I’m pretty sure when I bought this car, the dealer claimed a full tune up and new filters, fluids and plugs. I’ll have to dig up the sales paperwork to see if I “misremembered”... But given how tough — and bone dry — these crispy OEM Denso plugs were to remove, and how “dirty, but not too dirty, but not so clean that it’s recent” OEM air filter was... I’m leaning towards believing that these parts are original to this goddamn car. Maybe I’m crazy. If you’re wondering how I went down this path, my dad politely scolded me last night for not having checked the spark plugs. Sometimes the man has a point.
The old plugs were in so tight that each of them felt like they were going to snap on the first three-quarters turn. I made sure to lubricate the new ones. It was less than an hour job if you don’t include digging for unsorted tools and driving to the auto parts store.
I have since driven the car all day, with both short and long starting intervals to replicate the problem my wife has been having the past two weeks. It has started up every time like it’s supposed to. I would be so overjoyed if it was somehow fixed with just replacing the spark plugs, but I won’t hold my breath.
If it persists, testing the fuel pressure is next (there is no convenient testing port on the 1ZZ, I gotta stick in a T-SST somewheres near the firewall 😞). I’ve already checked all the relays and fuse pertaining to fuel pressure and fuel pump. I retested the battery and it passed.
I’ve already watched half a dozen videos on replacing the fuel assembly. I’m emotionally prepared to do it if necessary (it’s accessible under the backseat! Hooray!), but the assembly+pump+filter+incredibly poor aftermarket reviews make it juuuust expensive/painful enough to not just buy the parts as a precaution.
Thank you everyone who replied to my post yesterday, especially Demon-Xanth. I’ll report back in if the situation reappears...