Anyone for bets on what's wrong?

F

freshley

New member
So after 230,000 miles my 4runner started acting up when coming home from work today. Rough idle, lack of power esp when under load, and sounded like it was only running on 5 cyl. I limped it home and at the last couple of stop signs the check engine light came on.
The plugs and wires were changed around 100k so they are do again. Everything else is still factory including fuel filter. I have everything ready to do all the needed maint. but just didn't have the time to do it.
Before I go to Autozone and get the code reader anyone wanna take guesses as to what the problem is? Here's my list:

1) bad plug
2) bad wire
3) bad injector
4) clogged fuel filter
5) timing belt skipped (very rare)
6) bad gas

Anyone have any other ideas? Time to show your 4runner sleuthing skills!
 
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Mine has done this three times, each time it was a fuel injector. If thats the case make sure you buy extra o rings, as you will need to replace them on all of the injectors on that fuel rail.

Its not hard to replace, just requires taking the some of the stuff on top of the motor off. Last one took me less than an hour start to finish.
 
What is the purpose of having us guess? If it tossed a code out, just go read it and fix the problem. Code readers are $20-30.
 
I'm going to go get the code read, but until then it's fun to see how good you people are at figuring out what's wrong with it!
I'm hoping it's not an injector but I was thinking that in the back of my head.
 
I'm guessing #7 - Rear axle seals are shot, ball joint needs replaced, your dashboard clock is broken, and your antenna is broken. A new set of bilstein shocks should fix all of it.
 
Let me get this straight: you have 100k+ miles on plugs that are designed for 60k miles tops? Start there with some new NGK wires regardless.

You forgot bad coil as a possibility.

My two cents is on an injector.
 
OK so I take it to Autozone.
Code P0442 Faulty emission control Probably fuel cap or eval line leak
Code P0301 cyl 1 misfire - prob. plugged inj. large vac. leak or bad plug/wire
Code P0300 random cyl. misfire prob cause large vac leak or ing. fault.
Code P0302 cyl 2 misfire - prob plugged inj. large vac leak or bad plug/wire

Boy that helps.
Could be a coil? Does cyl. 1 & 2 share a coil pack? I don't know which cyl is 1,2,3,4,5,6. I'm guessing drivers front is 1 and pass front is 2 and so on.
 
freshley said:
OK so I take it to Autozone.
Code P0442 Faulty emission control Probably fuel cap or eval line leak
Code P0301 cyl 1 misfire - prob. plugged inj. large vac. leak or bad plug/wire
Code P0300 random cyl. misfire prob cause large vac leak or ing. fault.
Code P0302 cyl 2 misfire - prob plugged inj. large vac leak or bad plug/wire

Boy that helps.
Could be a coil? Does cyl. 1 & 2 share a coil pack? I don't know which cyl is 1,2,3,4,5,6. I'm guessing drivers front is 1 and pass front is 2 and so on.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you need the below. Coil pairs are always a difference of 3: 1 & 4. 2 & 5, 3 & 6. #1 is passenger front.

64398d1337227175-need-help-spark-plug_wires-zcruiser.jpg
 
Start with plugs and wires. Those plugs are supposed to be changed every 30k per toyota. Get the toyota plugs from your dealer (3.99 ea). The ngk's from the parts house work, but they are different, and not really any cheaper. The factory wires are great, but not super cheap. I recommend the factory one's, but if you go aftermarket, dont go cheap. Probably not a vacuum leak or you would have a lean code. If plugs and wires dont help, go on to checking coils and injectors. Swap coils to a different cylinder to see if the misfire code moves to another cylinder. Not thinking this is likely because it is on 1 and 2, but you never know. You can unplug an injector to see if it makes a change in idle. If not, the check for injector pulse by plugging a 194 bulb into the injector plug (just bend the metal down so you can plug it into the plug). It should cause the bulb to pulse.
 
Had the same problem. wires did nothing, plugs were a short term fix, and finally replaced a coil which was the cause of the whole problem. I got amazing mileage though..

Edit. Not saying don't replace the plugs and wires, but there is the off chance that you also have a bad coil
 
freshley said:
OK so I take it to Autozone.
Code P0442 Faulty emission control Probably fuel cap or eval line leak
Code P0301 cyl 1 misfire - prob. plugged inj. large vac. leak or bad plug/wire
Code P0300 random cyl. misfire prob cause large vac leak or ing. fault.
Code P0302 cyl 2 misfire - prob plugged inj. large vac leak or bad plug/wire

Boy that helps.
Could be a coil? Does cyl. 1 & 2 share a coil pack? I don't know which cyl is 1,2,3,4,5,6. I'm guessing drivers front is 1 and pass front is 2 and so on.
Click to expand...

Considering that all four of those point to a vacuum leak, I'd start there.

But I'd do new plugs and wires too, even if they're not the problem. That's way too damned many miles.
 
And the winner is KidVermicious!!!!

After all that all it was was a stupid vacuum line broke. The line running into the air filter box cracked at the nipple. Cut an inch off and put it back on and now it's happy again. Hard to believe that a little vacuum line could make it run so bad. I changed the plugs and wires while I was at it and also tested the coils and everything is good to go again.
I did notice some oil in a few of the plug wells and a small leak at the valve cover so that looks like a job for another day.
Tomorrow I'm going to tackle some other maint. I've been wanting to do.
Planning on changing out the diff and transf. case oil and flushing the power steering. If I feel ambitious, I might try to tackle the trans. too.

Thanks for everyone's help!
 
freshley said:
And the winner is KidVermicious!!!!

After all that all it was was a stupid vacuum line broke. The line running into the air filter box cracked at the nipple. Cut an inch off and put it back on and now it's happy again. Hard to believe that a little vacuum line could make it run so bad. I changed the plugs and wires while I was at it and also tested the coils and everything is good to go again.
I did notice some oil in a few of the plug wells and a small leak at the valve cover so that looks like a job for another day.
Tomorrow I'm going to tackle some other maint. I've been wanting to do.
Planning on changing out the diff and transf. case oil and flushing the power steering. If I feel ambitious, I might try to tackle the trans. too.

Thanks for everyone's help!
Click to expand...
There are no vacuum lines going to the airbox. Only vent lines, so what really fixed it?

Sounds like the plugs...
 
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