sisters 4runner having running issues - please read

[jettag60]

so my sister called me this morning and told me to listen to her 3.6L 4runner which was running rough and much louder than normal

she drove it home the night before perfectly fine

it was idling around 1500 rpm

told her to drive it around the block, she did and it was way way down on power, almost couldn't get it home

where would you start in diagnosing this?

the plugs are new in the last year so it's not them, possible coil pack problem?

any ideas would be great

thanks guys

 

[Baja Runner]

It should have a check engine light. That always will help you point you in the right direction.

Things I'd check first would be the mass air flow sensor (MAF), coil packs, O2 sensor, and make sure no one cut off the catalytic converter or anything

The MAF is cleaned with electrical contact cleaner, or MAF cleaner. Don't put it in and start it up when its still wet.

 

[jettag60]

i just got off the phone with her and asked about a check engine light...nothing on apparently

she also said that the "loud" noise was from the engine bay, not from the back of the truck

i'm hoping it's a loose spark plug (but even then it should have still had enough power)

how can i check/test the coil packs?

i was also thinking a fuel problem? how can i test the fuel pump?

thanks

 

[bigwebb83]

my money is on head gasket

 

[jettag60]

really? so you're thinking the sound is air coming between the block and head?

how can i confirm? i'll check the oil to see if it's milky...also for loss of coolant and i'll see what the exhaust looks like

 

[bigwebb83]

leakdown test in addition to what you already mentioned.

 

[jettag60]

ok well i'll check what i can, if it's not something simply it's going to a mechanic

 

[MAD 69]

Tell her to check under the truck and make sure nobody stole her Cat Converter...

 

[jettag60]

i didn't see your reply till right now, but that's exactly what it was....i knew within two seconds of starting the truck up

thanks guys

 

[MAD 69]

Unreal! Thieves target Runners for their Cats more than any other car in the country. Did you get an estimate of what it costs to replace it?

 

[Baja Runner]

Lol I wrote in my first reply too to check the cat is there

 

[halo32c]

Yup they got me too last week. Going to cost me a little less then 300 to fix.

 

[Bassman]

How to fix cat problem?

I had my 99 4Runner at my local dealer today, due to check engine light, and they said the cat (there are two, they said) needed to be changed, at a cost of over $3,100. How do you fix that for $300?

 

[Dagobah]

I had my 99 4Runner at my local dealer today, due to check engine light, and they said the cat (there are two, they said) needed to be changed, at a cost of over $3,100. How do you fix that for $300?

The fix is getting a cheaper Mechanic...

 

[halo32c]

I had my 99 4Runner at my local dealer today, due to check engine light, and they said the cat (there are two, they said) needed to be changed, at a cost of over $3,100. How do you fix that for $300?

Agreed. $3,100 is way to much. You can get someone to weld on a new one for under $500 or get a direct fit magnaflow for $400 and install it yourself. I decided to go with magnaflow rather then generic $300 cat.

 

[hallj22]

Agreed. $3,100 is way to much. You can get someone to weld on a new one for under $500 or get a direct fit magnaflow for $400 and install it yourself. I decided to go with magnaflow rather then generic $300 cat.

I had a new one put on for under 300 as well from the dealer. Thieves cut mine off while it was setting at work.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Wonder how much you can get for the 4runner ones. I took a side by side 80 series in to a recycler for I believe $150 if I remember correctly.