Ignition Coils and Spark Plugs at 39k?

[ProjectMayhem713]

2014 4Runner. Just over 39k miles. All maintenance done regularly at dealer, where I've had positive experiences with overall.

Yesterday Check Engine Flashing and rough at idle and slow/rough acceleration. Don't currently have a code reader so I took it to the local mechanic who told me I have 2 bad coils. Which makes sense based on how it felt. But at 39k??? I am wondering if its rodent damage possibly?

Also I am considering doing this myself. I had previously done all repairs and maintenance on my bmw's, but since nobody has probably had to do a coil pack change on a 2014 4Runner, I am not finding any diy's or walk throughs.

Mechanic recommended doing all six coils and spark plugs since he has to take the manifold off. Which again, makes sense based on my experience and is what I would do if I did it myself.

If I have him do it, could he possibly diagnose if it was rodent damage? Because then I believe it'd be covered under insurance.

Thanks for any info!

 

[engeeoh01]

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-spark-plug-change-1-gr-fe.30479/


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[TowMeOut]

I'm only assuming that the 5th gen setup is very similar to the 4th gen. If you've got bad coils it's not rodent damage to the coils themselves but maybe to the harness. That opens up a monumentally larger can of worms.

The coils have an integrated connector so there's no "wire" to speak of a little varmint can chew on. However, the wires going to those coils might be easy pickings for some little monster. Are the two bad coils adjacent to each other (on the same leg of the harness)??

If not.....could be moisture related. I've had other vehicle coil packs fail due to heat cycles. They end up with hairline cracks over time that will absorb moisture (even from heavy fog) and short out the coil just enough to throw a code. Not sure if this is even a possiblilty with this type on our trucks but just throwing that out there.

 

[ridefast]

Is this related to the 36k mile warranty or the 60k mile warranty. Coils are connected to the engine so I would argue the 60k mile warranty with Toyota.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

The spark plug how-to posted above from the Tacoma site is useful, but doesn't cover the air injection plumbing Toyota added around 2013. I believe it was that year.
At any rate I know the 2014 has it. A little extra work, but doable. Here's a diagram:

https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/gen...Fw$&vid=0&cid=&uid=254990&q=JTEZU5JR8E5073127

 

[wfo9]

My guess is rodent damage for sure.

But should also be under warranty if not.. right?

It's just like changing the plugs. Very easy, but can't imagine it being the coil or plug gone bad.

Data with a sccanner should be able to tell you which cyl(s) is getting misfires.

 

[Judd94]

You’re talking about to ignition coils that you pull out to change plugs? No need to remove manifold for that. As far 2 or more being bad that sounds really odd. Rodent damage is common on Toyota’s since the wiring is covered in peanut oil. As far as the air injection plumbing things, they’re covered farther back in this link. Gonna need replacement metal gaskets.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...to-tutorial-so-easy-6-yr-old-girl-can-do.html

 

[ProjectMayhem713]

Thanks for replies everyone. The timing made it such that I couldn’t be without the vehicle for any chunk of time. So I had the local mechanic who diagnosed it do the work.

Swapped out the plugs and coils and everything seems fine. Talked to Toyota service rep who was as baffled as we are about why two would go bad simultaneously at such low mileage. Aside from a few acorns and peanut shells there wasn’t obvious signs of rodent damage. But I’m going to assume, that since it seems fine now, that it was either a super fluke or rodents. I can’t imagine it being a symptom of a bigger problem.

Had this happened next week, I totally would have done it myself. Oh well. Eff me I guess.