idea. I actually bought it at OReillys.
     
  10. Dec 24, 2024 at 7:47 PM
    #10
    cuse93

    cuse93 Ice Station Zebra

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    Add it to your gas tank when you fill up with fresh 93 octane
     
    donnermel[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  11. Dec 25, 2024 at 7:02 AM
    #11
    Charlievee

    Charlievee Not new member.

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    Eibach stage 2, load lifter kit, Maggie w/ OTT tune... Other stuff.
    My experience with the optima batteries, their warranty is better than the battery. Easy to have it tested at a box store.
     
    JET4 likes this.
  12. Dec 25, 2024 at 7:41 PM
    #12
    Hungryhawk

    Hungryhawk New Member

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    Your runner is several years old and the wiring is several years old. I had a red battery cable to starter motor corrode inside the red insulation.
    It passed voltage fot testing but not the current/amps needed to start. If you decide to replace parts I suggest least expensive first.
    Any chance you got some bad fuel?
     
  13. Feb 8, 2025 at 8:45 AM
    #13
    TN_FunRunner

    TN_FunRunner New Member

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    Did you get it figured out @donnermel?
    I am having a similar issue w/ my 4th gen. It will lag on start sometimes. The alternator was on its way out, so I replaced that but now it will still lag sometimes on startup. Going to put in a bottle of Techron and fill it up w/ fresh gas today and see how that goes.
    The battery tested good at Autozone. Runs like a top after it starts up so leads me to believe it may be the starter or a weak battery (even though it tested good). Just curious to see what your fix was.
     
    donnermel[OP] likes this.
  14. Feb 8, 2025 at 9:59 AM
    #14
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    Optima is trash these days, plus the standard electrical system can’t charge an AGM battery correctly.
     
    JET4, 1SilverRunner and Grandpawmoses like this.
  15. Feb 9, 2025 at 6:02 AM
    #15
    Grandpawmoses

    Grandpawmoses Dirty Old Man

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    This ^^^
    AGM batteries require electrical adjustments to charge them correctly.
     
    aleggsue likes this.
  16. Feb 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM
    #16
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    Dobinsons lift and UCA, RCI sliders and front engine skid, H9 bulb swap, Sprint Booster, KnN air filter, Canvasback covers, Raingler cargo net, AVS Window Shade deflectors, Heritage Grill with raptor lights Summer Wheels: Ryder RR03 matte gunmetal with Falken Wildpeaks 285/75/17 Winter Wheels: 18” KD Wheels with Blizzaks Rack is OEM - but changed to black with LFD crossbars Diode Dynamics Ss3 fogs
    I haven’t figured it out totally. But I’ve been filling it up with 91 at Chevron the last few times and it’s starting slow a lot less now. I have no idea if I got bad gas or need a new alternator. But for now- I’m just crossing my fingers!
     
    TN_FunRunner[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Feb 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
    #17
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    Before you had said it was “lagging”. What does that mean?

    Is the starter motor cranking very slow? If it is, then it’s your battery, or corrosion on wires, or something electrical along those lines.

    But if the starter motor cranks strong, but the engine itself doesn’t catch, start, and stay running smoothly…then it might be an issue with a dirty throttle body, dirty mass air flow sensor, dirty air filter with mice in, or possibly fueling issues.
     
  18. Feb 9, 2025 at 11:57 PM
    #18
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    Does anyone actually load test their batteries? Just because it’s 2 years old doesn’t mean it hasn’t gone bad. A slow crank would point to the battery. Check connections and load test the battery.

    Seafoam doesn’t do jack sheet on a vehicle you drive and maintain properly.
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2025
    Saker likes this.
  19. Feb 10, 2025 at 5:34 AM
    #19
    1SilverRunner

    1SilverRunner My boy, blue

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    ^This is the answer OP
     
  20. Feb 10, 2025 at 6:14 AM
    #20
    RumHamRunner73

    RumHamRunner73 Dead on with a zero

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    Need to dig out the OG load tester from my toolbox that wrecked batteries, and glowed red during use.
     
    Saker likes this.
  21. Feb 12, 2025 at 6:07 AM
    #21
    donnermel

    donnermel [OP] New Member

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    I’ve tested my battery, it’s fine. I’ve changed my air filter, I’m only running 89 or 91 fuel for the moment. I’m not sure how to check the mass air flow sensor or the throttle body but those are great ideas. When I said it lags at starting sometimes- like it’s making the starter sound but not catching. It doesn’t do it all the time either. The cold starts in the morning are normally fine too. But after I’ve been driving it. Let it sit for 1/2 hr, then start it again is where I have problems. It always eventually starts, but I really feel like it’s not going to one of these times.
     
  22. Feb 12, 2025 at 6:44 AM
    #22
    Technologic80

    Technologic80 Sexy Member

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    Can you take some video of it doing this and post it? I feel like it would help us, help you.

    Also Optima used to be cool like 20 years ago, they've been trash for some time. Thats why people keep circling back around to it. But lets not focus on that until we get some video.
     
    donnermel[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  23. Feb 12, 2025 at 8:25 AM
    #23
    JET4

    JET4 Old Member

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    Take it to a dedicated car electrical place and have them check the battery. I was having weak starts and Autozone checked and said the battery was fine. I kept having problems and went to a car electrical place and they checked the battery and said it was bad. Put in a new battery and have no more problems.
     
  24. Feb 12, 2025 at 8:28 AM
    #24
    Photon_Chaser

    Photon_Chaser 51,023 and counting…

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    A simple DIY is to monitor the battery’s terminal voltage while cranking. If you measure below 10 volts your battery is suspect…either needs a proper charge or replacement.

    edit: the rest of my post vaporized so I’m adding it back here…

    The 10 volt margin is for a typical Lead Acid…for AGM, which should be at least 12.6v prior to starting should not fall below 12V under load.
     
  25. Feb 12, 2025 at 10:04 AM
    #25
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    Do you have a check engine light after it starts up. Have you checked for codes?
     
  26. Feb 12, 2025 at 10:26 AM
    #26
    TN_FunRunner

    TN_FunRunner New Member

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    Well on my 4th gen that was having a similar issue. We just put a new battery on it. It tested good at Autozone but a couple of weeks of this mess and took it to Oreilly and they said it has a bad cell. Took it to Walmart and they said the same thing and we bought a new battery from them. Installed and starts perfectly again. Just letting you know what resolved our issue. Could be worth load testing it if you have not yet.
     
  27. Feb 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
    #27
    3JOH22A

    3JOH22A トヨタ純正男娼

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    So the Optima battery is not to blame. Could be a degraded fuel pump. Was the fuel level low in the tank when you had the starting problems?
     
  28. Feb 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
    #28
    leftyfire

    leftyfire New Member

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    I agree. Check the fuel pump or the fuel pump module making sure its getting the proper signal from the ECU to turn on correctly every time you go to start the 4R. Just my 2 cents.
     

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