Hey guys, so idk if this has been answered before but I couldn't find any compelling links or answers and ive been googling this for days so im hoping someone can help me out here. I recently took my 4runner to the dealer cuz it had been driving really weird, almost like when ur having a spark plug misfire, and the mechanics quoted me for an almost $2,200 repair job saying I need a new mafs, radiator and air box assembly, I can order and change all those parts myself for way les than half that price but anyways, I just want to know if the 4runner is supposed to be able to start without the air sensor plugged in? I tried it this morning and it turned on but immediately after it turned off. There's a lot more things wrong with this rig but its all I have for transportation and I cant really afford a new car right now so im just trying to keep it running. Plus, not that it probably matters to you guys but my dad gave it to me when I got my license so its kinda got some sentimental value.
Can you run 3rd gen 4runners without the maf?
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kernel.panik
New member
I'm pretty sure it needs to be there. I would just buy the parts and replace them myself. I don't know why you'd need a new air box though unless there's a big hole in it or something. Junkyard or cold air intake...
Thanks guys, I tried running it again without it and it just did the same thing I thot about throttling it a little cuz it almost feels like it does get enough air to keep it going but I didn't want to make it worse so I didn't. I had been running an after market intake on it cuz the stock box does have a few cracks in it and the arms are broken on it so theres like no support for it. i also had to get a small little filter for the vacuum line but the guy at the dealer said that was worthless and not actually doing anything which is probably true but the guy was a dick anyways. Also I've been told that if theres a leak in the hg that the exhaust would smell sweet so i took a wiff and it did but its always smelled like that i think, i mean, im not sure what else its supposed to smell like honestly so i guess i wouldn't kno the difference, but would that make it act like its having a misfire? cuz it runs smooth for like a few moments then it starts acting weird again. im gona change the spark plugs regardless cuz its that time and the wires but i guess im just worried it mite be a hg problem
Is the coolant level in your resivor dropping?
98OzarksRunner
New member
It probably won't run without the MAF but many newer cars have a 'limp home' mode that will let it run in degraded mode. It probably won't make much power or go very fast, and it will likely run very rich, if it runs at all.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
The MAF has to be plugged in for it to run.
LittleCaesar
New member
An new OEM MAF, Koyo radiator, and used air box assembly from junkyard should run you no more than $350.
Why the new air box assembly? Did someone strip the MAF screw holders?
See if they will give you the codes (CEL light) and post them.
Why the new air box assembly? Did someone strip the MAF screw holders?
See if they will give you the codes (CEL light) and post them.
TheDurk
Elite Member
When you change your plugs, look carefully at your old ones. If coolant is getting into a cylinder that plug will be literally 'steam cleaned.'
Denso is OE supplier on the MAF, so they can be had cheaper than from the dealer. Amazon, rockauto, partsgeek, should all have OE MAF's.
Denso is OE supplier on the MAF, so they can be had cheaper than from the dealer. Amazon, rockauto, partsgeek, should all have OE MAF's.
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zgensler31
Senior Member
I have a maf and intake tube and silencers and stuff from a 98 for sale, the box it self is broken but its a start for your search.
zgensler31
Senior Member
Also what aftermarket intake have you been running? If its got an oily filter it could just be a dirty sensor and throttle body. Possibly even whats causing your missfire.
Yes the coolant level has been dropping a lot and i see where its leaking at the radiator cuz its really wet around the bottom lol and i can see where its leaking on the ground but idk if that's the only place its leaking at, i hope so.
It does feel like its limping honestly but that's with the sensor plugged in. but i can still push it to 40mph it just gets really bad so i don't.
I got the new air sensor online and delivered in two days for 60 bucks, which was awesome, and i just finished putting it in and its acting exactly the same and i doubt that air sensor is bad, i doubt mine was bad! but whatever i guess. and no the screws are ok i just need the box the filter sits in, cuz its cracked and shit, but i used a high heat resistant tape to patch up the holes and a somewhat makeshift braket to keep it in place, and i think ill go and try and get the codes from my local oreily auto shop, idk if it will give me any cuz no check engine light is on or anything on the HUD but ill try.
