Feels like I'm dragging the world behind me...

mznobull

mznobull

Junior Member
Hi guys...you were all very helpful last year when I went through issues with radiator & was hoping someone could help a damsel in distress again...
Now: '99 SR5 114.2k miles auto trans
110.8k miles: new radiator & fan clutch, new tran fluids (no strawberry milkshake thank god)
113.8k miles: oil change, alignment/balance of tires, replace left CV shaft boot, tune-up w/valve cover replaced (leaking)
Here's the poop: Feels like overnight this started to happen... when accelerating, it feels like i'm dragging a dump truck behind me (no e-brake is on). While stopped, more vibration evident (new muffler @ 111k) to the point any body fat vibrates too (i'm only 115lbs)... I'm not feeling any slippable while accelerating but lots o' drag...any ideas?

:shrug:
 
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mznobull said:
Hi guys...you were all very helpful last year when I went through issues with radiator & was hoping someone could help a damsel in distress again...
Now: '99 SR5 114.2k miles auto trans
110.8k miles: new radiator & fan clutch, new tran fluids (no strawberry milkshake thank god)
113.8k miles: oil change, alignment/balance of tires, replace left CV shaft boot, tune-up w/valve cover replaced (leaking)
Here's the poop: Feels like overnight this started to happen... when accelerating, it feels like i'm dragging a dump truck behind me (no e-brake is on). While stopped, more vibration evident (new muffler @ 111k) to the point any body fat vibrates too (i'm only 115lbs)... I'm not feeling any slippable while accelerating but lots o' drag...any ideas?

:shrug:
Click to expand...


i'm confused by this
While stopped, more vibration evident
Click to expand...

so the truck is shaking pretty badly when stopped and at idle?

and it feels like your dragging something......


this is either 2 separate things or the same thing and can't really tell from the description you gave.




either you have a really really bad maf or the cam is about to go, or something along those lines or your have a rear brake dragging and
a rough idel from something else.....

are you getting any check engine lights or codes thrown at you?
 
Things to check:

Harmonic balancer, dampener. Open hood with engine running and look at fan belts does it look like there is a bad wobble.
Clogged catalytic converter, O2 sensor(sluggishness poor mileage but wont explain vibration)
Brakes sticking(again wont cause vibration while stopped)

Not sure what else to check. I am poor at diagnosing but once iI know what it is I can fix it.
 
I'm leaning towards something to do with the tune up that was done 400 miles ago, maybe something wasn't connected all the way and come loose. It sounds like a misfire to me though.
 
YotaZach85 said:
I'm leaning towards something to do with the tune up that was done 400 miles ago, maybe something wasn't connected all the way and come loose. It sounds like a misfire to me though.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately the tune-up was done after the fact... i was hoping it would have solved part of the issue.
 
Pikeman said:
Things to check:

Harmonic balancer, dampener. Open hood with engine running and look at fan belts does it look like there is a bad wobble.
Clogged catalytic converter, O2 sensor(sluggishness poor mileage but wont explain vibration)
Brakes sticking(again wont cause vibration while stopped)

Not sure what else to check. I am poor at diagnosing but once iI know what it is I can fix it.
Click to expand...
I do have a non-OEM cat because it was stolen @ 100.4k & insurance would not cover OEM on an older 4R (typical)...would the toyota mechanic have noticed this when they did the safety check & hooked up to diagnotics machine if clogged?
 
mznobull said:
I do have a non-OEM cat because it was stolen @ 100.4k & insurance would not cover OEM on an older 4R (typical)...would the toyota mechanic have noticed this when they did the safety check & hooked up to diagnotics machine if clogged?
Click to expand...

A new cat won't be clogged already, I'd cross that off the list.

If you pop the hood with the engine running, can you see it shaking badly in the engine bay? Maybe you have a bad engine or tranny mount? Are there any noises to go along with the shaking?
 
mznobull said:
Ha! Nice...i figured i'd better state my weight cause someone would have replied that maybe i need to lose the muffin tops.
Click to expand...

