Problems starting followed by stalling... sometimes
 

I have a 99 4Runner 4WD V6 with 100k miles. A few months ago I started experiencing a starting problem. It always starts when the 4Runner hasn't been used for a few hours and the engine is cold (morning or evening) regardless of outside temp. The starter seems to work like a champ here.

Once the engine is warm and then turned off for a only a few minutes (like every morning when I drop off the kids at day care), it will experience difficulty starting when I return to the car and try to re-start it only a few minutes after it was shut off.

It seems like it turns over every time, but like it's not getting enough fuel, perhaps? The engine seems to chug and the car shakes roughly. I'll have to hold the gas pedal down slightly for several minutes to keep it from stalling. Once I get the car in drive or reverse to start driving, it will run half the time, and stall the other half. Also, once I get the car driving, it seems to be getting enough gas to keep it from stalling.

When the engine is cold again, say an hour or two later, the car starts like new again. Hmmm. Any suggestions on what to look for to pinpoint this? Also, not sure if it's relevant but the timing belt was changed @ 97k miles -- this was after first starting problem occurred.

Thanks in advance for any help out there!
-Kyle

try the search feature (stalling, starting problems) lots of info about this subject

possibly a fuel filter issue.......... hard to tell with info provided