# 1999 Tacoma- Inconsistent Starting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 1, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702 "2009-07-01T06:12:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![timmyinthetube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@timmyinthetube](https://community.cartalk.com/u/timmyinthetube)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702/1 "2009-07-01T06:12:50Z")

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I have a 1999 stock tacoma that’s in pretty good condition. Over the last several months i have been experiencing inconsistencies in how it starts. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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**Author:** ![budd2049](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@budd2049](https://community.cartalk.com/u/budd2049)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702/2 "2009-07-01T06:49:54Z")

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What exactly are “inconsistencies”? Doesn’t rotate, rotates without firing, fires for a moment then dies, does it when cold, does it when hot, etc? Some details about the problem are needed to help us better diagnose the issue.

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**Author:** ![timmyinthetube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@timmyinthetube](https://community.cartalk.com/u/timmyinthetube)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702/3 "2009-07-02T04:31:08Z")

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it usually happens when it is hot. it will rotate but take a lot longer to start and once it does start to turn over it will sputter and die. If i give it a little gas when it starts it usually works.  
It seems like when it starts cold i can hold the key for about a second and it turns over every time. It is inconsistent when its hot/warm and i have to hold the key longer for it to turn over. thats when it sometimes sputters and dies or i have to give it a little gas to get it going.  
Thanks for your response. Any more information is greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702/4 "2009-07-02T16:37:58Z")

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Not a cure; but a diagnosis: during start, hold the pedal to the metal until it starts. As it starts, let up on the gas pedal. Did this help? Tell us. #2. Before you crank, turn the ignition switch ON for two seconds, and OFF, three times; then START. Results? Tell us.

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**Author:** ![timmyinthetube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@timmyinthetube](https://community.cartalk.com/u/timmyinthetube)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-tacoma-inconsistent-starting/32702/5 "2009-07-11T21:47:10Z")

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the pedal to the metal method works, but the on and off three times method didnt help. it took me a while to respond because it didnt happen for a coulple of weeks but then it happened like 3 times in a row which is not normal. any suggestions? thanks again.