22RE sputtering @ idle & when off gas

[jechols]

I have an 88 4runner with 343,000 miles on original motor. Compression is still w/in specs and no oil leaks. This is my second 1st generation 4runner and both have given me this problem. When I crank it up to warm up, it will start sputtering or misfiring. It doesnt stall out but will also do the same thing when driving after letting off of the gas. Anybody had this problem? What can I do to fix it?

 

[kaveman]

These engines will give this symptom with excessive timing chain wear. Listen for a rattling or light knocking sound. If the chain is worn enough it will get loose enough to make contact with the timing chain cover. If allowed to persist it will eventually wear a hole into the cover and spill the coolant into the oil.

With valve cover removed and a degree wheel you can check timing chain stretch. Remove the harmonic balancer and attach a degree wheel to the crankshaft. Make and fix a pointer to the engine block that will come near the degree wheel and point at the outer edge where the marks are. Slowly rotate the crankshaft in one direction until the "0"mark is at the pointer (original placement of the degree wheel is not important for this test) using care not to pass the mark. Now rotate the crankshaft in the oposite direction slightly while observing the camshaft gear. At the moment the camshaft begins to rotate stop and note the number of degrees off of zero. Anything more than 3 degrees is too much.

If this isn't your problem then begin troubleshooting first with mechanical then electrical and finally fuel. Do your testing this way because no amount of fuel delivery tuning will overcome a mechanical or electrical issue nor will electrical repairs fix mechanical problems.