96 3.4 stutters/cuts out under load

K

keeperofgoal

New member
my truck (approx 200k) stutters/cuts out under load about 3k+ but drives beautifully the rest of the time. it is actually intermittent took it for a hard drive the other day and was getting it to redline around town but I notice when I have a little less fuel in the tank (close to half) it will stutter especially if I approach high rpms slowly rather than just hitting the hammer you know? just loses power but never dies completely. if my timing belt is 2+ times over due could it be the issue? I don't want to start throwing parts at it I've been through that before. I can hear a high pitched whine that is for sure coming from the gas tank I already changed my plugs and fuel filter how do you diagnose a bad fuel pump? when I first got it, it kept dying when I got close to an empty tank (I had a 99 I would drive with the gas light on for a day or two cause I knew I had 15 or so litres and never had any issues) so I thought okay never let this one get below half and the problem went away but it happened again and I had over a half tank in there so now im thinking pump? lots of threads on this sputtering issue and everyones solution seems to be different so thought I would share my symptoms. I NEVER GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WTF.


Thank you in advance :peace:
 
Register to hide this ad
keeperofgoal said:
my truck (approx 200k) stutters/cuts out under load about 3k+ but drives beautifully the rest of the time. it is actually intermittent took it for a hard drive the other day and was getting it to redline around town but I notice when I have a little less fuel in the tank (close to half) it will stutter especially if I approach high rpms slowly rather than just hitting the hammer you know? just loses power but never dies completely. if my timing belt is 2+ times over due could it be the issue? I don't want to start throwing parts at it I've been through that before. I can hear a high pitched whine that is for sure coming from the gas tank I already changed my plugs and fuel filter how do you diagnose a bad fuel pump? when I first got it, it kept dying when I got close to an empty tank (I had a 99 I would drive with the gas light on for a day or two cause I knew I had 15 or so litres and never had any issues) so I thought okay never let this one get below half and the problem went away but it happened again and I had over a half tank in there so now im thinking pump? lots of threads on this sputtering issue and everyones solution seems to be different so thought I would share my symptoms. I NEVER GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WTF.


Thank you in advance :peace:
Click to expand...

test the fuel pump.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2020-12-27-10-46-56.jpg
    Screenshot_2020-12-27-10-46-56.jpg
    114.2 KB · Views: 1,098
Fuel pumps are a rare failure but it sure does sound like it. Test as posted above and go from there.

Also, replace your fuel filter. It's easy as long as you use brake line wrenches (not box wrenches with 4 points) and take your time so you don't strip the compression nuts.
 
Might recommend the timing belt as well; had a vehicle long ago with similar symptoms and it was timing...once replaced it was fine.
 
Sounds like the symptoms I was having when my coil pack went bad, it was very intermittent, and took forever to throw a code. Although it could be the timing I highly doubt it, timing belts don’t usually skip teeth or anything like that, I had a timing belt on another vehicle that was improperly installed and it ran poorly throughout the rpm range and it was like that all the time not just occasionally
 
My timing belt is very old (possibly original at 220k and cracking) - I know I need to change it but I have no symptoms of engine cutting under load.
 
I know its been a while but thank you all for your replies! I have been busy and finally got to dig into this thing. anyways I was thinking fuel rather than ignition just because it does it depending on how much fuel I have in the tank. the lower the level the more frequently it does it and at lower rpms. I tested the pump and resistance was good. I also applied 12v and confirmed that the pump operates. it has never not started on me just takes an extra crank and all my problems occur under load. I have already replaced the fuel filter with a Toyota one that's the first thing I did then plugs and wires. I know this thing sat for a bit with about a quarter tank before I bought it and I thought there might be gunk in there so I dropped the tank today just to check it out and this is what I seen. what is it and how do I get it out?

also someone already replaced the whole sending unit with pump with a spectra premium brand which I was pissed about because I worked at Lordco up here in BC for a while and I sold many of them (only brand we had) and warrantied a good amount. also had quite a few people who came in steaming mad because it crapped out on them shortly after the warranty expired and I felt bad for em. spectra shouldn't even exist their parts are pretty expensive and just the lowest of low quality. I try to steer people away from it now a days cause I work for another company and we have other brands. anyways I am just going clean out the tank somehow and install a new denso pump with a used oem sending unit.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0911.jpg
    IMG_0911.jpg
    129.5 KB · Views: 1,010
clearly nobody does when it dried up its like chalk and its not just in the bucket its in clumps all over the bottom of the tank i think justtroitin is onto something with the sabotage hahaha

should i soak it with brake clean, seafoam? any ideas?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0913.jpg
    IMG_0913.jpg
    132.6 KB · Views: 927
keeperofgoal said:
this worked great good as new now. I read the ingredients and its just sodium and water lol oh well 9 Canadian dollars you get a cloth and rubber gloves too UNREAL!
Click to expand...

Sodium and water? I thought mixing sodium and water would cause an explosion and I took chemistry in high school.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 1,000 (members: 8, guests: 992)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,089
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top