iPhone will not start iTunes but will sync manually

I don't get what your question is. If you have photos in your camera roll, iPhoto will open automatically. Just copy them to your computer and iPhoto won't open. If you have auto sync enabled, iTunes will open and sync otherwise iTunes won't open. What is your 'problem'?

You still aren't clear. Enable auto sync to start iTunes automatically.
???

What he is saying is that iTunes used to LAUNCH automatically when you plug in an iPhone. I noticed this as well with the latest updates it no longer launches automatically. If you plug in your iPhone via USB you'll now have to manually click iTunes in the dock to launch it as well. I haven't checked to see if this is settings issue or not, but I do have the same thing going on here.

Plug your iPhone in and open iTunes. On the summary page there will be an option to check to open iTunes automatically when iPhone connects

I have the same problem. ITunes is set to start automatically when iPhone is plugged in, but it does not. In addition iCal events and Contacts created on the iPhone will not sync to my powerbook. So I have three major issues that many people seems to have. I have spent hours trying all the work arounds to get these three issues resolved, but nothing has worked. The best I can figure is that these three problems all showed up in Leopard and hopefully Apple will resolve these problems in a future update (please!).

Same Issue here, with a new clue. It all worked as advertised even after 10.5 install, 10.5.1 update, and iTunes 7.6 update. Last week because a clock issue Apple could not resolve, the Apple Tech Support Specialist had me rebuild my user as a "new" user since the clock problem did not persist under a separate user.
After I tried syncing my iPhone in the new user profile, iPhoto opens automatically, but iTunes no longer opens on its own and starts the sync. I have all the right boxes checked, but I have open iTunes, then it jumps into auto and starts the sync.

If you reinstall iTunes in the same location as it is now it should fix the problem. I was having the same problem, I reinstalled iTunes and it did the trick. You shouldn't lose any of your songs or tv shows. Just go to this website,

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Download the installer and let it install. That should do it.

Well that was easy! Thanks so much. Worked just as you said and I am back in full auto. Appreciate it!