Hard start, code P1604

MADHUR.KR

MEMBER
2012 TOYOTA COROLLA
1.8L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

Hello everyone, so I bought a used car for my girlfriend. Recently I have been going to a new mechanic. I went in for a routine checkup even though the car had no issues. He asked me to change the sparkplugs and serpentine belt on my 175,000 driven car. I agreed to it and it was driving fine for the first week. Later, the car started having issues starting up the first time after idle for too long. Upon inserting an OBDII scanner it shows the code P1604. I have checked the battery and it is fine, I also recently changed the air filter. This has been going on for a week now and even though it takes a bit longer the car does start after a few cranks initially. If I turn the car off and start it within the next few seconds the car starts right up without issue or any noise. This makes me believe there is no problem with my starter. The mechanic told me that it is probably a bad fuel pump and told me that the fuel pump needs to be replaced. I really do not have a lot of money so I am trying to figure out the problem before paying the amount.
Car listed above is the S model.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

This code is just telling you the engine did not start when you tried to start it or it started and then stalled. Usually we already know that since the engine didn't start. :)

However, they give a lot of different tests to try and diagnose this code but I suspect the advice you got was correct. So let's start with the fuel pump by checking pressure.

Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

I am attaching the info below of the code and how to check fuel pressure on this vehicle. This is one where it does not have a Schrader valve so you need to remove a line and splice in the gauge.

You will see on the info on the code that the fuel system is one of the causes and the fact that the engine does start and run after a few tries points to the fact that this is a pressure related issue.

Please run through this info and let us know what you find with this and we can go from there.

Thanks

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