Rough idle and flashing CEL on way to work!

[Road Bull]

Hey, so as I was dragging my button to work this morning I noticed going down the highway that the CEL was flashing. It flashed about three times and went away. I thought that maybe I might have been low on fluids or something, but no other lights and temp looked normal. So I kept an eye on it and nothing happened until I was almost at work. Then it flashed and I noticed that the idle sounded a bit rough and maybe a little loss of power.

I got of the HW and parked it at work and began my research. It looked like many with similar issues fixed their problem with new plugs and wires. Oddly enough, I just took delivery of new Toyota OEM plugs and NGK wires.

From what I gathered, the flashing CEL is bad and listed as the highest tier code that can be thrown. That and because it is a flashing code, that often the code is not stored to read later.

So can I limp it home, ( 20 minutes on HW) without killing it? Or do I need to look at towing it?

 

[JayRolla]

Hey, so as I was dragging my button to work this morning I noticed going down the highway that the CEL was flashing. It flashed about three times and went away. I thought that maybe I might have been low on fluids or something, but no other lights and temp looked normal. So I kept an eye on it and nothing happened until I was almost at work. Then it flashed and I noticed that the idle sounded a bit rough and maybe a little loss of power.

I got of the HW and parked it at work and began my research. It looked like many with similar issues fixed their problem with new plugs and wires. Oddly enough, I just took delivery of new Toyota OEM plugs and NGK wires.

From what I gathered, the flashing CEL is bad and listed as the highest tier code that can be thrown. That and because it is a flashing code, that often the code is not stored to read later.

So can I limp it home, ( 20 minutes on HW) without killing it? Or do I need to look at towing it?

Flashing CEL without stored code is misfire. If its running rough you have one cylinder most likely not firing.

You can drive it but the major issue is the cylinder without spark is still getting fuel. This fuel not burning and will wash the cylinder pretty fast causing a very bad situation for the oil ring. Also the oil is contaminated with fuel and will need changed ASAP.

If it was me I would let it run. Remove an injector plug one at a time and once you find the one that does not change the motor idle, leave it unplugged so its not washing that cylinder of oil

 

[FROGrunner]

I wouldn't drive with the misfire for long as this can lead to catalytic converter to melt and do other damage.

 

[JayRolla]

I wouldn't drive with the misfire for long as this can lead to catalytic converter to melt and do other damage.

Hey man rich shift fire balls through the cat is all fun and games. HAHA.

This is also possible OP. If they fuel makes it to the cat and ignites.

 

[Road Bull]

I wouldn't drive with the misfire for long as this can lead to catalytic converter to melt and do other damage.

Ugh... what is "not for long"? Will a twenty minute trip back home jack things up pretty good? That's where my tools and parts are.

 

[FROGrunner]

Ugh... what is "not for long"? Will a twenty minute trip back home jack things up pretty good? That's where my tools and parts are.

I have seen customers destroy their catalytic converters after a few days driving around town. Now having said that, not every car is the same, nor is the driving style the same. Do you run 87 octane in your truck?

 

[Road Bull]

I have seen customers destroy their catalytic converters after a few days driving around town. Now having said that, not every car is the same, nor is the driving style the same. Do you run 87 octane in your truck?

Yes. Just the finest 87 cheap as chips gas in my vehicle. I realize that it is somewhat situational. I drive like I have an egg under my accelerator for the most part.

 

[Road Bull]

Flashing CEL without stored code is misfire. If its running rough you have one cylinder most likely not firing.

You can drive it but the major issue is the cylinder without spark is still getting fuel. This fuel not burning and will wash the cylinder pretty fast causing a very bad situation for the oil ring. Also the oil is contaminated with fuel and will need changed ASAP.

If it was me I would let it run. Remove an injector plug one at a time and once you find the one that does not change the motor idle, leave it unplugged so its not washing that cylinder of oil

Ok, I ran by O'Reillys and had them pull the codes...

C1201 Engine Control System

P0300 Multi Missfire

P0303 3th Cyl misfire

P0304 4th Cyl misfire

P0420 Cat system below threshold bank #1

So... That's what I am looking at. Fun...:wacko:

 

[FROGrunner]

Ok, I ran by O'Reillys and had them pull the codes...

