Newbie needing some guidance

[tnc5365]

Hello all,
I've been lurking around here for a bit since I purchased my 87 4runner last October. 22re manual with 134,000 miles on it. It hasn't given me too much trouble until recently though. So what I have read so far has given me a lot of knowlege for future projects and maintenance. However, I am experiencing an issue that I have not been able to solve so far. The problem is intermittent and annoying. It sounds like cold start/hot start in a previous thread, but not sure. First problem is it will start just fine one time and let me drive around a bit. So I think ok, the last repair has fixed it. Then the next time I need to go somewhere is will barely run long enough to get me out of the driveway. After a few minutes of wondering what in the world it could be. It will start up again. So far I have changed plugs, wires, cap, rotor and coil.

Also, I wonder if anyone else has had this problem. Idle surge. It is intermittent as well, but only when I have my foot on the brake pedal. Not always, sometimes it will idle as smooth as a kitten with the brake depressed other times I get the surging. Any suggestions and guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Tim

 

[fourwd1]

If idle rpm's are higher than spec, you will get the "brake idle surge" syndrome, but typically it is not an intermittent thing.
Other things that could cause idle variations are low coolant level, or a TPS problem.

 

[tnc5365]

I don't know if this will help, but I just started the 4runner and left it at idle. After several minutes of not touching a thing and an engine temp of about 150 it just stopped running. There is still fuel and spark because it started again, but only started then died. Scratching my head here.

 

[SV_Dude]

Maybe an intermittent alternator? Does the starter ever feel sluggish like the battery is low?

 

[tnc5365]

No, the starter is strong, new battery. Pulled the alternator a week ago and it checked out. Could it be different with a load on it while running as apposed to testing it on the bench at the auto parts store?

 

[stingers]

I had exactly the same issue with my 22r about 12 months ago. It would start great when it was cold and take off as normal, but once it was at normal operating temperature it just died in the guts. I checked my oil levels and noticed the oil look milky, as though I had done a head gasket or something.
When I eventually got the car home I pulled the sump off to check for any other evidence of damage and notice a heap of hard plastic broken pieces at the bottom of the sump. Upon closer inspection I found out I had actually broken the timing chain adjuster, which was plastic.

Once I had installed the new adjuster the car drove great, event when at normal temp.

 

[tnc5365]

Stingers, do you mean the sump in the oil pan? If I read you right, you are saying that the timing chain tensioner had come apart and ended up in the oil pan. Or is there another sump that I am not aware of? Sorry, but I am not much of a mechanic and have to move slow here.

Thanks, I will be checking that out.

 

[fourwd1]

The Timing Chain guides breaking-up is common on a high mileage engine, not usually the tensioner. And the pieces can end up in the oil pan. If you have the original TC at 134K mi, you need a new TC whether it's causing your problem or not.

 

[stingers]

Stingers, do you mean the sump in the oil pan? If I read you right, you are saying that the timing chain tensioner had come apart and ended up in the oil pan. Or is there another sump that I am not aware of? Sorry, but I am not much of a mechanic and have to move slow here.

Thanks, I will be checking that out.

Yeah sorry mate, I didn't mean to confuse you. I'm no mechanic either, I just married into a mechanics family .
But yes that is what I meant, in the oil pan.

 

[tnc5365]

Thanks alot for the hint, now like I said I am the #__ owner of this 4runner and would not know how to tell if the TC had been replaced before? I can tell that someone has previously done some work under the hood before, but what repairs, I have no idea. Also, does the oil always get milky when the TC guides have come apart? I checked last night and didn't notice any difference in the oil on the dipstick.
Thanks,
Tim

 

[turboSR5]

Your oil will only be milky if you have blown your headgasket and the coolant happens to mix with the oil, it doesn't always happen when you blow the head gasket but it is common. The only other way to get coolant in your oil is if the timing chain guide breaks and your timing chain starts rubbing through your timing cover at the water pump. A broken chain tensioner could cause some problems and make your vehicle run like crap, but that isn't a very common occurance.