Starting issue, please help!!

[stone07]

Please help, starting issue!

Hi everyone my name is Ben. I am new to the forum and hopefully can get some help with a problem. I have a 95 4 runner with the 3.0 V6, it has 200,000 miles. When I try to start it after sitting overnight, it turns over and wants to crank, but wont. On the 3rd or 4th try it will start, bog down at idle and die after about 2 seconds. It will do this for about 10-15 times (key turns). Then if I let it sit anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute, it will crank up just fine. After that it is fine for the test of the day, it will start just fine with even an hour or two in between starts once the engine has been driven that day. The issue only happens around 8-10 hours of sitting overnight. I dont have any experience working on these trucks yet, but it seems like maybe a fuel issue? It has a new distributor cap and wires and everything.

The second problem is a ticking noise only under acceleration with a load. It is hard for me to narrow down where since I have to be driving. It is a oretty loud tick from the engine bay. Not sure whats going on there.

Thanks so much if anyone could help me, I really appreciate it. I have videos on my cell phone but dont know how to upload them on here.

 

[dogojoe96]

I agree it sounds like a fuel issue, when was the last time the filter was changed? That's a good place to start diagnosing and do a little maintenance if nothing else. Its on the passenger side on the frame. I just changed mine and it has been a little over a year, it was badly clogged, and was causing a long cranking to start.

For the ticking these v6s are known for some valve tick, I like to run a heavier weight oil and that quiets up a lot. With 200k on the odo its probably due for a valve adjust and a timing belt.

 

[dogojoe96]

Also how long have you had it, what kind of maintenance has it had?

 

[stone07]

I just got it a week ago, not aure on the maintenence except that I did basic tune up stuff like plugs, wores, and cap.

 

[stone07]

Im gonna try the filter first, also on the oil, what weight would be good? And are there any additives that would help the engine at this age? Like lucas or restore or anything?

 

[fourwd1]

Welcome to T4R Ben.
I'm going to move this to the Classics section where you will get a better response from the 3.0 experts.

 

[dogojoe96]

It calls for 10-30 but I am using rotella t ( mostly used in diesel trucks) I believe its 15-40, its more expensive but much higher quality oil and it will quiet up your motor.

 

[willyt4r]

my experiance

1. spark air or fuel are all needed for the engine to run. Trouble shooting my own vehicle with similar no start issues - the final fix was the fuel pump itself
2. the injectors sit high on the motor the 3.0 -does sound like a sewing machine tick.. it is common:cheers:

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Well now there were two threads. Merged into one.

 

[gtgt_bangbang]

I wonder if that's what a leaking fuel injector pintle would do, depressurize the system overnight, or even a slowly leaking fuel pump that could back-drain given time.

I really don't know how you would pinpoint it, but you put a fuel pressure gauge on it (I know I know, here he goes with the "gage" again) and see if you can establish correlation.

 

[stone07]

Thanks for all the help guys, i appreciate it. Sorry i wasnt sure where to post this. I guess ill start with the fuel filter and go from there. Is the fuel pump hard to get to on these? Not sure where to go after the filter, injectors or pump? Does everyone seem to agree it is definately a fuel problem?

 

[stone07]

Oh one more thing i noticed, have no idea if this makes any difference. When i take the gas cap off, it releases a large amount of pressure. More than any vehicle i have owned.

 

[voiddweller]

Thanks for all the help guys, i appreciate it. Sorry i wasnt sure where to post this. I guess ill start with the fuel filter and go from there. Is the fuel pump hard to get to on these? Not sure where to go after the filter, injectors or pump? Does everyone seem to agree it is definately a fuel problem?

The fuel pump is inside the tank so draining and removing is required, however it's disconnecting battery, a wiring connector and some hoses/pipes. If you have a repair manual it shouldn't be too difficult (hopefully if you do the pump you have a nearly empty tank).

I'd really go with the fuel filter first ..

 

[stone07]

Ok guys. Changed the fuel filter yesterday (harder than it looked haha), and still have the starting problem. Took about 10 minutes just now to get her started. I do notice a little more engine pep it seems like, so maybe the filter was clogged a little. Should I go to the pump next?

 

[Ahlem]

I'd check the fuel pressure before randomly changing the fuel pump.