Misfiring while driving to Panama City beach... Help!

[mbcdef]

So I'm about halfway to PCB today and noticed what felt like slight sputtering while in cruise doing 60'sh anytime there was a slight rise in the road. It was minor for a while and then finally got worse and CEL started flashing.

I nursed it the rest of the way and noticed that when up to speed it really sputtered between 1600 - 1900 rpm's. If I juiced it just enough to get it to 2000 rpm's it smoothed out quite a bit. It's really sputtering while stopped unless I put it in neutral.

Stopped into express oil repair just before they closed to pull any codes and it was obviously saying cylinder misfires. He didn't have much time but said could replace wires in the a.m. but wasn't sure if it was cables, plugs, both, or even maybe ignition coil? I'm going to find an autozone tonight and ask them to read the codes again.

So..... Thoughts based on symptoms? Can I nurse it back home 300 miles to my mechanic? Any good toyota shops in PCB?

Chris

 

[jsmith811]

Codes

Is their a particular code it threw that you can post? Bad gas somewhere ? Maybe some Octane booster and High Octane fuel, see if that makes a change. The fuel filter could be changed out with only a few hand tools... that's a shot in the dark though. If its running I'm going to say drive it home, Maybe park it while your in town and get a cheap rental, to get around until you head home. the mechanics can smell if you are desperate... $$

 

[mbcdef]

Ok it's throwing P0300 and P0304 cylinder 4 misfire.

I don't have to drive around hardly any until returning to Birmingham on Sunday. Safe to drive back to mechanic there?

 

[twa318]

Ok it's throwing P0300 and P0304 cylinder 4 misfire.

I don't have to drive around hardly any until returning to Birmingham on Sunday. Safe to drive back to mechanic there?

is it misfiring only when its hot and not cold?

 

[jsmith811]

Misfire

Here are some similar issues and fixes..
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/149634-p0300-p0302-p0305-my-experience-finally-fixed.html

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175997

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/134157-p0300-p0306-misfire-fixed-fuel-injector-99-4runner.html

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/p0300-code-bad-gas-165029/

Some other threads I found advised to: "look at the plug wires they are known to bust when old near the boot"



"When the code P0300 is set in the Powertrain Computer, it means that the Misfire Monitor has detected more than a 2 percent variance in RPM between the firing of any two (or more) cylinders in the firing order. The Misfire Monitor constantly checks the rotational speed of the Crankshaft by counting the pulses of the Crankshaft Sensor. The Monitor wants to see a smooth increase or decrease in engine RPM.

If there are jerky and sudden changes in the speed output of the Crankshaft Sensor, the Misfire Monitor begins to count the RPM increase (or lack thereof) contributed by each cylinder. If it varies beyond 2 percent, the Monitor will set a P0300 code and illuminate the Check Engine Light. If there is more than a 10 percent variance, the Check Engine Light will blink or pulse in a steady manner to indicate that a harmful Catalytic Converter misfire is occurring. "

 

[abrosk927]

So I'm about halfway to PCB today and noticed what felt like slight sputtering while in cruise doing 60'sh anytime there was a slight rise in the road. It was minor for a while and then finally got worse and CEL started flashing.

I nursed it the rest of the way and noticed that when up to speed it really sputtered between 1600 - 1900 rpm's. If I juiced it just enough to get it to 2000 rpm's it smoothed out quite a bit. It's really sputtering while stopped unless I put it in neutral.

Stopped into express oil repair just before they closed to pull any codes and it was obviously saying cylinder misfires. He didn't have much time but said could replace wires in the a.m. but wasn't sure if it was cables, plugs, both, or even maybe ignition coil? I'm going to find an autozone tonight and ask them to read the codes again.

So..... Thoughts based on symptoms? Can I nurse it back home 300 miles to my mechanic? Any good toyota shops in PCB?

Chris

New wires and plugs solved that for me

 

[jsmith811]

MisFire

Post the maintenance history... I'm sure that would help everyone give you more accurate solutions or possible fixes. From what I've read you're looking at plugs/wires, maybe an injector...

 

[mbcdef]

Just now getting a chance to sit down for the night in our condo.

Seems like the majority of these end up being the injector after all the other "easier" stuff is done.

I don't have to drive it while down here so am going to nurse it back home on Sunday and get it to my mechanic.

Thanks for the links, i was trying to find an autozone, our condo, grocery, etc... when first posting symptoms.

 

[mbcdef]

I don't think it's sat long enough to be cold actually. I'll check again in the morning.

 

[mbcdef]

Update....

Nursed it home for the 5 hour drive, had a whole in cylinder 4 cable so was arching through. Plugs and cylinders were good. New cables, driving good again.

 

[Mpac1]

What shop did you use?

Need to have a timing belt job done and looking for someplace other than dealer.