'97 cranks but won't start

[zukinut]

Hello all.

I've got a '97 3.4 auto 4wd 4runner. It's got a lot of miles but runs great, engine is in great shape. Anyways, today I went to the store and the runner ran perfect on the way there. When it came time to leave, it started but immediately died. Hasnt started since.

Is there anything that is common on these to cause that problem. I'm very knowledgable about Toyotas but this is my first 3rd gen. I can do all the work and will start testing things tommorow, but figured I should ask of there was anything known to go wrong to cause a crank but no start condition.

Thank you for your time,

Will

 

[the great him]

EFI relay and or fuel pump relay... i had the EFI relay go out on mine. it was very fickle. sometimes it would start right up, sometimes it took a few tries, sometimes it took a long time to start. then finally it didnt start. id suggest swapping it with the tail light relay for testing -they are both in the fuse block under the hood. the fuel pump relay is located down by the hood release and fuel door release behind the lower dash. its the same relay as the others so testing will be easy, just swap with a known good relay.

 

[zukinut]

I've swapped the relays already and unfortunately it didn't help. Mine has never has any issues starting, it just all of a sudden wouldn't start. Is there anything else common or is it time to get a book and start testing.

 

[the great him]

I'd start testing... Not really any common issues like that that incan think of. I chased my hard start issue for over a year...

 

[zukinut]

I have verified and I do have spark. So it's gotta be fuel related I think.

Anybody else have anything similar happen?

Thanks again
Will.

 

[AZ4Running]

See if the fuel pump is getting power and ground. If all is good there check fuel pressure at the fuel line to the fuel rail using a fuel pressure gauge. If you have no fuelmpressure or very little replace the fuel pump. Not a common issue but everything fails in time.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Harbor Freight has a handy little fuel pressure tester For about 20 dollars.

While your there pick up a temp gun. They both come in handy.

 

[the great him]

Better yet just unhook the he line at the fuel filter and crank it over. If fuel come flowing out, then the pump is working.

Have you checked the efi fuse?

 

[zukinut]

All fuses are good. Will a faulty cam/crank sensor allow spark to happen?

Thanks again
Will

 

[AZ4Running]

a bad cam and or crank sensor can kill the spark or cause spark to fire at incorrect timing. Rwally sou ds like a fuel issue.
Yes you can just pull off the fuek supply line and see if you are getting fuel but you can tell the fuel pressure. Most fuel injectorted motors run at 50-60psi. If the pressure is say 10 or 20 psi you wi o l get lots of fuel coming from the line but it may not enough to start and run the car. Oh i have the Harbor Frieght fuel pressure gauge kit and it sucks balls it works ok on some vehicle makes but on others the fittings leak badly and you cant get a good pressure reading with leaks.

 

[zukinut]

Tested the fuel pump per the fsm. Good is .2-3ohms. My fuel pump fluctuates from 15-25. I reckon I found the problem, or at least one of them.

Will

 

[AZ4Running]

Bad fuel pump. There you go.

 

[zukinut]

Yep, ive never had an electric fuel pump just die all at once. But as they say, there always a first time for everything.

 

[AZ4Running]

I am a mechanic and i see it all the time just not on toyotas. Gm vehicles are the worst for fuel pump issues.

 

[amalik]

See if the fuel pump is getting power and ground. If all is good there check fuel pressure at the fuel line to the fuel rail using a fuel pressure gauge. If you have no fuelmpressure or very little replace the fuel pump. Not a common issue but everything fails in time.

What's the easiest way to check power and ground to the fuel pump? (I.e. it's in the fuel tank from my understanding).

Also, no one yet has mentioned battery cables? idle vs started voltage? Alternator? Etc.

 

[VolRunner]

Late to the party...

