it's not on a complete cold start. engine block heater isn't the issue. let's put it this way...you can experience the problem at 68 degrees...not exactly brisk.

it's the trd reflash for the s/c. from my research, 98% of those being automatic.
rip out the ecu, put in a stock one and she will start up no problem.

also, most likely her primary cat has died. not mutually exclusive with the cold start issue.

 

I read as much as I could-basically what I am sensing is that it isn't maintaining a fuel stream or it has an electronic signal that cancels the run command.

Check the fuel filter and if they can the fuel pressure with just the switch on.

Check for vacuum leaks everywhere (you can do alittle of this)

Try starting the car after turning the ignition to on and pumping the accelerator pedal all the way three times (it's a carb trick but it might signal lack of fuel)

Push the auto stick all the way forward before trying to start it-if there is any slop it could sense the tranny is not in park (thick fluid might be hurting this)

I can't think of anything else that hasn't already been checked. Really try to find a secondary dealer-either Scion or Toyota (or even Lexus) and just state your issue and have them take a look.

These are things to try after all of this other stuff or in conjunction with it. The electronics and ECU could be the culprit too.

 

fuel filter and pressure are fine

no vac leaks

priming does nothing

doubtful

tried 3 different dealers/mechanics myself. issue is prone to auto s/c's


ecu is the problem. 1 dealer swapped with stock and had no problems on startup. but for obvious reasons, you can't run on a stock ecu. 'nuff said.

 

Dave I'll take a look at the invoice/summary papers in the morning and report back here I'm so sleepy that nothing of what was written in this thread makes sense to me right now

 

Could you explain this bit more? (see above post of me not following much at the moment lol) Thanks

 

Might have to try # 1 if everything else fails, thanks for th einput ;)

 

^

he meant a standalone. A rather retarded suggestion. That will cost you mucho dinero + tuning time. that is way too much overkill. its a sporadic annoyance..and not worth $2500 to fix. I'd rather cut my losses and just get another car.


And what I meant earlier was that the ecm reflash is the issue. How do I know? From my mental rolodex of all of the parts that were swapped I recalled the very first part the dealership tried. They pulled a stock ecu out, replaced it on mine and the car started up. Plugged mine back in and the problem came back.

So they chalked it up to bad ecm. They ordered another one for me, but then they had to reflash that one (you can't drive an s/c on a stock ecm) so it would work with the s/c
...guess what happened when they flashed that brand new ecm?

 

oddly enough... i have heard that my car (non-S/C M/T '07) has this problem too, though ive never experienced it.

my mom used to move my car after i went to work when i lived at home, and it would happen to her almost every day (she's been driving M/T cars ALL her life... never owned an A/T so it's not incompetence)

i personally have never had it happen to me, and as stated in the 1st page, it was always on a cold start for her too

definitely watching...

 

So..it was not realted to the issue I had with the front cat. My car still stalls.