Thanks for the spark plug tip, ill be sure to pay attention to that when i change them out, hopefully they have the plugs i want at oreilys for the same price as auto zone has em or im gona wait and order them, luckily i have the next two days off so i should b able to get them before i go bak to work.
and ive just been running a cheap Spectre filter, i have heard that the oiled ones cause problems and when i asked the guy at the counter he said yeah man its not oiled so i bought it, got home and found the opposite but ran it anyways, shame on me, but if that did cause the problem how can i fix it now that i got my pos jerry rigged airbox in there? like whats a good cleaner for the throttle body? or should i just seafoam the shit out of it? lol
It does feel like its limping honestly but that's with the sensor plugged in. but i can still push it to 40mph it just gets really bad so i don't.
I got the new air sensor online and delivered in two days for 60 bucks, which was awesome, and i just finished putting it in and its acting exactly the same and i doubt that air sensor is bad, i doubt mine was bad! but whatever i guess. and no the screws are ok i just need the box the filter sits in, cuz its cracked and shit, but i used a high heat resistant tape to patch up the holes and a somewhat makeshift braket to keep it in place, and i think ill go and try and get the codes from my local oreily auto shop, idk if it will give me any cuz no check engine light is on or anything on the HUD but ill try.
Thanks for the spark plug tip, ill be sure to pay attention to that when i change them out, hopefully they have the plugs i want at oreilys for the same price as auto zone has em or im gona wait and order them, luckily i have the next two days off so i should b able to get them before i go bak to work.
and ive just been running a cheap Spectre filter, i have heard that the oiled ones cause problems and when i asked the guy at the counter he said yeah man its not oiled so i bought it, got home and found the opposite but ran it anyways, shame on me, but if that did cause the problem how can i fix it now that i got my pos jerry rigged airbox in there? like whats a good cleaner for the throttle body? or should i just seafoam the shit out of it? lol
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Alright guys, heres the update, I changed the spark plugs this morning and its been a long time since its run this smooth, Im still praying you kno, don't know for sure if its gona stay this way or not, I kno from past experience that a new plug change will make it run good at the start but doesn't always stay that way if its something else. like the coil boots, I found a lot of flaky stuff in em but they didn't seem burnt out or anything it looked more like a dryed lube or something I also noticed the plugs themselves weren't in too bad a shape, I mean yeah they looked like they needed replaced but it wasn't like, holy crap I cant believe these are spark plugs haha hopefully this is it for now, but im gona go ahead and start buying the coil overs with my next couple of pay checks just in case and probably try to find some cheap O2 sensors, I know for sure I need that radiator tho and probably a new airbox although its working fine and it doesn't look like its gona be falling off or breaking any more any time soon, but we'll see, again thanks for all the tips guys!
Glad to hear it going in the right direction for you. Which plugs did you get? NGK?
I wouldn't buy the coil overs as a 'just in case'. Either you need them or you don't need to waste your money. I would worry about your other priorities first and meanwhile try to save for your 'just in case' type items for when you do need them.
Did you end up finding any codes? Just because there is no CEL, doesn't mean there isn't a code... or potential code. When my cylinder 5 spark plug electrode broke inside the cylinder, it only gave me a *potential* code. I was like really, I'm pretty sure there is a misfire. But if you haven't checked, you should, because it might shed light on what the issue is.
If you need a new radiator, do yourself a favor and get a stand alone trans cooler. Call it a Christmas present to yourself or call it prevantative maintenance. Either way, you'll be glad you did when you don't ever get the milkshake.
For the love of God, please do not get a 'cheap' or even German O2 sensor! You'll be coming right back to us with issues. Get a Denso just like the MAF online and be done with it. It will save you money and headaches in the long run.
