Belt / pulley squeal, VSC, TRAC, Check engine light on after offroad.

[volcom440]

Ok guys first off i have searched for hours and found a few things that are similar to what i'm experiencing. I went off roading yesterday playing in some mud and ended up finding a big hole and sunk my runner (photo below). Now I got out eventually with some help, but now I have a lot of squealing going on and im not sure if its the belts or the pulleys. If i spray water on it while its running it immediately stops. After a few minutes it just goes back to squealing again.

That's problem #1, #2 is that now all my VSC, VSC TRAC, the traction control light and the check engine light all came on. Now in my search i found that it could be a number of things; ABS sensor(s) are dirty, brake switch it dirty, gas cap could be loose. I brought it to the parts store and their codes are pulling up O2 sensor malfunction.

Now all the error lights will just take time narrowing what the problem is but my main thing is getting all this damn squealing to stop, its driving me insane! Anyone have any ideas / solutions to my problems?

 

[volcom440]

Also i forgot to mention that I've done the VSC cutoff switch mod, but I don't think that is getting tripped up because whenever that is activated the parking brake light comes on. And its not illuminated like the others are.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

You may have drowned/damaged the O2 Sensors, do you remember exactly what DTCs were set by the vehicle? We need to figure out what the DTCs are pointing to exactly (heater circuit, or O2 Performance, circuit issues, ect).

As for the first issue, you may need a new belt, belt tensioner, and/or pulley(s). From what I understand a lot of the pulleys on these 4Runners are not sealed units. When you pour water and the noise goes away, where exactly are you pouring water? On just the belt or drenching the pulleys also?

 

[volcom440]

You may have drowned/damaged the O2 Sensors, do you remember exactly what DTCs were set by the vehicle? We need to figure out what the DTCs are pointing to exactly (heater circuit, or O2 Performance, circuit issues, ect).

As for the first issue, you may need a new belt, belt tensioner, and/or pulley(s). From what I understand a lot of the pulleys on these 4Runners are not sealed units. When you pour water and the noise goes away, where exactly are you pouring water? On just the belt or drenching the pulleys also?

I dont have my own code reader so i'll have to go back tomorrow and write the #'s down. And as for the squealing i was using a hose to spray off the sand / dirt and it just stops. Not one specific area, it seems like anywhere the water hits does the trick.

Did some more searching on other forums and found this. Idler Pulley Problem Solved... - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

Think that could possible be my situation?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I dont have my own code reader so i'll have to go back tomorrow and write the #'s down. And as for the squealing i was using a hose to spray off the sand / dirt and it just stops. Not one specific area, it seems like anywhere the water hits does the trick.

Did some more searching on other forums and found this. Idler Pulley Problem Solved... - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

Think that could possible be my situation?

It could be, I would hose the engine bay as best as you can again and then if it is still squealing do the following.

-Using something like Windex lightly spray a stream onto just the serpentine belt with the engine running (not a lot, just a little at a time until the squeaking stops IF it stops). This will tell you that more than likely the belt itself is bad and/or the tensioner has started to fail.

-If the squeak doesn't go away when you spray it, you may want to try to spray the pulleys or dribble water on one pulley at a time looking for the noise to go away.

How many miles are on the vehicle? Is this a new belt or old belt? It may have been on its last legs and this dunk in muddy water just sent it off the deep end along with maybe the tensioner?

 

[volcom440]

So an update on this. All of my belt squeal went away randomly and hasn't came back yet, so there goes that problem. But as a solve one another shows up. When i go to crank every now and then i get a few clicks and then it starts. Seems to be getting worse as time goes on. From what I've researched it seems my starter contacts could need a replacement. What i cant find is how to gain access to my starter. V6 Engine 4wd..

 

[volcom440]

[MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] any way i can inspect the contacts on my starter without pulling the whole thing?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

[MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] any way i can inspect the contacts on my starter without pulling the whole thing?

Not that I am aware of as you need to take the starter apart to even see them.

It shouldn't be too hard on the V6 though, its the V8's that are a pain in the ass.

 

[BOSMECH]

You might want to check your Battery and also make sure that your Alternater is charging, hate to say it might have fried that and then your battery might not be getting charged all the way and then making it hard to start.
Just a thought and I hope I am wrong.

 

[volcom440]

Some good news today. Went and picked up a few things from oreilys today and got them to pull the codes again. Came up with P0606 P0137 and P0138. Now i asked if he could clear the codes and read them again and he said they weren't "allowed" to clear them, but he did let me hold the reader for a second and let me clear them myself. Anyways after clearing all of my unwanted lights went away. Now only time will tell if they stay off but as of now everything is acting normal. Except the new ignition problem I'm having.

You might want to check your Battery and also make sure that your Alternater is charging, hate to say it might have fried that and then your battery might not be getting charged all the way and then making it hard to start.
Just a thought and I hope I am wrong.

Thanks I'll get them tested!

 

[BOSMECH]

Also go ahead and just spray some lube on all your pulleys that should help, not alot but just a small amount by the bearings.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The lesson you should learn here is to know how deep the water is before diving in.

 

[volcom440]

Also go ahead and just spray some lube on all your pulleys that should help, not a lot but just a small amount by the bearings.

Yep that's been done already. I think that's part of the reason why it quit squealing.

The lesson you should learn here is to know how deep the water is before diving in.

Oh yes that's what i said pretty much right after i got out... I learn from my mistakes and I'm not hitting anything until i know what I'm getting into.

 

[volcom440]

Ah i had a feeling this was going to happen but i got my hopes up.. all the lights came back on my way home from work. I guess i'll try the ZPC next... (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...ac-vsc-off-lights-zero-point-calibration.html)

 

[volcom440]

Got the battery tested and it was bad so replaced it, still doing the clicking thing so im in the process of trying to pull my starter off. These bolts are on so freakin tight though im having trouble with it.