"new" 4Runner owner here doing plug and wire change...

Lord Taco

Lord Taco

New member
Hi, I found a 1999 4Runner Highlander in Austin for steal of a deal. It has 189K with the 3.4 V6 (I guess you already know that)

Now, it idles fine and I noticed the missing right after I bought it when it was going into O/D on the freeway. The Engine light came on and it blinked occasionally. Now when I drive it, sometimes it's on, off, or blinking.

It was dealer maintained until 186k with the original owner, the next owner was a pig and it was DIRTY. It does have some misfiring on 1&2 occasionally and 3 consistently according to the Autozone computer....I just got some Denso plugs and wires in the mail. (I love Amazon)

I have been reading about Seafoam and the wonders it works. Would you guys use it first even with the misfiring? Or should I do it later? Or at all?

Thanks in Advance.

Cruiserhead Clint

oh wait a min, this isn't IH8Mud.

Lord Taco.
 
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A blinking check engine light is not right.

Once the ECU senses a fault code it relays the light and the light stays on until the fault is reset.

So. IMO, you either have a check engine light that should be on all the time due to a fault and the light is faulty OR some voodoo spell has been cast on you.

You say the truck was filthy. Did you spray off the engine compartment? Did this start after that?

If I were you I'd replace the plugs and wires, pull the negative battery cable for 30 seconds to reset any fault codes and start anew.
 
Well crap...it has been intermittent on the check engine light. It has been on more than off...I only hope that this doesn't mean that some witch doctor isn't torturing my 4runner with pins somewhere.


I did spray the engine compartment...but I it was blinking before. I will disconnect the the neg and see.
 
Blitzkrieg said:
A blinking check engine light is not right.

Once the ECU senses a fault code it relays the light and the light stays on until the fault is reset.
Click to expand...

According to the FSM, if the ECU does not sense the fault for three consecutive trips, the MIL is turned off.

This a minor quibble, as it does not sound like this is what is happening and I agree with your recommendations. I just didn't want people to think the light can NEVER go off by itself.
 
Good to know....I disconnected the NEG and the engine light turned off. I drove it around the block and it was missing for sure...but the engine light didn't come on in the 10 min ride.
 
A blinking CEL is normal for a miss, it just means it's not missing all the time (or as much as it would take to turn it on fully). I've read that it must miss 40 times in a loop before it makes the CEL stay on. My guess is the plugs and wires will take care of it. I do not recommend using Seafoam until after you change the plugs and wires because if it's missing on 3 different cylinders because of an ignition issue, you could hydrolock your engine with Seafoam if it sucks it in too fast using the vacuum line method.
 
Great! Well I hope that the plugs and wires do the trick. If not next will be coils and injector servicing.

Thanks for the fast input guys!
 
brian2sun said:
I do not recommend using Seafoam until after you change the plugs and wires because if it's missing on 3 different cylinders because of an ignition issue, you could hydrolock your engine with Seafoam if it sucks it in too fast using the vacuum line method.
Click to expand...

Isn't that what you are supposed to do with seafoam? The video on their site says "pour 1/3 bottle into the vacuum line or carburator slowly, then pour enough in to stall the engine. Then add 1/3 to the engine oil, then to the gas. Wait 10-15 minutes, then start the car"

perhaps this was only meant for carburated vehicles? They didn't specify though
 
Lord Taco said:
Well I think his point was that if the cylinders that aren't firing wouldn't burn anything out???
Click to expand...

Right, and if that fluid in there doesn't combust and you pour too quick it could potentially lock it up. It happens once in a while, but not often. I think it would be safer to do the plugs and wires 1st and see if that takes care of the miss. Then seafoam it when it's firing on all 6 if you want to.
 
As a special offer to my site mates here, send me $20 and I will send you a quart of Blitz's Pee-Foam.

It's a mixture of day old Coors carefully processed by me and will have the same affect as Sea-Foam. Marvins Mystery Oil, STP, etc...

And my guarantee is as good as theirs: If you aren't satisfied I'll apologize.

:lmao:
 
Blitzkrieg said:
As a special offer to my site mates here, send me $20 and I will send you a quart of Blitz's Pee-Foam.

It's a mixture of day old Coors carefully processed by me and will have the same affect as Sea-Foam. Marvins Mystery Oil, STP, etc...

And my guarantee is as good as theirs: If you aren't satisfied I'll apologize.

:lmao:
Click to expand...

And noting your prior wisdom.....:cool:


JK, thanks for the comments guys!
 
Blitzkrieg said:
As a special offer to my site mates here, send me $20 and I will send you a quart of Blitz's Pee-Foam.

It's a mixture of day old Coors carefully processed by me and will have the same affect as Sea-Foam. Marvins Mystery Oil, STP, etc...

And my guarantee is as good as theirs: If you aren't satisfied I'll apologize.

:lmao:
Click to expand...

Ahh yes, nothing beats the fine brewed taste of Coors here in Denver. I never understood why anybody drank this crap until I moved here. Tastes great within a 50 mile radius of the factory, any place else it tastes about as good as Blitzs Pee-Foam.
 
WrexHAmm said:
Ahh yes, nothing beats the fine brewed taste of Coors here in Denver. I never understood why anybody drank this crap until I moved here. Tastes great within a 50 mile radius of the factory, any place else it tastes about as good as Blitzs Pee-Foam.
Click to expand...

Haha, it's funny, I grew up just down the street from the brewery and I never actually drank Coors until I moved out east (and yeah, it was gross) even though I took the tour about 8 times. When I started drinking, I pretty much only drank microbrews from brew-pubs in Boulder. Wasn't trying to be snooty or anything, but if you can get a unique one, you might as well, cause you can get coors anywhere.
 
great news!

When I pulled the plugs, they were all so loose that I couldn't even tell that I was connected and loosening them. It had Denso plugs that were in good condition with AC Delco wires. I replaced them all with new Denso plugs and Denso wires. Fired up, no Engine light, and runs great!

Thanks for the help guys. Now I can say that I got a good deal on this Black 99 Highlander for $2900. :bravo:
 
Lord Taco said:
Lived in Boulder for 3 years back in the 90's; Loved it!
Click to expand...

Lived there 4 years, had to get out (couldn't stand all the crazies anymore). I would love to move back now that I don't have the mountains anymore (and miss them), and have more time and money for fun.

Nothing I can do about the crazies though...:(
 
LOL, yeah the lawn in front of City Hall on Pearl Street can be nuts...but hey, give me that over those drug store cowboys in college station!
 
Spoke too soon

Took an hour trip and it started again. Although not as bad, the engine light is back on and staying on. I will get the codes tomorrow.
 
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