Turns over but doesn't ignite

[mmml4]

The EFI relay is under the hood with the other relays. But I was wondering how to test it so I don't drop my tank for nothing.

I am going to assume that the 97 fuel pump relay is locate in the same place as the 99. It is inside the truck and as I said before it is behind the lower dash close to the hood and fuel door releases. It is black and about the size of a box of matches maybe a little smaller. You can put your finger on it and feel it when it is energized.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Where does maintenance even enter into the equation of my fuel pump or relay going bad? How are you maintaining your relays and fuel pump?

Inspecting all components of the fuel system, including fuel lines, fuel cap, connectors, and wiring, fuel tank strap, etc, is part of an effective preventative maintenance program. I've always replaced my fuel pump in my vehicles at 100k, whether its working or not. Not picking on you.....stuff breaks, even when scheduled maintenance is preformed.

 

[Wayne]

I sure don't see anything. There's a black box with a dial and a red light by the clutch pedal but I'm 99.99% sure thats part of the defunct alarm system.
No other black boxes or anything that looks like a relay under the dash near the hood lever.

I am going to assume that the 97 fuel pump relay is locate in the same place as the 99. It is inside the truck and as I said before it is behind the lower dash close to the hood and fuel door releases. It is black and about the size of a box of matches maybe a little smaller. You can put your finger on it and feel it when it is energized.

 

[mmml4]

You may have to remove the lower part of the dash that goes across and under the steering column, unless it's somewhere else in the 97. I want to say mine was mounted inside the lower dash thats under the steering column.

 

[BlackCat914]

How do I check the fuel pump? I realized today I've done so little work on this thing in the 4 years I've had it I didn't even know where the distributor was (I found it). I presume I have to find the fuel line and remove it...

where was it?

 

[Wayne]

Maybe I don't have to find it. I found the harnesses under the back seat. One has a 5 plug connector that plugs into what must be the fuel pump-there were 3 lines coming out of the tank next to it.
It showed 12 volts was getting to it.

Is this enough to diagnose fuel pump now?

You may have to remove the lower part of the dash that goes across and under the steering column, unless it's somewhere else in the 97. I want to say mine was mounted inside the lower dash thats under the steering column.

 

[BlackCat914]

Maybe I don't have to find it. I found the harnesses under the back seat. One has a 5 plug connector that plugs into what must be the fuel pump-there were 3 lines coming out of the tank next to it.
It showed 12 volts was getting to it.

Is this enough to diagnose fuel pump now?

Our trucks don't have distributors.

 

[Wayne]

3rd gens are are nice and have their pluses and minuses, but they are more of a soccer mom SUV than truck.

Our trucks don't have distributors.

 

[02SE]

3rd gens are are nice and have their pluses and minuses, but they are more of a soccer mom SUV than truck.

Actually, they in fact are more of a truck than a typical soccer mom SUV. Soccer mom SUV's are increasingly your FWD car based crossover utility vehicles.

A full frame, low-range transfer case, and live rear axle, puts them firmly in the truck category.

Unfortunately, the truck based SUV's like the 4Runner, are a dying breed. Most people aren't vehicle enthusiasts, and prefer the lighter car based CUV's, that get better gas mileage, ride smoother, and meet the needs of soccer mom's that couldn't care less about a strong frame, solid rear axle, and real off-road ability.


Now that I think about it, 2wd 4Runners could deservedly be called soccer mom SUV's. :behindsofa:

 

[Wayne]

1st gen were trucks. 2nd gen were transitional. 3rd gen are comfy SUV with truck size tires.

But back to the question: If I have no fuel leaving the tank and I have 12 v reaching the pump, have I eliminated other possible causes like bad relays that I can't find?

Actually, they in fact are more of a truck than a typical soccer mom SUV. Soccer mom SUV's are increasingly your FWD car based crossover utility vehicles.

A full frame, low-range transfer case, and live rear axle, puts them firmly in the truck category.

Unfortunately, the truck based SUV's like the 4Runner, are a dying breed. Most people aren't vehicle enthusiasts, and prefer the lighter car based CUV's, that get better gas mileage, ride smoother, and meet the needs of soccer mom's that couldn't care less about a strong frame, solid rear axle, and real off-road ability.


Now that I think about it, 2wd 4Runners could deservedly be called soccer mom SUV's. :behindsofa:

 

[tyr0981]

1st gen were trucks. 2nd gen were transitional. 3rd gen are comfy SUV with truck size tires.

sacrilege!!! it's called evolution! but the 4th gen really is just a glorified soccer-mom Subaru... :cry2:

sounds like fuel pump failure then.... (from my keyboard drinking a root beer some **** miles away from you).

