Any experience or advice with this situation is welcome. I'm trying to find the cause of my motor dying while driving.
I was driving yesterday about 20mph through a parking lot and my 4Runner's motor shut off completely. Still had electric and brakes, but no gas, no steering. Would be extremely dangerous if this happened again at 80mph on the interstate. The truck had previously been running for most of the day and was hot but nothing unusual (normal temps...maybe 80 degrees ambient temp).
I came to a stop, put it in park, turned the key to off position then cranked it back up. Started right up normally. Has been driving fine for the last several hours since then.
Looked underneath and found NEW oil leaks...Rear Main Seal and Oil Pan leaking a good bit. However, dipstick shows reasonable oil level. Maybe 1/2 quart low but nothing extreme. Its had a minor valve cover leak for years without issue. It has never leaked enough to need any oil added in between oil changes. But now the Rear Main and Pan are newly discovered leaks that look more severe. I suspect it is not coincidence that the truck died at the same time these leaks started.
Local mechanic thinks it maybe Crankshaft Position Sensor not getting lubed enough due to oil leaks (??).
Took 4Runner to Toyota for diagnostic. They found P0420 code "catalyst system efficiency low threshold bank 1" and recommended I get new catalytic converters installed.
Truck is at muffler shop now.. Mechanic did pressure test and said catalytic converters appear to be working fine and does not recommend replacing. Upon googling the code, I found a list of things that may cause the P0420 code including intake, spark plugs, etc etc. (It has new spark plugs and wires). Muffler guy also says if cats were bad, truck would not run well...it would not crank up normal after dying...it would be a continuous problem.
4Runner is at about 234k miles and is worked very hard every day. Lots of rain and mudding recently. Poor ol' truck gets beaten hard hitting lease roads and potholes at high speed. Truck is generally running (if not driving, then idling most of the time) at least 8 hours per day, 6 days per week. Always loaded with about 400 lbs cargo. Driven offroad through trees and mesquite regularly. It is possible something could be loose somewhere...maybe fuel pump connection? or O2 sensor?
I don't mind adding oil every day to compensate for the leaks. I don't mind CEL staying on. No inspection to worry about right now. I just need the truck drive-able. I need to resolve the DYING WHILE DRIVING issue because this is extremely dangerous. So far it has only happened this one time, but I'm afraid the next time it happens I may be on the interstate or other hairy situation.
Does anyone have any ideas that don't involve spending $3000 like Toyota wants to replace all seals and cats. (THEY DONT KNOW WHY ITS DYING)
Thanks
I was driving yesterday about 20mph through a parking lot and my 4Runner's motor shut off completely. Still had electric and brakes, but no gas, no steering. Would be extremely dangerous if this happened again at 80mph on the interstate. The truck had previously been running for most of the day and was hot but nothing unusual (normal temps...maybe 80 degrees ambient temp).
I came to a stop, put it in park, turned the key to off position then cranked it back up. Started right up normally. Has been driving fine for the last several hours since then.
Looked underneath and found NEW oil leaks...Rear Main Seal and Oil Pan leaking a good bit. However, dipstick shows reasonable oil level. Maybe 1/2 quart low but nothing extreme. Its had a minor valve cover leak for years without issue. It has never leaked enough to need any oil added in between oil changes. But now the Rear Main and Pan are newly discovered leaks that look more severe. I suspect it is not coincidence that the truck died at the same time these leaks started.
Local mechanic thinks it maybe Crankshaft Position Sensor not getting lubed enough due to oil leaks (??).
Took 4Runner to Toyota for diagnostic. They found P0420 code "catalyst system efficiency low threshold bank 1" and recommended I get new catalytic converters installed.
Truck is at muffler shop now.. Mechanic did pressure test and said catalytic converters appear to be working fine and does not recommend replacing. Upon googling the code, I found a list of things that may cause the P0420 code including intake, spark plugs, etc etc. (It has new spark plugs and wires). Muffler guy also says if cats were bad, truck would not run well...it would not crank up normal after dying...it would be a continuous problem.
4Runner is at about 234k miles and is worked very hard every day. Lots of rain and mudding recently. Poor ol' truck gets beaten hard hitting lease roads and potholes at high speed. Truck is generally running (if not driving, then idling most of the time) at least 8 hours per day, 6 days per week. Always loaded with about 400 lbs cargo. Driven offroad through trees and mesquite regularly. It is possible something could be loose somewhere...maybe fuel pump connection? or O2 sensor?
I don't mind adding oil every day to compensate for the leaks. I don't mind CEL staying on. No inspection to worry about right now. I just need the truck drive-able. I need to resolve the DYING WHILE DRIVING issue because this is extremely dangerous. So far it has only happened this one time, but I'm afraid the next time it happens I may be on the interstate or other hairy situation.
Does anyone have any ideas that don't involve spending $3000 like Toyota wants to replace all seals and cats. (THEY DONT KNOW WHY ITS DYING)
Thanks
