Check engine light is flashing

[drwilmerton]

I have a 96' 4runner and the check engine light is on and it is running rough and has now pick up. The truck can do local roads but has nothing for highways. Any advice would be great.

Thanks in advance

 

[HokieRunner]

Sounds like you have a severe misfire. If the CEL is flashing you really shouldn't be driving it. Get it towed to someone who can diagnose it or run a scantool if you have one.

 

[fourwd1]

Get the CEL error codes read, and go from there.
You'll need someone with an OBD-II reader.
Around here any parts store will do it for free.

 

[Les2341]

CEL flashing

On my 1997, when the light flashed it was a blown head gasket. It ran on 3 cyls and the with the radiator cap off, it would squirt a geiser each time it misfired with the compression going into the water coolant system.

 

[ToyoTech]

I wouldn't drive it till fixed unless you want to buy a catalytic converter sooner than later. Get the code to see which cylinder is misfiring

Most likely a tune up is need. Make sure to buy your plugs at Toyota since they need to be twin electrode. So the wire set as well.
Could also be a bad coil. Common as well.

 

[Schady44]

Just got my truck back from the dealer yesterday and was having the same problems. They ran compression tests vacuum tests and electrical and issue came down to an injector. On further inspection they removed the intake manifold to check the number 4 injector since I was getting a code for misfire on 1 and 4 as found that there was excessive carbon buildup on the I take valves. Injectors were good and they cleaned it up the best they could for me and it runs good now. I'm going to do some treatments of techron to clean up what they couldn't get and replace wires and plugs.

I recommend getting a voltmeter out and running through everything. Do some tests and run the results by us