I wouldn't buy the coil overs as a 'just in case'. Either you need them or you don't need to waste your money. I would worry about your other priorities first and meanwhile try to save for your 'just in case' type items for when you do need them.
Did you end up finding any codes? Just because there is no CEL, doesn't mean there isn't a code... or potential code. When my cylinder 5 spark plug electrode broke inside the cylinder, it only gave me a *potential* code. I was like really, I'm pretty sure there is a misfire. But if you haven't checked, you should, because it might shed light on what the issue is.
If you need a new radiator, do yourself a favor and get a stand alone trans cooler. Call it a Christmas present to yourself or call it prevantative maintenance. Either way, you'll be glad you did when you don't ever get the milkshake.
For the love of God, please do not get a 'cheap' or even German O2 sensor! You'll be coming right back to us with issues. Get a Denso just like the MAF online and be done with it. It will save you money and headaches in the long run.
dam I totally forgot to check for the codes and yezzir lol Im kinda biased towards the brand just cuz ive never had any issues with them or their prices lol I was a little hesitant when I got these tho cuz ive never actually gaped my own plugs but it didn't seem hard to do at least I hope I did it right, theres no hesitation in the throttle no abnormally low or high idle no pops lol seems good, I did notice tho on ONE of the old plugs that it smelled kinda funny, almost oily like and it felt like it too, very faint but slightly noticeable.
And yeah ur right about saving the money instead, theyre pretty spendy lol
Also im not sure what a transcooler is, sounds cool tho and if its preventative it definitely sounds worth it, do you have any good links/recommended sites to visit for more info?
And by denso do you mean a used one off of another rig?
And yeah ur right about saving the money instead, theyre pretty spendy lol
Also im not sure what a transcooler is, sounds cool tho and if its preventative it definitely sounds worth it, do you have any good links/recommended sites to visit for more info?
And by denso do you mean a used one off of another rig?
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I just replaced mine with NGKs as well. I found this before I did the install. Anti-Seize Compounds on Spark Plug Threads
Do a search for "strawberry milkshake" or "pink milkshake" in this sub-forum and you will know all about the issue.
I haven't done it yet, but I will probably end up getting the B&M 70268 trans cooler.
This should get you started:
B&M 70268 SuperCooler Transmission Cooler Install on a 3rd Gen
Finally installed B&M trans cooler
B&M 70264 Transmission Cooler Install *PICS*
Do a search on t4r for 'trans cooler' and you'll find more than enough info. There are other great forums too, just Google it.
Do a search for "strawberry milkshake" or "pink milkshake" in this sub-forum and you will know all about the issue.
I haven't done it yet, but I will probably end up getting the B&M 70268 trans cooler.
This should get you started:
B&M 70268 SuperCooler Transmission Cooler Install on a 3rd Gen
Finally installed B&M trans cooler
B&M 70264 Transmission Cooler Install *PICS*
Do a search on t4r for 'trans cooler' and you'll find more than enough info. There are other great forums too, just Google it.
WOW that's a lot of information, ha thanks man! I don't do any towing, yet, but I might be here pretty soon in the future but it looks like it would help either way, so definitely thanks for the tip, I think ill do that while I change out my radiator just as soon as I get the money for it.
And yeah that's what mine did too when I intentionally unplugged mine lol reason I did it was cuz a friend had told me about some cars being able to run like that in very rustic form, and he said it might work to see if it was the sensor that was causing that misfire like behavior but as I found out it wouldn't even stay on.
And yeah that's what mine did too when I intentionally unplugged mine lol reason I did it was cuz a friend had told me about some cars being able to run like that in very rustic form, and he said it might work to see if it was the sensor that was causing that misfire like behavior but as I found out it wouldn't even stay on.
Nates_NW4Runner
Member
Where in Oregon are you?
What year is your truck?
4wd or 2wd?
What year is your truck?
4wd or 2wd?
