My DEAD FRS Had to be Taken to the Dealership Yesterday
 

Yeah, yesterday was just one of those days I should have just stayed on the couch and watched Top Gear on XBL. But, I couldn't resist my local SCCA Solo Test and Tune day even though it was 35 degrees outside and sleeting on and off.

The morning started off ok and the car was running flawlessly. I was even able to post a few times on the "timed track area" that were impressive enough to make a few others in the STX class dread the day I get new tires! A couple trips around the skid pad and around the faster slalom courses and I thought that I would take a break for a while and watch some of the other drivers run around the timed section.

After about 30 minutes the cold and boredom started to set in so I went back to the car to get in a few more runs and when I turned the key, it started, sputtered and died. odd... After that, the car completely refused to fire up. It would crank and crank but no fire. That was the time when I watched a new kid in his MR2 run over my spare tire and jack that I had sitting near my car. (no, I didn't kill him but I wasn't in the best of moods:mad0259:). One of the guys had a scanner so we hooked it up to the car to look for codes or problems and nothing. As far as the ECU was concerned, the car was perfectly fine.

Fast forward two hours later, car still won't start so I finally said "F-it" and called roadside assistance. They came, got the car and the driver, being a fellow enthusiast graciously didn't tell Toyota where the car was or what I was doing with it before it died!

So I get a call from Toyota later telling me that they got my car all safe and sound and wanted to know what was wrong with it. I told them and he said, "that's strange. It started up just fine and runs perfect!". No CEL's, no codes, no evidence that anything was wrong at all! So when my wife took me to the dealer to pick up the car I chatted a bit with the service guy and he said it may have been possible that the vehicle disabling system may not have recognized my key and killed the fuel pump.

Car is still running fine the next day and no problems.

Anyone else have or heard of a problem like this?

Scott

Engine likely flooded due to poor cold-start programming.

Actually, I've suspected this as an issue because my BRZ has sputtered on startup on occasion. Kinda ghetto for it having 3k miles on it. Makes you wonder how this thing will run with 100k miles.

But many imports I've owned have had these sorts of issues on cold starts. Not sure why. But if it does it again, try utilizing the flood control function. WOT while cranking for 15-20 second intervals should clean out any excessive fuel from the cylinders.

My wife's car didn't start doing this sputtering thing until we switched to ethanol/oxygenated fuels.

To the people with cold start issues...have you tried priming the fuel system by turning the key to ACC for a couple of seconds and then cranking?

I had to do this with my Civic when starting in very cold weather sometimes.

I cant believe some people think 35F degrees is cold... They are too spoiled.

I never had to do this on either of my Civics (05 and 08ish) or the CR-Z. In the FR-S, I've done this lately, and it seems to let it crank easier than just going straight to cranking. I still have a couple of minor misses every startup, though it seems to be less than before.

hmm weird..car hates owner? j/k hope everything is ok now

Bro 50 degrees in Los Angeles is cold. Heater time.

I agree, here in Oklahoma, that simply 'chill-y' when it dropps to 6, THEN we consider that cold. But I imagine you up there in Canada have differing levels of tolerance.

:lol: 50 degrees in Seattle = T-shirt time!

You guys are bonkers.. its 64 out today and I stay rocking sweatshirt n sweat pants

It hasn't broken the 40s for quite a few weeks now, dipping into the teens on a rare occasion. That's t-shirt weather you're talking about.

I had multiple crank start once but I noticed I had just put the key and cranked really fast. Now I turn to ACC and don't crank until I hear the fuel pump finish priming. When I do it this way I haven't had any problems.

I haven't bothered checking, but can anyone confirm pressing the start button twice without depressing the clutch does the same thing? I believe that's ACC power, but I always just start the car.

i was in LA for vacation last christmas. it was so warm for me. we rent a convertible and had the top down the whole time and we were wearing just a shirt. the locals look at us weird.

Two people wearing one shirt and nothing else? I would have looked at you weird too :P

Without depressing clutch, ACC power is obtained pressing the button once. ACC power does not start the fuel pump, its for ACCesories like radio and lighter. Pressing the button a second time, (its called ON in a car with regular key), is when the fuel pump starts priming and the dash lights up like a Christmas tree.

Who cares what they're called! Whatever the key position is just before the key position for cranking, it's obtained by pressing the button twice and it primes the pump; that was the question.

I wonder if low fuel pressure causes poor fuel atomization, thus a flood condition? I've always attributed it to a poor cold-start tune, but perhaps this explanation makes more sense...

That certainly is possible but I would have thought a low fuel pressure condition would have thrown a CEL. Nothing.

Sorry for how long its been since an update guys but I have been super busy with work/life.

So its been 4 days and the car is still running perfect. I did some reading in the owner's manual and it seems that the car IS indeed fitted with an anti-theft immobilizer that kills the fuel system in the event that someone tries to start it with a key that doesn't have the chip inside. To date, that system crapping out on me is the most likely cause of what happened.

If this happens again, I'll be sure to update the thread.

Scott

I'm always amazed at how many people don't do this. Every time I get into a car, I turn the key to ACC, wait for the tach sweep, dash lights, and all gauges to come up, then I turn it to "On" (pump the gas once or twice if it's particularly cold out), wait a few secs, and then start it up. I guess I'm not in any rush to get where I'm going...

You know that part does absolutely nothing, right?

Clicking the door lock button an extra time, checking to make sure the oven is turned off (when you know it is), and knocking on wood (*knocks on wood*) doesn't either, but...

Just habits, I guess. Some may say (especially those who have had other cars where they just hop in, twist the key, take off, and never have a single problem) that all of it does absolutely nothing, but for me, even if placebo is in full effect, it does.

Wait I thought pressing the gas before you start squirted gas out of the carburetor acceleration enrichment thing?

I don't know if you're joking or what...but just in case this is a legitimate question.

Our cars are Electronically Fuel Injected, there is no Carburetor. Stepping on the gas with the engine turned off on a car with EFI does absolutely nothing other than opening the throttle body...and it only does that on cars with a cable throttle. Our throttle is Fly-By-Wire, so pressing the throttle with the engine off doesn't even move the throttle body....it does absolutely nothing whatsoever.

He was trolling bro...

Couldn't tell...some people come from the carburetor age and may not know how EFI works...I was legitimately answering the question just in case, wasn't ridiculing him or anything.

Carburetor enrichment thing? Cmon, that's so trolling..

I'm gonna go with my theory of flooding. It isn't common, but it does happen. Next time it happens use the flood-control option. Not sure if this car has flood-control, but it should. WOT while cranking cuts off injection to clear the combustion chambers in a flood condition.

Worth giving it a shot next time it does it... if it does it again. It could be a long while.

If it doesn't have flood control, you'll rev the piss out of a freshly started engine, not a good idea.

I can confirm the car does have flood control. Floor the throttle, push the button, car cranks over until the gas pedal is released. Then she fires up!