Last night from a dead stop, I floored the gas pedal on my 97 4runner and right before it reached red-line, the the engine completely died. I drifted to the side of the road, tried to restart it once and it failed. Then it started fine on the second try. I have seen some info on here that an old/clogged fuel filter can cause stuttering and poor acceleration, but would it just cause the engine to suddenly and completely die? If it makes a difference, my gas light had been on for 10-15 mins, but I know that still means I have a couple gallons left. Maybe the G-force of accelerating sent all the gas to the rear of the tank where the fuel pump couldn't get it?? I tried accelerating hard again and was not able to reproduce the problem. I haven't done any significant work or maintenance lately that would be the cause.
97 Limited died under hard acceleration
- Thread starter ki1022
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Nashvegas34
New member
Because racecar? :driving:
BlackCat914
New member
Mine died today too, but not during heavy acceleration, but right after, when I was slowing to a light. I was able to duplicate it again in my large work parking lot a few minutes later, too. I'm rarely hard on my truck, I think today was the first time it's seen 5,000rpm in several months, so I don't know exactly how long something has technically been wrong. Plugs, wires, fuel filter, and throttle body were replaced and/or cleaned within 1,500 miles.
02_SE_Runner
New member
ON A SERIOUS NOTE:
I redline mine every so often when accelerating. I am not HARD on my Runner but I do use it's full potential, are you very hard on your runner or did this just happen to be luck of the draw? The only thing I can think or ask is, did it cog when it died, as in stutter?
BlackCat914
New member
ON A SERIOUS NOTE:
I redline mine every so often when accelerating. I am not HARD on my Runner but I do use it's full potential, are you very hard on your runner or did this just happen to be luck of the draw? The only thing I can think or ask is, did it cog when it died, as in stutter?
I am probably easier on my truck than most members here. No, it didn't diesel or sputter before it died, it was nice and smooth. I was not on the accelerator at all when it died, I was on the brakes. It started right back up, but would die if you didn't give it gas. After 3 attempts to start without feathering the gas pedal, it smoothed out and would start and idle smoothly.
I guess the only thing I can add is that I have less than 1/4 tank of fuel, but just slightly. No low fuel light.
ON A SERIOUS NOTE:
I redline mine every so often when accelerating. I am not HARD on my Runner but I do use it's full potential, are you very hard on your runner or did this just happen to be luck of the draw? The only thing I can think or ask is, did it cog when it died, as in stutter?
I never drive very hard at all, I reach redline very seldomly. And it didn't cog/stutter when it died, just completely turned off suddenly. And just the engine died, all the electronics were still on so it wasn't due to loss of voltage or anything. It hasn't happened since, although I haven't been going around flooring the gas...
BlackCat914
New member
I'm going to try cleaning my IAC valve and see if it helps. Even though I RARELY get on the truck that hard, it still bothers me.
02_SE_Runner
New member
I doubt it has anything do to your gas levels, I usually run my runner 40 miles till after the light is on, then get a new tank of gas. This kind of brings me back a couple years back when I messed about with Nitro RC cars, when they just died it was due to lack of fuel that got to the little engine because the fuel filter was dirty.. Could this be the same problem you are having?
Write up I found if you are interested:
5VZ V6 4runner fuel filter write up with pics
Write up I found if you are interested:
5VZ V6 4runner fuel filter write up with pics
BlackCat914
New member
No, I stated in my post I installed a new filter. As in, less than 200 miles new. Since its after hard acceleration and not during (at least for me), I'm fairly certain its not a fuel delivery problem.
