[epg_man]

Got this weird crank, no start situation on my 2013 corolla (2ZR-FE). Suddenly, it just didn't start so I checked the basic stuff: battery was good, I had good spark, had fuel, didn't find anything wrong. Only code was P1604, which I suppose came up after so many failed attempts to start the car. Then I tried to start it with my foot on the gas pedal, full open throttle. After a few seconds struggling, it finally started.

Since then, the car is behaving absolutely normal, no startability issues, driving fine. So, what the heck??

I'm thinking it's got to be some intake issue? I didn't find any reference in the manual to an idle air controller, doesn't it have one??

Any ideas/suggestions would be highly appreciated.

 

[Chuy]

Interesting code, it just indicates you had a hard time starting the car. I’m guessing it is for the mechanic to see if the problem persists. I‘m guessing a solenoid valve is sticking/malfunctioning. I hope you figure it out.

 

[new echo owner]

Drive-By-Wire, no IAC!

From your description, you can was flooded; putting the pedal to the floor basically is the clear flood mode for fuel injected vehicles!
How do you use your vehicle? Short distance driving? Always fully warm the vehicle up?

 

[Turdcel]

Try jumping it next time. I had a battery that was getting weak and had the same problem. New battery fixed it.

 

[epg_man]

Drive-By-Wire, no IAC!

From your description, you can was flooded; putting the pedal to the floor basically is the clear flood mode for fuel injected vehicles!
How do you use your vehicle? Short distance driving? Always fully warm the vehicle up?

Thks for replying... It's my daily driver, typically 30min drive each way.

So you're saying the cylinders had too much fuel due to the repeated attempts to start the car, and that lead to flood mode. When I stepped on gas pedal, flood mode was cleared and the car was happy again, is that so?

If that's the case, then why did it fail to start in the first place?

 

[new echo owner]

That was the correction step you took to get the engine to run, not the cause of the starting issue!

What is the mileage and condition of your vehicle? Maintainence up-to-date? What was the temperature when the starting issue happened?
There are different things that can cause a starting issue, if that is the only time it had happened, you may not be able to do much except double check the basic items, spark plugs, air filter, etc! Hope that it won't happen again.

 

[epg_man]

That was the correction step you took to get the engine to run, not the cause of the starting issue!

What is the mileage and condition of your vehicle? Maintainence up-to-date? What was the temperature when the starting issue happened?
There are different things that can cause a starting issue, if that is the only time it had happened, you may not be able to do much except double check the basic items, spark plugs, air filter, etc! Hope that it won't happen again.

yeah, that was a one and only event, didn't reproduce since then. The car is in pretty good shape, 80k-ish miles, all maintenance done as recommended by toyota, I haven't had any problem with this car, except for this no start issue a few weeks ago. Temperature was probably under 40 when the issue happened.

I was reading about flooding when u mentioned that: A Flooded Engine | EricTheCarGuy

"Probably the most common cause of this failure is short tripping, meaning driving a short distance and shutting the engine off. This does not allow for a full warm-up and fools the fuel injection system when you go to restart it later. It adds too much fuel, and thus you get the flooded condition. "

This may have happened, I was trying to remember when this problem started and the corolla was parked behind my wife's car, blocking her way. I drove the car for 30sec to get it out of the way and next time I tried to start it, it didn't... So who knows, maybe that is what flooded the engine?

 

[new echo owner]

A lot of things can add up to those infrequent one time issues; just make sure the car is up to snuff!
80k-ish, maybe pull the spark plugs out to check their conditions. While sparkplugs can sometimes last longer, but that also depends on how the vehicle is being used.
Can't remember what plugs came with the car, if they are Iridium, their recommended replacement interval is 120k, others sooner. Nevertheless, if they look questionable, won't hurt throwing in a new set, you can say cheap insurance!

 

[JIMTOYCAM]

How was the weather that day and earlier, very wet and humid.

 

[epg_man]

How was the weather that day and earlier, very wet and humid.

Yeah, I'm in western WA, so wet and humid it is! ;-)

Does that make it more likely to happen?

 

[JIMTOYCAM]

Just another wild guess?
Condensation can penetrate any material and cause a disruption.