Yesterday I was driving my 4runner and was passing another vehicle when under acceleration the engine just died. Fortunately, I was able to get off the road safely. I tried to restart the vehicle and it wouldn't start. I called 3A and had the 4runner towed to the local shop. Got the truck on the ground and the shop owner went out and put the key in the ignition and truck started right up. I was like WTF. He still has the 4runner and hasn't been able to duplicate the problem.

I appreciate any input on what could have caused this problem. I'll add that it idle as nothing had happened.

What year vehicle and engine size ?

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1996 5vz

I had a problem sort of similar to this. I was romping in the desert with my completely stock 2000 SR5. It might be considered abuse, but I was flooring it around roads and small trails like it was a trophy truck and it handled like a champ (weak, V6 champ) and didn't break. However when I parked it back at camp and went to take it out next time, it would start. It sounded happy, but never kept going after taking it off ignition. Had no idea what was wrong, everything under the hood looked fine and the battery was relatively new and was turning it over plenty enough.

Then I thought, why not just gas it a little? So I turned it to start and gave just a little bit of gas and stayed on it (maybe 1000rpm) while I took it out of start and back into the On position. I let off on the gas, and it just idled like it normally should. That was over a year ago, and to this day I have no idea why it did that, but I haven't had the problem since.

So my advice is to take the key completely out, and then give it some gas when starting it. It didn't die mid-acceleration, but I have had the engine just turn off if I give it all the beans and then immediately let go of the gas. But that only happens if I hit the rev limit (5500rpm I think).

It could also be something more serious, but there's my 2 cents.

The earlier years that don't have the drive by wire with the throttle cable there just for a failsafe.

Any maintenance done on the fuel system itself. Like fuel filter change. Any CEL lights indicating a electrical sensor failure?

As this is sounding like a fuel issue or crank sensor flaking that could kill the engine like that. If the ECU loses the crank sensor signal the engine will shut off instantly and will not start.

So you punched it down to pass and it shutdown.. Then it all cools off sits for a while and fires up like nothing happened.

I would start at the fuel system. Making sure the fuel filter isn't plugged and that you have good pressure at the fuel rails for the injectors.

If you see a pile of gunk in the filter, Then the tank will have to be checked. Might luck out and just be a dirty fuel filter too.

It seems there been a rash recently of folks having plugged fuel filters or plugged screens in their fuel tanks as of late.

Then verify the crank sensor is good and functioning properly. If the vehicle runs which it seems to be doing. It probably is unless its starting to intermediately flake.

To die like that is telling me fuel or ignition issue.

Thanks for your input I've answered your questions above.

Double check all engine grounds and ECU ground points. Bad/loose ground wire could be shutting off the fuel delivery system.

I'm sure he (mechanic) is doing that today. I should be see him shortly and hopefully, he has found the problem.

I had a similar experience two weeks ago. I accelerated from a red light only to see my RPMs shoot up but the 4Runner didn't go over 30-35mph. I made sure it was not in sport mode, which it was not, and it did the same thing again on next red light. Figuring it was in a fail safe mode, I parked it and had it towed to a reputable transmission place in town. They called the next day and said they drove it for over an hour an could not get it to replicate happened the day before. They hooked it up to their diagnostic equipment but saw no codes. Not sure what to think.

Let us know what the mechanic finds out.. We are always a curious bunch and like the OP to post the solution to their issue as well as it may help another forum member out down the road. Glad you were not injured when it decided to shut off. :-)

Manual transmission.

[QUOTE=brillo_76;3372882]Let us know what the mechanic finds out.. We are always a curious bunch and like the OP to post the solution to their issue as well as it may help another forum member out down the road. Glad you were not injured when it decided to shut off.

Well my mechanic wasn't able to find anything. He wants to keep it one more day. They've driven it 1/2 dozen times and no problem. I stopped by and also drove it for about 5 miles also nothing. Guess it is drive until it breaks.

[QUOTE=Roland;3373196] My 2000 did this exact thing. Was passing someone on the highway and it just cut out and died. Mine would start then immediately die, if I remember right. Let it cool and it did the same thing. Got it towed and worked on it the next day. I was sure it was the fuel pump. Did a couple test (voltage at pump and fuel flow out of the return line) then put it back together and it started up the same way but this time I gave it gas like one of the previous posters did and I could keep it running a little longer as it was trying to die. Each time I did this it would stay running a little longer. Then on about the 4th or 5th time it started up and ran and idled like normal. Never had that problem again (for about another 18 months or 20K miles)

Just drove it home (about 10 miles) and it ran just like it always has. I'm going to reset the computer and drive it and see what happens.

A real head scratcher. Maybe it was a batch of bad gas? Water in the lines? Who knows.