Christmas tree + intermittent rough idle.

[lucky7]

Hey, all. I'm ready to drive this truck into the river. I've been dealing with the VSC/trac off and CEL lights going on and off for the last year or so. They'd go on, then they'd go off after a day or two. About a month ago I started to get a weird, rough idle but only when in gear either D or R. Drove fine above idle, and didn't have any hiccups in N or P. I put a bottle of injector cleaner in it and it was fine after that.

The last couple of days the lights have been coming on and going off much more frequently - before it would be once per month, for a day or so. The rough idle is back, and it is obviously misfiring in park and neutral now, though again it comes and goes. I just had the CEL scanned at AutoZone and now I'm a bit disappointed.

-P0011 - Camshaft Position "A" Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1).
-P2238 - O2 Sensor Positive Current Control Circuit Low Bank 1 Sensor 1.
-P0300 - Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected.
-P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected.
-P0305 - Cylinder 5 Misfire Detected.
-P0016 - Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A).

The last one has me VERY nervous. This truck has been the most unreliable vehicle I've ever owned, easily. Today I installed a new OEM gas cap, and some NGK plugs, which seemed to make things worse. It idled in the driveway for about 20 minutes before I started driving it. Drove 5 or so miles before the lights came back on and the poor idle came back.

I don't know what to do with this damn truck. I've spent several thousand dollars on it in the last couple months alone, and with my luck, I'm sure it needs a new chain....

Is there any sort of silver lining here?? The recommendation from the auto parts store said that the oil control valve (OCV) was likely the culprit, but I've found very little info on that so far. I'm gonna go out and check the oil while I'm thinking about it. I'm just extremely frustrated with this 'very reliable' vehicle of mine.

Thanks.

Oh, the vehicle is an '04 Sport, V6. 162k on the clock.

 

[zonianbrat]

What have you spent several thousands of dollars on? Was it motor related components? Maybe call and talk to a Toyota Tech? Now that you have the codes at least you can start with that and hopefully find an answer. Sorry about your luck with the 4 Runner. I assume you bought it used?

 

[lucky7]

Yup, bought it used. Little crap like leaky trans cooler lines, new suspension, lower control arms, ball joints, exhaust work, wheel bearings, seized calipers, etc., etc... Last week I installed a new alternator. It's just incredibly draining at this point.

The little things I can deal with, like for example the truck doesn't go into 4lo. The exhaust manifolds are obviously cracked as it sounds like a sewing machine. I can't deal with a poor idle, however.

I was scheduled to go camping this weekend, but that isn't going to happened....Lol.

EDIT - I forgot, I also had the intermediate shaft changed, both front axles and the needle bearing.

 

[lucky7]

So I'm assuming I should mentally prepare for a $3500 repair bill...?

It's times like this I wish I would have went with my gut and just bought another Civic. Haha.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

I'm no mechanic but it sounds like you have a bad head gasket. The 2004, 2005 and early 2006 models are known to have them. Especially the 2004 model year. I could be wrong, but you should look into that before spending any more money. Good luck.

 

[lucky7]

Thanks. I'm so frustrated with this damn truck... I should have bought another Civic Si.

 

[rwrobs777]

Hi !!
I have a Gen 5 2016 4 Runner but it looks like your timing chain might have been loose and or skipped a tooth caused by maybe a clogged oil control valve causing wear or just a defective OCV...I believe your engine has VVT...that's why you are getting the Cam/Crank correlation DTC...also that will cause the misfire...the ignition system is firing at the wrong time !!...cylinders 1,3,and 5 are on one bank...cylinder 1 is bank 1 so you'd be having those 3 cylinders misfiring but you are only having 2 cylinders missing and you're missing 3...I'm lucky enough to have an oscilloscope so if you were in the NJ area I'd check out your cam/crank. That's why you are getting the P0011...Cam timing is off...the O2 DTC is most likely another separate problem. This is what you would see on a scope. The waveforms would have to line up at certain points...with my scope I could figure out how many teeth your timing chain actually skipped !!...enclosed is a sample cam/crank waveform...the blue is the cam waveform and the blue is the crank...the crank has say a pattern like 5-4-4-3 and repeats...the cam has to line up within that pattern. Hope this helps. I'd change the OCV first, change your oil and if that doesn't help your camshaft/chain might have not been lubed properly...I'm not sure if that valve has a separate filter !!...hope this helps and maybe find a good diagnostic shop and someone good with a scope if changing the OCV doesn't fix it!!


