stealership has replaced 17 fuel injectors for me in the last 3 years...

[nyvram]

..or it least it seems like it.

well when i stomp the gas or switch gears at a low RPM the truck hesitates..jumps..hesitates..jumps and finally it runs fine.

classic symptom of a misfiring fuel injector right?

well it feels bad to me that i have to have fuel injector #5 or #3 or such-and-such injector done like every year or so.

is this normal? is the dealership stabbing my other injectors with an icepick or beating on them with a hammer while they're replacing the bad one so another one fails 8 months later?

i do have almost 300k miles on my 1998 5speed, but was curious if this is truly the problem or maybe i should find another mechanic.

i've looked at the DIY to replace the injectors yourself and i'm not quite brave enough to tackle taking the manifold apart.


oh and the last time they 'fixed' one my car smelled like gas to the point i could barely stand to drive it home and back...i brought it back to them and they claimed the seal around a DIFFERENT injector just happened to fail (coincidently) at the same time they replaced one.

after raising holy hell they ended up not charging me to replace it. i have the distinct impression the mechanic simply failed to put a new gasket/seal on the injector they fixed.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Misfire could be a few things. Does it throw a Check Engine Light when this happens?

When is the last time it had plugs & wires? Has it ever had coilpacks?
Compression test it. Make sure you don't have a burnt/sticky valve. Or a bad head/head gasket or other issue.
When did it last have a fuel filter? How about air filter? Have the Throttle Body & MAF been cleaned?

If they're using Toyota injectors, they shouldn't be going bad. If they're using aftermarket injectors, it could keep going through them. If they are all OEM Toyota injectors and the injectors are indeed the issue, instead of replacing them, send them out to WitchHunter Performance - Injector Cleaning & Flow Testing Services and have them serviced.

 

[LittleCaesar]

The stealership seems to have found a way to make some quick $$$ off you. Plus, given the age of your 4runner, they usually have the low end techs (not always though) working on it, hence the image of throwing new parts at it for a fix.

Next time a CEL comes on (assuming it does), get the code read via Autozone and post it.

I would follow PitBull's advice to the tee as well.

 

[nyvram]

Misfire could be a few things. Does it throw a Check Engine Light when this happens?

When is the last time it had plugs & wires? Has it ever had coilpacks?
Compression test it. Make sure you don't have a burnt/sticky valve. Or a bad head/head gasket or other issue.
When did it last have a fuel filter? How about air filter? Have the Throttle Body & MAF been cleaned?

If they're using Toyota injectors, they shouldn't be going bad. If they're using aftermarket injectors, it could keep going through them. If they are all OEM Toyota injectors and the injectors are indeed the issue, instead of replacing them, send them out to WitchHunter Performance - Injector Cleaning & Flow Testing Services and have them serviced.

wow lots of good stuff here, ok:

1. no engine light this time so far. back in the summer (last time i had an injector replaced) it WAS throwing a light..after a stop coming back from north carolina at a crappy gas station..i think that caused the problem..i wasn't 10 miles down the road after filling up when the car started hesitating and acting crazy..the light came on several miles later and by the time i got home (400+ miles) the car would die at every stoplight. the dealer took it and swapped 2 injectors (i think..i need to get the service records)

2. i've replaced the plugs in the last couple years but never the wires i dont think.

3. don't know about coilpacks..the fact i don't know what this is doen't bode well does it?

4. likewise compression testing

5. toyota did a 'thorough' run through about a month ago (when they told me i needed a new transmission) and they noted the fact it was leaking a little oil but didn't say it was due to a cracked head gasket.


6. i'll have to check on the fuel filter

7. i have a k&n and clean it about once every 6 months or so.

it just started doing this like 2 weeks ago (right after visiting the dealer ironically) but the dealer did nothing but an oil change and charge me $100 to tell me my transmission might be failing.

 

[TheDurk]

Just a thought--if I had that many injector issues, I'd definitely change the fuel filter.

 

[nyvram]

i will do that right away. is that a diy process? (scampers off to search how to replace fuel filter)

 

[Doc2012]

When was the last time the clutch was replaced?

I know many people dont think about that, or that it could be that, but I've seen it happen to a few people.

They would experience stalling, jumpy starts, the whole nine.

It was due to the clutch being old and not engaging or disengaging the right way.

 

[nyvram]

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!

A $100 fuel filter install and my 4runner is driving like a dream! Can't believe what a difference it made.. I guess nearly 300k miles worth of gunk would make any car run poorly.

 

[Baja Runner]

From my experience, its very rare that a Toyota fuel injector fails... Glad to hear the fuel filter helped. Unlike many Toyota's, the 3rd gen 4Runner filter is easy to change, right inline along the frame rail!