I recently obtained a 88 4runner sr5. When starting the car after it has warmed up and is still warm, but has not been driven for say 30min to 4 hours. The car idles extremely ruff, and feels as if it is certainly going to die, then when driving the car jumps (extremely sudden tiny acceleration) and you have a really hard time accelerating it is very slow, and then suddenly it will take off like it just realized that you had the gas half way down. All of it will stop after about 2 or 3 minutes, just long enough for the car to warm up after everything stops it runs wonderful until turned off. I have no problems starting it when cold. Drives great, also I guess starting the car works fine, just driving it is the problem. The engine is a 22re if you want to know 4cyl and I already checked and re-adjusted the TPS and it didn't seem to help any. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I had that problem one time and it was a broken distributor. Of course that is the last thing to check. It could be anything within the fuel or firing system. Check the distributor cap and the rotor button first to see if there is any cracks or corrosion. Check all of your plug wires and make sure there is no problem there. Check your spark plugs and look for black soot, warn buttons, or any other deposits that would make it not fire properly. Change your fuel filter. Could be the fuel injectors too. I would just go ahead and change the plugs, wires, and fuel filter and if that doesn't fix the problem, then start looking at the distributor, fuel injectors, and the coil.

Great, i'll take a look at what i can today. I was thinking to replace the fuel filter anyway, don't know what the previous owner replaced... probably nothing. i'll get back as soon as i take a look under her hood.

Ok, so yesterday a bud and me did a little looking around and he brought a scanner so we could read the computer . The spark plugs and wires look good. Distributor is not cracked. Fuel filter is old, but that is all I know. The computer read a TPS error (I think it was old, before I readjusted it) and a VSS error. What was interesting was that he said it looked as if somebody tried to bypass the computer on the fuel injectors, and maybe tried to adjust them manually, if you can do that I am not sure. Could that cause the bad running when just started? If so how would I go about readjusting the fuel filters?

fuel injectors will wear out so that that squirt gas instead of mist gas (not the technical terms but you get the idea) Or they could be clogged up. My guess is that if someone already went to the trouble of messing with the computer for the injectors, they already tried cleaning out the fuel system, but you never know. I'm not sure if you could adjust them or not, it depends on what is wrong with them really.

You might have to replace them which would be the most expensive repalcement between everything I suggested you check. I don't know much about fuel injectors. More of a carb person.

I would consult someone else on this matter, or you could just replace them.

If it is reading TPS error you might want to remove it and make sure the spring load is not worn out. When putting it back on make sure the tabs are properly lined for the spring tension its going to cost you at least 180 for a new one at the stealership. I suggest going to the yard and pulling one or two. DON'T waste your time looking through the 22re motors on the trucks head over to the celicas.

THANKS!!! I did notice that the spring from the TPS that I pulled and re adjusted was really lose. I'll take the trip to the yard tomorrow pull one or maybe two, it's worth a try. And if not, that is one more part I don't have to worry about replacing for a little bit. Do you think this could have anything to do with the cold start injector? THANKS AGAIN.

well i had the same problem a week ago with my 88 sr5 and it turned out to be my O2 sensor...unplug it under the drivers seat and see if their is a change.. the guy i bought mine from put after market exhaust on it and failed to insert the O2 bung so he just strung it up next to the exhaust. it had no power at all until it got too 3500 RPMs then it was ok...just my 2 cents they get build up from time to time on them and when they finally get good and warm they seem to straighten up a little bit ....might just be dirty .

I am going to do some work on it today, drain and refill the trans fluid, replace the TPS, which by the way the spring on the original one was extremely warn out. And now check the o2 sensor. Hopefully something will help. Thanks for the tip

do you know what your fuel pressure readings are?

No i don't know what the fuel pressure readings are. I pulled and checked the o2 sensor, then cleaned it. Didn't seem to help much. should i shell out the $60 dollars to get a new one? Can i test it in some way? I plan to replace the TPS when i have a good couple of hours i don't need to do anything or go anywhere, so far i have not had the time. It seems to be the TPS, or maybe transmition, because if i push the clutch in, or stop pressing the accelerator the "jumping stops"

sure sounds like a tps problem. inspect your idle circuit for adjustment and operation. I wouldn't worry about replacing the 02 sensor till you fix your engine performance. just check if you have a good anolog signal coming out of your o2 sensor.

TPS first it will affect alot of things like the performance trust me I spent a few months banging my head on this issue I even let my truck sit for nearly 6 months because of it. Thats why I mentioned making sure the allignment is correct for the spring tension. 02 sensor is getting a misread because of it.

ALLRIGHT!! it worked, i finally got the time to put in a new TPS and what do you know everything stoped, sweet. Thanks for all the help. Runs smooth and clean now