The 3rd Gen All Questions Allowed Thread

[octanejunkie]

Door stickers are notoriously misleading. Run the VIN through the Toyota Owners site to determine what wheel / tire the truck left the factory with:

Welcome to Toyota Owners

My 99 door sticker also talks about 15x7 wheelsize but the VIN look up shows it delivered with 16" aluminum rims and 265/70 R16 tires. The spare is the same size. You can confirm the build options and equipment packages from the VIN and here:

Toyota 4Runner History 1999



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[NotALakerFan]

Struggling with maintenance on my newly purchased 2001

As someone who knows very little about cars, I just bought a 2001 with 97k miles on it and wanting to handle some of the basic maintenance as well as a slight grinding sound I'm hearing on acceleration up to about 35mph.

I'm in orange county and not sure where to take my car where they won't charge an arm and a leg just to put it on a lift to examine... Does anyone have any suggestions in general for someone like me?

The grinding sound on acceleration is pretty consistently happening and I want to be able to enjoy the car without this issue (and all other basic maintenance I should do)

Would appreciate anyone pointing me in the right direction, thank you.

 

[octanejunkie]

As someone who knows very little about cars, I just bought a 2001 with 97k miles on it and wanting to handle some of the basic maintenance as well as a slight grinding sound I'm hearing on acceleration up to about 35mph.



I'm in orange county and not sure where to take my car where they won't charge an arm and a leg just to put it on a lift to examine... Does anyone have any suggestions in general for someone like me?



The grinding sound on acceleration is pretty consistently happening and I want to be able to enjoy the car without this issue (and all other basic maintenance I should do)



Would appreciate anyone pointing me in the right direction, thank you.

Yota Masters

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[TheSaturnV]

As someone who knows very little about cars, I just bought a 2001 with 97k miles on it and wanting to handle some of the basic maintenance

Check and/or replace your lower ball joints (those are up in the front suspension) and your radiator. Some potential catastrophic failures with these two components. Google "3rd gen 4runner lower ball joints and then type in radiator."

 

[Coloradobluesky]

Gasoline smell while driving

'97 4Runner, strong smell of gasoline while driving. No check engine codes. Dealer did a smoke check and say they can't find any leaks. They don't seem to really want to figure out the problem. My internet research is telling me that I have a leaking fuel injector(s). Without taking the engine apart, is there a way to determine if a fuel injector is leaking? Thanks.

 

[octanejunkie]

'97 4Runner, strong smell of gasoline while driving. No check engine codes. Dealer did a smoke check and say they can't find any leaks. They don't seem to really want to figure out the problem. My internet research is telling me that I have a leaking fuel injector(s). Without taking the engine apart, is there a way to determine if a fuel injector is leaking? Thanks.

Leaking injectors would pool fuel in the injector valley under the intake plenum/throttle body, you can see pretty clearly in there from the front of the engine bay, maybe a small mirror and flashlight, too.

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[Coloradobluesky]

Thank you. I will look into that. I was surprised a dealership service center could not diagnose the problem.

Leaking injectors would pool fuel in the injector valley under the intake plenum/throttle body, you can see pretty clearly in there from the front of the engine bay, maybe a small mirror and flashlight, too.

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[Coloradobluesky]

Where can I buy OEM new or refurbished fuel injectors that aren't $200 each? I've read some things on the forum that the $99 for 6 injectors on Ebay and Amazon aren't real OEM. MotorWest?

'97 4Runner, strong smell of gasoline while driving. No check engine codes. Dealer did a smoke check and say they can't find any leaks. They don't seem to really want to figure out the problem. My internet research is telling me that I have a leaking fuel injector(s). Without taking the engine apart, is there a way to determine if a fuel injector is leaking? Thanks.

 

[subzjc]

Where can I buy OEM new or refurbished fuel injectors that aren't $200 each? I've read some things on the forum that the $99 for 6 injectors on Ebay and Amazon aren't real OEM. MotorWest?

Well it could be just the orings leaking where the fuel rail connects to the injectors. If the injector itself is leaking it would go into the combustion chamber and I doubt you'd smell it.

 

[octanejunkie]

Where can I buy OEM new or refurbished fuel injectors that aren't $200 each? I've read some things on the forum that the $99 for 6 injectors on Ebay and Amazon aren't real OEM. MotorWest?

Motor West is $249 for a set of 6 rebuilt grey-body, flow matched injectors ready to install with o-rings, etc

I would diagnose it properly first before spending any $ unless you just want to replace the injectors and hope for the best.

I'm replacing my injectors just as a while I'm in there sort of thing with a set from Motor West, FWIW.

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[Coloradobluesky]

I would diagnose it properly first before spending any $ unless you just want to replace the injectors and hope for the best.

