Why won't my Toyota Pickup start when it's hot, or when it's cold?

Short answer: If your Toyota Pickup cranks but won't restart 20 to 40 minutes after a hot shutdown, members suggested vapor lock (pour water on the fuel rail and see if it starts), a weakening fuel pump, or a heat-sensitive ignition part such as the igniter or pickup coil. If it's hard to start cold, a bad coolant temperature sensor is a top suspect; on a 22RE 4Runner with the same engine, a faulty one made the computer flood the engine on hot starts.

Symptom: It starts cold on the first try and runs fine, but after a stop it cranks and won't start. Or it takes 15 to 20 tries to start on a cold morning.

What to check first

1. When it won't restart hot, try pouring cool water over the fuel rail. If it starts, think vapor lock. Then try the coil.
2. Give it a short shot of starting fluid when it won't start. If it fires, it's fuel.
3. Have fuel pressure checked to rule out a weak pump.
4. Have the coolant temperature sensor checked for the computer, not just the gauge.
5. Read any stored codes and check the cold start timing switch on the 22RE.

Likely causes

1. Vapor lock or weak fuel pump. Suggested for the 1988 V6 hot no-start.
2. Heat-sensitive igniter or pickup coil. Members said these can fail when hot.
3. Faulty coolant temperature sensor. Fixed a 22RE that flooded on hot starts; also suggested for cold no-starts.
4. Cold start timing switch. Mentioned for the 22RE.
5. Leaking fuel pressure regulator. Another suspect for hot-start flooding.

What it usually costs

No owner posted prices.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A truck that won't restart can strand you, but it isn't dangerous while parked. Don't keep cranking for long stretches, which can overheat the starter. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for the water and starting fluid tests, sensors and regulator checks. Fuel pump replacement is more work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists no recall for starting or fuel on the Toyota Pickup in the model years we could check on 2026-10-26 (the recall lookup returned an error for 3 model-year queries). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: No recall we found matches this problem, so it's a normal repair, not a free recall fix. Still run your VIN, since other recalls may be open.
• NHTSA complaints: 29 keyword-matched complaints for Toyota Pickup 1984–1995 (of 384 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-26; keywords: no start, stall, hard start, hot, cold, flood, vapor). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 1988 Toyota pickup won't start when hot on Car Talk, a V6 manual pickup started fine cold but wouldn't start 20 to 40 minutes after shutting off. Members suggested testing for vapor lock by pouring water over the fuel rail, then the coil, and said heat-sensitive igniters and pickup coils can fail this way. Others suggested a starting fluid test and said a weakening fuel pump can make vapor lock worse.
• In 93 Toyota pickup won't start when cold on Car Talk, a 22RE pickup took 15 to 20 tries to start cold even after a new cold start injector. Members suggested reading codes, the coolant temperature sensor, fuel pressure, and the cold start timing switch on the intake.
• In Toyota 22RE flooding on hot start on Car Talk, a 1990 4Runner with the same 22RE engine flooded on hot starts. A member suggested checking the fuel pressure regulator for leaks. The owner reported the dealer found a faulty coolant temperature sensor that made the computer think the engine was always cold.

Quick tip

One cheap sensor can cause both hot and cold start trouble on a 22RE. Have the coolant temperature sensor checked early.

Vehicle focus: 1984–1995 Toyota Pickup (22RE four and 3.0L V6).

Safety / mechanic note

Starting fluid is flammable. Use it sparingly with the engine off. Verify with a mechanic.