4runner feels sluggish when I first start moving

mcaz5

mcaz5

New member
Lately I've noticed when I first take off my 4runner has felt a bit sluggish. Especially when I have the wheels cut sharply, sometimes it won't start moving until the RPMs reach a little under 1.5 I've noticed my tires have looked a bit low lately and I checked the psi and it was at about 35. My max tire psi is rated about 65. But would low tires really cause that much of a sluggish feeling? Also everything feels completely normal once I get going which is why I thought tires... I may try and get around to changing the tranny fluid this weekend as it hasn't been changed since I've owned it (about 14k miles) so if anyone has any other opinions on what this may be feel free to chime in. Thanks!
 
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Give it a little time before you bump it man.

Try the trans fluid. Worst that can happen is that you changed it.

When was the last time the plugs and oil were changed? How about the air filter?

Any codes?

What tires are you running? I know I have mine filled to 45 PSI, by they're 265/75 Falken Rocky Moutains.

There's a few things that could be causing the issues you're describing. Try the smaller stuff first, oil, air, extra, then move on I the bigger stuff

One last thing, use only NGK or DENSO double ground plugs. Nothing else.
 
65psi is the max rating of the tire can handle. If you inflate them to that psi, you'll have a very rough ride and get severe center tread wear.
 
It depends in the load rating of the tire. The max pressure for my tires is 85 or something like that. For our trucks, 45psi is the optimal pressure for proper wear.

If you've got bigger tires, that will have a lot to do with it too....
 
Load rating is 65 psi. Tires are 265/75/16 maxxis bighorns. So you think i should air up the tires to about 45 psi? Also oil was changed about 100 miles ago. I've never changed the plugs before since I've owned it (14k miles) no CELs. Like I said everything feels fine once I get going, no tranny slips or anything. It's just when I first start moving
 
So wait, when you initially start-up the vehicle, it feels sluggish? Is this what you mean? Like your driving on a cold start? How do you feel it? Is it a delayed response when getting on the throttle?
 
I agree with above posters. Change the plugs with either NGK or Denso. Double ground only. See what happens and report back.
 
gannonrt said:
I agree with above posters. Change the plugs with either NGK or Denso. Double ground only. See what happens and report back.
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I too would only recommend dual electrode spark plugs. I have had issues with single electrode and besides, these things came factory with dual electrodes. Also, come to think of it, when I had singles, it felt sluggish on start-up and ran sort of funny. I gapped the spark plugs properly as well. I ended up with NGK Dual electrode iridium plugs. Good luck!
 
Brian757 said:
So wait, when you initially start-up the vehicle, it feels sluggish? Is this what you mean? Like your driving on a cold start? How do you feel it? Is it a delayed response when getting on the throttle?
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It's not at initial cold start up. It's even when the engine is warm. The other day I was leaving my parking spot and I tried to accelerate and it literally felt like someone had chocked my tires and I actually got out to see if something was there. That was the most extreme case I've had and now it's just like I have to get it a little more gas to get it to go.
 
mcaz5 said:
It's not at initial cold start up. It's even when the engine is warm. The other day I was leaving my parking spot and I tried to accelerate and it literally felt like someone had chocked my tires and I actually got out to see if something was there. That was the most extreme case I've had and now it's just like I have to get it a little more gas to get it to go.
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Hmm, you said you've never changed wires and plugs? It might be time..
Just pull 'em and take a gander.
 
Okay so I haven't really had time to do any maintenance items mentioned above, but I really think the ABS may be my problem. After going very slow (under 5 mph) and braking, the. Ext time I try and accelerate it bites really hard to the front right and struggles to go. Then it will make a loud "pop" and release and then I'm fine. It's done this multiple times and always happens after I brake while going very slow ( parallel parking and such) Does this sound like ABS? Any other ideas?
 
Sounds like it could be the fuel filter, and hopefully not, but perhaps the fuel pump. They tend to act like that in really hot weather when they go bad.
 
Rear brake shoes could be stuck to the drums due to leaky inner axle seals. Does your truck roll ok in neutral?
 
Doc2012 said:
It depends in the load rating of the tire. The max pressure for my tires is 85 or something like that. For our trucks, 45psi is the optimal pressure for proper wear.

If you've got bigger tires, that will have a lot to do with it too....
Click to expand...

right, but a max psi of 65psi is probably not a LT tire or loadrange E tire. It shouldn't be set at that. 35psi is probably about where they should be. I completely disagree with 45psi being optimal for "our trucks". There's so many variables when discussing tire pressure, you can't just say "a 1997 Toyota 4runner needs 45psi in the tires to be optimal." I agree with a sticky caliper.

FWIW, I have LT tires on my truck, load range E. It's ridiculously too much tire for what my truck is capable of towing or pulling or carrying, and the ride reflects that. I keep my tires at 40psi, but only because they're LT tires.
 
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