Rough rich running prob. Vac lines?

[CableHogue]

My 2nd gen (95) 4Runner is suddenly rough starting, running very rich (black smoke and gas smell) and is slowly getting worse. I've cleaned the KN air filter with no effect.

I have a couple of vac lines that are not right (see pics), but this isn't new. It's been that way since I bought it two months ago. I've put about 1000 miles or so on it and had no problems until a couple of days ago.

Any ideas what the issue might be?

This first pic is the front passenger side of the block. Two vac tubes that were never hooked up to any lines. I have no idea what they are for? Anyone???

This second pic is a vac line that I just discovered today. Again, no idea where it should be connected. (Also that wire coming out of the firewall. No idea, it's just dangling...)??

 

[Even Steven]

Disconnected vacuum lines can DEFINITELY be the cause of your problem. Why don't you hook them back up and see what happens?

BTW, an old mechanic's trick is to use propane gas around your vacuum lines to find leaks or rotted lines that are allowing unmetered air to enter your engine, thus causing your air/fuel ratio to run lean. But keep in mind that certain vacuum line can have the exact opposite effect, causing your engine to run rich.

You can usually determine where disconnected vacuum lines belong just be moving them around and seeing where they reach. You shouldn't have any open lines anywhere on your engine. Even if you can't determine where they belong, at least plug them for now to stop the possibility of unmetered air from getting into your engine. If I were you, I'd get hold of a manual and check all vacuum lines on the entire engine.

 

[Even Steven]

Forgot to say... that wire is most likely a ground wire. It should bolt up somewhere to either the block or the firewall. Are you having any electrical issues or electrical accessories that aren't working? If so, that ground might be your problem. Now that I think about it, that ground might even be for someone in your fuel system, also a possible cause of your problems.

 

[CableHogue]

Thanks Steven. I found the tube for the one vac line just as you suggested. The two in front of the block I have no clue as there is no hose. I'll be ordering the Factory Service Manual shortly and will plug them up in the mean time.

I figured that wire might be a ground, just based on it's size (looks like it's made to fit on a bit blot or stud).