I’ve been suffering from the same issue— probably a fuel pump on my rig also, but I thought it was just a bad relay at first. I’ve swapped or replaced both EFI relays, fuses are good. Sometimes the dang ol thing just doesn’t want to get spark, it’ll crank fine 10 times in a row but then won’t start at all— especially on slopes surfaces. Gonna check fuel pump tomorrow

 

[CrudRunner]

Well I'm going to jump on this in hopes I can find a solution. '97 with 3.4l and 5speed. 359k miles. Owned truck for 3 years now, been great. Recently with a move to a colder climate it has been hard starting when cold in the morning, but would always start. Cleaning the IAC and TB has been on my to-do list since moving here. I did an oil change and new plugs last week since it was due, and the starting got better. Yesterday I finally got the time to clean IAC and TB, and installed new gaskets. Was expecting good things, got no things. Truck will not start. I get fuel, and managed to flood the engine while cranking. I get spark. Truck cranks real good, and occasionally shudders like it wants to start but doesn't. Everything that I unplugged to remove the TB has been plugged back in. All connections between all SPW's has been cleaned. I even removed my newish MAF and installed my old one to rule that out. Same issue. All fuses are good. No CEL. Code reader shows no codes.
The last time it ran was morning of 11/13/2021 it started easily despite the cold, I jumped out sooner then normal to let it idle warm up and it stalled and died. Wouldn't restart regardless of what I did. Typically in the morning I have to keep foot on gas for 2-3 minutes or it will stall. Yesterday I did not, it seemed to be doing fine until it sputter stalled.
Starting fluid makes no difference.
I'm at a loss.
Anyone with more brain power then me got any ideas? Read thru many forum posts, which are similar. Followed all steps I'm able to.
I even yelled at it in English and Italian, don't know any Japanese. In tried to pour some beer on the bumper in case it was thirsty, I also threatened to buy a Nissan. Nothing helped.

 

[Bad Luck]

The only thing I can think of is the IAC got stuck open and is allowing more air in than the engine is thinking it will have, but usually the truck still starts and the idle is really high.
Is it flooded to the point where you need to pull spark plugs, disable the fuel pump, and crank it over to clear the excess fuel?
Did you have to mess with any grounds when you did any of the repairs you listed? Grounds are usually what screw me up when I do engine work.

 

[spartacus]

Well I'm going to jump on this in hopes I can find a solution. '97 with 3.4l and 5speed. 359k miles. Owned truck for 3 years now, been great. Recently with a move to a colder climate it has been hard starting when cold in the morning, but would always start. Cleaning the IAC and TB has been on my to-do list since moving here. I did an oil change and new plugs last week since it was due, and the starting got better. Yesterday I finally got the time to clean IAC and TB, and installed new gaskets. Was expecting good things, got no things. Truck will not start. I get fuel, and managed to flood the engine while cranking. I get spark. Truck cranks real good, and occasionally shudders like it wants to start but doesn't. Everything that I unplugged to remove the TB has been plugged back in. All connections between all SPW's has been cleaned. I even removed my newish MAF and installed my old one to rule that out. Same issue. All fuses are good. No CEL. Code reader shows no codes.
The last time it ran was morning of 11/13/2021 it started easily despite the cold, I jumped out sooner then normal to let it idle warm up and it stalled and died. Wouldn't restart regardless of what I did. Typically in the morning I have to keep foot on gas for 2-3 minutes or it will stall. Yesterday I did not, it seemed to be doing fine until it sputter stalled.
Starting fluid makes no difference.
I'm at a loss.
Anyone with more brain power then me got any ideas? Read thru many forum posts, which are similar. Followed all steps I'm able to.
I even yelled at it in English and Italian, don't know any Japanese. In tried to pour some beer on the bumper in case it was thirsty, I also threatened to buy a Nissan. Nothing helped.

Double check the coolant and vacuum hoses aren't swapped. In the past a few folks have put them back incorrectly and have had the same symptoms as your t4r.

 

[CrudRunner]

No grounds were messed with. At least not intentionally. I opened and closed the IAC during the cleaning process, it was smoothly operating, unsure of function with voltage check (I suck at lectricity stuff). If I managed to swap vacuum and coolant hoses then I done ****ed up. I had them separated well when they were off. I will however double check them again. At this point I've an appointment with a mechanic and a tow truck booked. Never been this stuck with any of the Yotas I've owned.
I do appreciate all the info and help found in here. Will report back.