C1201 Engine Control System

P0300 Multi Missfire

P0303 3th Cyl misfire

P0304 4th Cyl misfire

P0420 Cat system below threshold bank #1

So... That's what I am looking at. Fun...:wacko:

Ok did you pull any of your plugs out and look at them closely?
Your P0420 could be from the misfires in cyl 3 and 4 dumping extra fuel through the exhaust into the cat.

 

[Road Bull]

Ok did you pull any of your plugs out and look at them closely?
Your P0420 could be from the misfires in cyl 3 and 4 dumping extra fuel through the exhaust into the cat.

I was going to get on this last night but I couldn't locate my spark plug socket. And this morning I realized I had an appointment to make sure justice was served in court that I needed to be there for. I will try to knock this out tonight and take a look at the plugs.

 

[Road Bull]

Yuuuuuuussssssss.....

I got it sorted. It took me a bit of fumbling about, (first plugs and wire change on a vehicle), but it is running like its old self at least. I took it for a test drive and it sounded and felt great. Thanks [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102083]FROGrunner[/MENTION] for your input.

I will keep my eyes and ears open the next couple of days and see how she is doing. But as of now, no more rough idling, shaking, or power loss. I still have the CEL and VSC, VSC TRAC CTRL lights, but hopefully they will clear in a few days.

This youtube video was pretty good. >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDBdp8rjYkw

Also I found a wiring diagram and cylinder numbering diagram that I splashed a bit of color on to make it a bit more obvious. From yotatech.com >> https://www.yotatech.com/f2/5vzfe-cylinder-numbers-3rd-gen-v6-4runner-109370/

I also just realized that this diagram doesn't help anyone who might be color blind. So...

Wire order breakdown:

Rear of vehicle
5 >> 2
3 >> 6
1 >> 4
Front of vehicle

 

[Road Bull]

Here are the pics of the old plugs. Cylinder #4 plug was the worst of the bunch. I also was able to tighten my valve cover bolts as a temp fix for a leaky VC seal. I have the parts waiting for me and a friend to find the time.

 

[JayRolla]

I just got a slight misfire at WOT and higher rpms. Got some denso plugs and wires on order. Glad you got it fixed easily.

 

[jgue467]

... Cylinder #4 plug was the worst of the bunch....

That's a lot of carbon, probably just as much inside the upper engine. I'd run seaform or startron thru the fuel system. :cowboy:

 

[FROGrunner]

Glad you figured it out!

 

[TheDurk]

I got it sorted. It took me a bit of fumbling about, (first plugs and wire change on a vehicle), but it is running like its old self at least. I took it for a test drive and it sounded and felt great. Thanks [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102083]FROGrunner[/MENTION] for your input.

I will keep my eyes and ears open the next couple of days and see how she is doing. But as of now, no more rough idling, shaking, or power loss. I still have the CEL and VSC, VSC TRAC CTRL lights, but hopefully they will clear in a few days.

This youtube video was pretty good. >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDBdp8rjYkw

Also I found a wiring diagram and cylinder numbering diagram that I splashed a bit of color on to make it a bit more obvious. From yotatech.com >> https://www.yotatech.com/f2/5vzfe-cylinder-numbers-3rd-gen-v6-4runner-109370/

Amateur:

[MENTION=43936]zcruiser[/MENTION] of THIS forum has you beat:

 

[Road Bull]

[/B]

Amateur:

[MENTION=43936]zcruiser[/MENTION] of THIS forum has you beat:

Hahaha... :noidea:

Just think of mine as more of a modern art hack job. Thank you for adding the proper diagram. Where was this thing hiding when I was looking for wire routing options? LOL. Probably under an under a very obvious title heading that I overlooked. Well done sir.

 

[TheDurk]

Hahaha... :noidea:

Just think of mine as more of a modern art hack job. Thank you for adding the proper diagram. Where was this thing hiding when I was looking for wire routing options? LOL. Probably under an under a very obvious title heading that I overlooked. Well done sir.

I've posted it at least 30 times in threads involving no start issues. If you didn't find it, you didn't look very hard.

Or, try a Google image search on "toyota 4runner spark plug wire diagram" and look at the first result.

 

[Road Bull]

I've posted it at least 30 times in threads involving no start issues. If you didn't find it, you didn't look very hard.

Or, try a Google image search on "toyota 4runner spark plug wire diagram" and look at the first result.

I was just giving you the business. It's avery popular diagram. Maybe one day my artistic interpretation will make it into the annals of Google usefulness. I won't quit my day job though.