That's the problem, if the dealer can't diagnose it properly without taking apart the intake and inspecting the o-rings, how can it be properly diagnosed?

I just don't know what else it could be. These are the original parts, 25 years of being in dry Colorado. I'm guessing o-rings. It's a VERY strong fuel smell and the dealer's smoke test showed no leaks in the fuel system.

I was thinking of having my mechanic do the work, and for me to buy the refurbished injectors and new o-rings, and hope for the best. These are the original parts, 25 years of being in dry Colorado. I'm guessing o-rings.

 

[clearock]

[MENTION=697040]Coloradobluesky[/MENTION] 1st it sounds like u need to take it to a diff shop or dealer as the tech most not be very good at they job. Until u do/have better diagnostic work work like octanejunkie suggested i would not start throwing parts at the 4runner. I don't know any shops in ur area but can recommend a place if u want to come down to the springs, or i can give u a hand.

 

[Coloradobluesky]

[MENTION=222826]clearock[/MENTION] I appreciate your offer, but driving it that far would worry me. It's a very strong gasoline smell. I would like to have a definitive diagnosis, before spending money on it, but not sure that's possible without visually inspecting the fuel injectors. I may try another local dealer. I'll run it and do a visual check to see if I see gas pooling like octanejunkie suggested.

 

[octanejunkie]

Pooled fuel will evaporate quickly on a hot engine so it's best to check before the block warms up too much, which is why the dealership likely didn't ID it

You can pull the intakes and throttle body and put the key on to run the fuel pump and observe the injectors first hand. This will also allow you clean and service the top end and intake. JM2C

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[Bad Luck]

Pooled fuel will evaporate quickly on a hot engine so it's best to check before the block warms up too much, which is why the dealership likely didn't ID it

You can pull the intakes and throttle body and put the key on to run the fuel pump and observe the injectors first hand. This will also allow you clean and service the top end and intake. JM2C

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The fuel pump on all 3rd gen 4Runners does not turn on in the key on position. The fuel pump starts pumping once the key is turned to ignition/start and then continues to pump as long as the ecm see's that the engine is running.

 

[octanejunkie]

The fuel pump on all 3rd gen 4Runners does not turn on in the key on position. The fuel pump starts pumping once the key is turned to ignition/start and then continues to pump as long as the ecm see's that the engine is running.

I assumed that at key on, pre-start the fuel pump flashes to prime the system so there's fresh, atomized fuel in the combustion chamber so the engine can easily start.

Most EFI systems have this function, I have not tested it on our rigs tho, and it may not be enough sustained pressure for an injector to visibly leak, but key start cranking would probably do it...

Be prepared to reset the ECU to clear the map sensor codes that will be generated due to the missing sensors.

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[JoeT4R]

Just curious, but does anyone have a hookup or know about where to get hilux surf 185 parts? Specifically that fender mirror, looking for one just to see what's out there. Also any other miscellaneous parts, too. If I can snag one in good shape that would be sweet.

 

[Coloradobluesky]

[MENTION=95183]octanejunkie[/MENTION] [MENTION=222826]clearock[/MENTION] So I picked up my 4runner from the dealer, drove home and no smell of gasoline. Then I drove it to do some errands and drove it to work today, no gasoline smell. I know I'm not crazy, and a friend was in my car once last week when it reeked of gasoline. Before all this happened, the car hadn't been driven in weeks and even then it was maybe once a week. Could driving it more often have plugged any leak or could having changed the fuel filter eventually fixed the problem? I'm happy but not confident there still isn't something wrong somewhere. I guess I'll just let it be until it happens again.

 

[octanejunkie]

[MENTION=95183]octanejunkie[/MENTION] [MENTION=222826]clearock[/MENTION] So I picked up my 4runner from the dealer, drove home and no smell of gasoline. Then I drove it to do some errands and drove it to work today, no gasoline smell. I know I'm not crazy, and a friend was in my car once last week when it reeked of gasoline. Before all this happened, the car hadn't been driven in weeks and even then it was maybe once a week. Could driving it more often have plugged any leak or could having changed the fuel filter eventually fixed the problem? I'm happy but not confident there still isn't something wrong somewhere. I guess I'll just let it be until it happens again.

Drive it like normal and see how it goes and smells.

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[Bad Luck]

I assumed that at key on, pre-start the fuel pump flashes to prime the system so there's fresh, atomized fuel in the combustion chamber so the engine can easily start.

Most EFI systems have this function, I have not tested it on our rigs tho, and it may not be enough sustained pressure for an injector to visibly leak, but key start cranking would probably do it...

Be prepared to reset the ECU to clear the map sensor codes that will be generated due to the missing sensors.

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Feel free to test, but that's how the fuel system on 3rd gen 4Runners work. It does not prime or anything like that in the key on engine off position.