 

[JohnsD90]

You might have flooded the carb.

 

[JohnsD90]

1st gen were trucks. 2nd gen were transitional. 3rd gen are comfy SUV with truck size tires.

But back to the question: If I have no fuel leaving the tank and I have 12 v reaching the pump, have I eliminated other possible causes like bad relays that I can't find?

Really? First gens came with IFS (except 84-85) and a solid axle in the rear with a box frame, just like 3rd gens. Now soccer moms might like them more but that doesn't make them any less of a utility vehicle.

 

[Wayne]

Really? First gens came with IFS (except 84-85) and a solid axle in the rear with a box frame, just like 3rd gens. Now soccer moms might like them more but that doesn't make them any less of a utility vehicle.

Thats just my impression having owned 1st, 2nd and 3rd. My 1st would happily go places I wouldn't consider taking my 3rd, and honestly my 3rd does not seem like it could go as many places anyway. It sucks in snow compared to my 1st gen, although part of that is my tires.

 

[KidVermicious]

Thats just my impression having owned 1st, 2nd and 3rd. My 1st would happily go places I wouldn't consider taking my 3rd, and honestly my 3rd does not seem like it could go as many places anyway. It sucks in snow compared to my 1st gen, although part of that is my tires.

This is nonsense. True 4WD is true 4WD and will move you through the snow just the same.

The only hits a 3rd gen takes to offroad capability vs. an earlier truck are a little lower ground clearance when stock, and control arms in the rear that are maybe a little weaker than they should be. That's pretty much it. And the more-refined IFS will handle high speed dirt much better than the torsion bars and leaf springs in the earlier trucks. Assuming equal drivers, there's really few places a stock 1st gen will go that a stock 3rd gen can't follow it, and the 3rd gen will get to the trail faster and in more comfort.

And for what it's worth, the 1st gen and 2nd gen are mechanically identical, with the exception of a 3link rear in the 2nd gen that flexes better than the stock leaves in the back of the 1st gen. To say that the 2nd gen is functionally different than or somehow inferior to the 1st gen is equally silly.

If you were to say that the 4th gen and 5th gen rigs were becoming less trucklike, I'd be more inclined to agree with you. IMO, they've started getting a little too big and heavy and low for the kind of wheeling I like to do. But I can't say that for sure because I've never driven either of them, and there's an entire board full of guys who wheel theirs pretty hard (and one who will absolutely lose his shit if you tease him by calling his truck a "girly crossover"), so it's really not even accurate to call the 5th gen a soccer mom SUV.

If you want to see a truck move from rugged offroader to soccer mom SUV, go look at the transition from 1st gen Bronco through the Bronco II to the current model Explorer. Very sad stuff. The 4Runner may be getting more refined and less rugged as it ages, but it doesn't have it nearly that bad.

 

[02SE]

Thats just my impression having owned 1st, 2nd and 3rd. My 1st would happily go places I wouldn't consider taking my 3rd, and honestly my 3rd does not seem like it could go as many places anyway. It sucks in snow compared to my 1st gen, although part of that is my tires.

I owned a 1st gen truck, 2nd gen truck, and have had my '97 4Runner V6, 5speed, with factory rear diff lock since I bought it new off the lot. The 4Runner is definitely more comfortable than those trucks were, but it also easily goes the same places the first two trucks struggled to go. The factory rear diff lock is the difference.

I also owned a '95 FZJ80 with front and rear factory lockers. I ended up selling it after five years, because I found my 3rd gen more comfortable legroom wise, than it. Plus the fact that even though the 'Cruiser was cool, I preferred the manual trans in the 4Runner.


Anyway, if you have verified that there is power reaching the fuel pump, and it still doesn't run, then you do need a new fuel pump.

 

[Wayne]

I found the fuel pump relay (I assume). It plugs into a connector attached to the back of the fuse box, but it points rearward so its really tough to see from below. It is exactly where you said. Actually easier to see looking in through the fuse panel window, below and to the right.

That's the good news. The bad news is the relay is good (its the same as the EFI relay and I tested it in the EFI slot under the hood) but it is not getting energized under the dash.

I am going to assume that the 97 fuel pump relay is locate in the same place as the 99. It is inside the truck and as I said before it is behind the lower dash close to the hood and fuel door releases. It is black and about the size of a box of matches maybe a little smaller. You can put your finger on it and feel it when it is energized.