1986 22RE - May have taken on a little water...

[thegray1]

So this is my first real post here. Bought me a 1986 4Runner 22RE manual with only 138k original miles back in March or April. Haven't had to do much to the truck, it has ran great. I have no idea what all has been done to the truck in the past, I think it has had multiple owners, and the kid I bought it from didn't know anything about it's history. But I bought it for woods riding so I didn't care too much. It is a great truck and I absolutely love it.

Now to my problem. Went riding last Friday night after about a week of constant rain here in North Florida. Came to a hole that I knew was too deep, and attempted to go around it. Well I ended up slipping off into the hole, and started taking on water. Water came up about 6 inches about the bottom of the door on the passenger side. Muffler was under as well. Ended up stuck and engine shut off. Got pulled out about 15 mins later. Let it drain for a bit, made sure the air box was dry (it was, no water at all) and fired right up. Ran for about 2 mins and it idled down and shut off. Then I couldn't really get it started. Went to work on it the next day. Pulled the plugs and turned it over, didn't really shoot any water out but some gas did come out. Changed the oil, oil filter, new plugs, and new fuel and air filter. Cleaned the MAF sensor with some cleaner and cleaned out the air box.

As far as I can tell my engine didn't really get that wet. Like I said it was the passenger side that was in the water, so I know my air intake didn't suck up any water.

Truck will now start up but idles rough with the MAF plugged in. Evens out when I rev it up but then when it idles down it acts like its about to shut off (but doesn't) and keeps running rough. Without the MAF plugged in, it idles great, but bogs when I hit the gas. Took it for a test drive with MAF unplugged, ran great in 1st gear, but as soon as I went to 2nd and gave more throttle I got no response, just bogged down.

Seems like the MAF is responding and the engine is getting enough air flow. I have reached the end of my automotive knowledge, I am learning as I go with this one. Any suggestions on what to do next? I have done plenty of searching, just haven't found anyone with my exact problem. I am hoping I don't need a new MAF sensor. Haven't done the little test on it yet.

 

[nicnmike]

Is it possible you clogged your cat with mud when you shut it down in the hole?

 

[thegray1]

Engine Codes

Don't have a cat so can't be that!

Finally got around to figuring out how to check the engine codes. Here is what shows. Pulled this off 4crawler's site.

2 - defective AFM or ECU
5 - defective o2 or ECU
6 - defective ignitor circuit, ignitor, distributor, or ECU
8 - defective intake air thermo sensor circuit
12 - defective knock control sensor circuit, knock control sensor, or ECU

Sooo...since "defective ECU" is found to be a possibility on every single code is throws, I am guessing there is a pretty good chance I friend my ECU. That is the side of the truck that went under, so it is likely. Can shops test the ECU if I disconnect it from the truck or does it have to driven in?

 

[helo-mech]

There are EFI checks in the FSM that you can do. They start on page 194.

Link for 85 FSM here. It I think it is the same as a 86, but someone will probably speak up if it is not.

 

[Clone of the Mean]

Water in the dist cap????

 

[Footofgod]

Don'tCan shops test the ECU if I disconnect it from the truck or does it have to driven in?

Why not pull one out at the junk yard and just swap it out?

 

[KidVermicious]

Don't have a cat so can't be that!

Finally got around to figuring out how to check the engine codes. Here is what shows. Pulled this off 4crawler's site.

2 - defective AFM or ECU
5 - defective o2 or ECU
6 - defective ignitor circuit, ignitor, distributor, or ECU
8 - defective intake air thermo sensor circuit
12 - defective knock control sensor circuit, knock control sensor, or ECU

Sooo...since "defective ECU" is found to be a possibility on every single code is throws, I am guessing there is a pretty good chance I friend my ECU. That is the side of the truck that went under, so it is likely. Can shops test the ECU if I disconnect it from the truck or does it have to driven in?

Did it actually get wet? It sits in the passenger kickpanel, and is theoretically sealed, I think you'd have to have submerged it good to kill it. Six inches from the bottom of the door wouldn't be high enough? Check your harness wiring down there, I'm wondering if you've got bad insulation and water got in the harness or connectors.

If it comes to it, I've got an ECU from my old '86 22RE/auto that I'll sell you if you need.

 

[dubs283]

I am guessing there is a pretty good chance I friend my ECU. That is the side of the truck that went under, so it is likely. Can shops test the ECU if I disconnect it from the truck or does it have to driven in?

the ecu needs to be powered to test it and there is no real test to see if the ecu works or not - if you can power it and communicate with it thats about the extent of it

ecu's are pretty tough, there's not much to them - they rely on info from external sensors and then change injector pulse width and timing based on info they receive

i would locate the ecu, remove it, ensure it is dry along with the connectors and find every connector harness that may or may not have gotten wet and blow compressed air in it to dry it out, dielectric grease on the prongs and reconnect everything.

here's a story thats similar to your situation:

couple weeks ago during a flash flood i was forging through a flooded intersection in my wife's subaru. all was going fine until some d-bag in a suburban cut me off and a huge wave of water washed over the hood! the engine cylinders flooded and hydro-locked the engine. finally got home late that night andthe next morning i changed plugs, wires, and air cleaner - dryed out all the connectors i could find and dielectric grease on the prongs. two days of minor intermiitent engine misses and surges, but now that car is good to go!

good luck!

 

[Chuckles89]

Could it be as simple as you got water in the gas tank?

 

[thegray1]

Water in the dist cap????

Nope, took it apart, dry as a bone.

Why not pull one out at the junk yard and just swap it out?

Yota's are a rare find in junkyards around here. I have been looking though.

Did it actually get wet? It sits in the passenger kickpanel, and is theoretically sealed, I think you'd have to have submerged it good to kill it. Six inches from the bottom of the door wouldn't be high enough? Check your harness wiring down there, I'm wondering if you've got bad insulation and water got in the harness or connectors.

If it comes to it, I've got an ECU from my old '86 22RE/auto that I'll sell you if you need.

My truck is gutted, no carpet and no paneling. I took on a decent amount of water in the passenger side, so it is very possible that it got wet, not 100% sure though.
If it is done for I will let you know. And I will be moving it up into the glove box to make sure it never gets wet again.

Could it be as simple as you got water in the gas tank?

I considered that, but I am not sure if the symptoms really point to water in the gas tank. My tank is about empty though, I am going to drain it soon just to make sure.


This week I may drive it up to my in-laws friends shop and have him look at it.

 

[thegray1]

Getting an ECU off another member here for cheap. Hoping that will fix all the issues. If not I will have a spare and will go from there!