1999 Toyota Avalon Cold starting issue

STEVE2CPS

MEMBER
1999 TOYOTA AVALON
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
189,000 MILES

1999 toyota avalon cold starting issue. Every morning I need to turn the key and wait for the dinging to stop before the car will start. Kind of like it needs to build fuel pressure first then it is ready. If I just jump in and turn the key it just misfires once and wont start. Just crank, crank, crank until I turn the key back, wait for the dinging to stop, then it fires right up. It only occurs first thing in the morning and once on the road there is no hesitation. Once warm it starts right up. My guess would be some sort of check valve that allows the fuel to drain back. Nobody seems to know because you only get once chance to start it and once running it cannot be duplicated. Any help for a DIY fix would be appreciated. Thanks

6 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Scan for codes and check fuelpressure with a gauge autoparts rent them.

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Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 AT 7:16 AM

STEVE2CPS

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4 POSTS

Thanks for the reply. I lost my pw so I could not get back to you. Picked up a pressure tester (warm enough to work on it outside) and hope to get the readings this weekend. I also want to check the fuel pressure regulator for any fuel blowby. Does anyone know where this might be located? I cannot find where there might be a trapdoor to get to the fuel tank if I need to replace the fuel pump. The tank is under the back seat but no access.

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Friday, March 7th, 2014 AT 6:47 PM

HMAC300

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The regulator is part of the fuel pump and you will probably need an adapter to check fuel pressure. You can remove the rear seat to get to fuel pump there is an access cover there

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Saturday, March 8th, 2014 AT 6:08 AM

STEVE2CPS

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Thanks for the photo and taking the time to respond. I wish I could be faster on this project but the car is used and I need to test so it is tricky. I didnt find the trap door under the seat. I can see the fuel tank underneath and where the pump might be so I will keep looking. Also looked for the fuse to disable the fuel pump (drop the pressure) before I hooked up the fuel pressure gauge but couldnt find that either. 4 fuse/relay boxes under the hood but no one that is specific to fuel pump. Another day.

I plan to replace the fuel filter when I am in there since it has 198k and the original filter.

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Sunday, March 9th, 2014 AT 8:44 PM

STEVE2CPS

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Hmac300:

Thanks for all the info. Well the fuel pressure testing proved to be not user friendly since it is a clip in adapter (Toyota over engineering) and not a hose I can clamp on to the pressure gauge so I gave up on that and just took a chance on what it might be based on other users testing, findings and resolutions.

I decided since the fuel pressure reg is in the tank and even if testing proved it was that part or the pump, I would have to go in there anyway so I just spent the money and replaced the reg and fuel pump (since I am in there, they were both original parts with 198k miles) and the fuel filter to complete the entire project.

Starts right up now and runs much smoother. YES!