Here is a good video that might help...5 episodes !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75ptVbCpkjk&t=338s

 

[lucky7]

Thanks for your input, I do appreciate it. I may just have to take the truck to the dealership as I can't seem to find any Toyota specific mechanics/shops around here. I'm preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Ha.

 

[lucky7]

It was indeed a frozen oil control valve. Got that fixed a couple months ago. Now I'm looking for an oil leak. Looks like it's coming from the oil control switch, right next to the oil filter. Hoping that's the only place it's leaking...

 

[IASTATE01]

I would change the camshaft position sensor. Change spark plugs, wires, etc. Especially if you can do it yourself.

My 08 Subaru Forester was having random "crank but no starts", so I scanned the codes and had similar ones to what you have. I didn't have time or a place to work on it, so tried out the local shop. They changed the cam position sensor and the crank position sensor (he likes to do both since he's in there) and all is well! He charged $350 with all the extras but I could have done it myself for $40-50.

Sorry to say, it sounds like you go a used lemon. Good luck!!

 

[djpope09]

It was indeed a frozen oil control valve. Got that fixed a couple months ago. Now I'm looking for an oil leak. Looks like it's coming from the oil control switch, right next to the oil filter. Hoping that's the only place it's leaking...

Glad you got it figured out. I was going to say these engines run like crap with all kinds of misfires if the oil flow isn't right or there isn't enough oil in them. I'm sure that's true for most engines haha. Thanks for coming back and telling everyone what the fix was.

 

[Ck6599]

Thanks. I'm so frustrated with this damn truck... I should have bought another Civic Si.

Sorry about your frustration

 

[Ck6599]

Glad you got it figured out. I was going to say these engines run like crap with all kinds of misfires if the oil flow isn't right or there isn't enough oil in them. I'm sure that's true for most engines haha. Thanks for coming back and telling everyone what the fix was.

Yes, thanks for the update

 

[woodman60]

I'm no mechanic but it sounds like you have a bad head gasket. The 2004, 2005 and early 2006 models are known to have them. Especially the 2004 model year. I could be wrong, but you should look into that before spending any more money. Good luck.

Mine went into the dealer today for a head gasket replacement. Hard pill to swallow, but when I considered the idea of buying another used truck that could have similar problems or worse, I decided it was worth it. No good reason I don't get another 100K out of the motor.

Fortunately, I paid a pretty low purchase price, and did a lot of the work I've done so far myself.

 

[lucky7]

Mine went into the dealer today for a head gasket replacement. Hard pill to swallow, but when I considered the idea of buying another used truck that could have similar problems or worse, I decided it was worth it. No good reason I don't get another 100K out of the motor.

Fortunately, I paid a pretty low purchase price, and did a lot of the work I've done so far myself.

I hope I never have to go through that...

Anyhow, $12.99 for a new oil pressure switch and I think the oil stopped dripping completely.

 

[thennen]

It was indeed a frozen oil control valve. Got that fixed a couple months ago. Now I'm looking for an oil leak. Looks like it's coming from the oil control switch, right next to the oil filter. Hoping that's the only place it's leaking...

Maybe I missed this, but what year and how many miles when you bought it?

 

[lucky7]

2004, and I honestly don't remember the mileage. I've only had it a couple years, maybe 135-140k? 165k on it currently.

 

[Seymore Butts]

I wonder if someone had rolled back the odometer before you bought the truck. That's not too many miles for a 4R, and you have had a lot of problems with it.