Thanks for not getting bent out of shape about a joke. Nothing wrong with a little muffin top in the right places. Not sure you could have any that would physically slow your 4runner down though. When was the last time the air filter was serviced and MAF cleaned? I had similar symptoms recently with my daughter's RX8. It would start vibrating badly at a stop and the rpm's would drop and sometimes it would even stall. Still need to clean the MAF but found that the air filter was pretty dirty in the area where most of the air flows in and out on either side of the filter. Couldn't find a new filter in town so I turned it 180 degrees and put it back in and we haven't had the problem since.
 
mznobull said:
I do have a non-OEM cat because it was stolen @ 100.4k & insurance would not cover OEM on an older 4R (typical)...would the toyota mechanic have noticed this when they did the safety check & hooked up to diagnotics machine if clogged?
Click to expand...

I would think you'd get a CEL and a code if something is going on in that area. Tune-up parts up to date (plugs, etc.)?
 
IanB said:
A new cat won't be clogged already, I'd cross that off the list.

If you pop the hood with the engine running, can you see it shaking badly in the engine bay? Maybe you have a bad engine or tranny mount? Are there any noises to go along with the shaking?
Click to expand...
The engine runs pretty quiet & I haven't noticed any engine noise...what is louder than norm is the cat/muffler. since the new non-OEM was soldered at the exact areas it was cut out (theives) it sounds like a race car (new muff @ 111k). My fear is that it's the trans...am I paranoid?
 
T4R_Finally said:
Thanks for not getting bent out of shape about a joke. Nothing wrong with a little muffin top in the right places. Not sure you could have any that would physically slow your 4runner down though. When was the last time the air filter was serviced and MAF cleaned? I had similar symptoms recently with my daughter's RX8. It would start vibrating badly at a stop and the rpm's would drop and sometimes it would even stall. Still need to clean the MAF but found that the air filter was pretty dirty in the area where most of the air flows in and out on either side of the filter. Couldn't find a new filter in town so I turned it 180 degrees and put it back in and we haven't had the problem since.
Click to expand...
Life's too short to get nutty over a little fun!
The visual of air filter is decent but it's a cheap buy to replace which i will do this week. What's a MAF?
 
mznobull said:
Life's too short to get nutty over a little fun!
The visual of air filter is decent but it's a cheap buy to replace which i will do this week. What's a MAF?
Click to expand...

MAF = mass air flow sensor. It's in the intake tract between the air filter and the intake manifold.
 
mznobull said:
What's a MAF?
Click to expand...

Mass Air Flow sensor(s). I'm not that familiar with them but I know it can cause problems when they get dirty. My guess is they monitor air flow and signal adjustments accordingly and cannot do it effectively when too dirty. I've been told you have to be careful when cleaning them and there is a special cleaner you can buy to do it with. Our little RX8 was acting like it was starving for air or fuel, and since it seemed to run fun except at idle and even then it was intermittent, I am thinking it was related to air. I doubt flipping my filter so that a cleaner section of it was between the intake and output was the magic bullet fix but it definitely seems to have helped. As soon as get out of the boonies where I live again, I'll pick up a new filter for it and some MAF cleaner.
 
I might have your same problem, does it make any clicking noises combine with a rattling noise similarly to what you would hear if you set a handheld back massager on a cherry wood tabletop on the 3rd floor of a library? :lookout: cause that's where I'm at :-(
 
if there's no codes and the motor is running fine then it does sound like your trans. To make it run that rough it would have to be throwing a code of some sort if it was the motor. Just my thoughts.
 
I would suggest having someone check the welds on the after market cat and check the cat itself to make sure its the correct size. I would also check the transmission mount and crossmember along with the engine mounts. 3rd gen t4r transmounts are notorious for having the rubber deteriorate and excessive vibration at that point can lead to extra stress on the crossmember. the crossmember rarely needs replacing though (but Ive seen at the dealership I work at). Also at the dealership Im at, we see alot of trans mounts go bad, I would say 20 bad trans mounts for every 1 bad engine mount. if your t4r is an automatic, even though it was recently flushed, check the trans fluid to see if their is any discoloring, metal shavings, or funny smells. with less than a few thousand miles on fresh trans fluid it should still be red also check it to make sure the trans is full. also, you mentioned a cv boot (im assuming its 4x4) check the condition and level of the front and rear diff gear oil.
 
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