Ugh major issues going on with the 03 4runner V8

[rock4200]

So I bought the 4runner a few months ago. Driving about 80 miles from home the check engine light came on flashing. Pulled over engine is running really rough especially at idle. Tow it home to a mechanic. He tells me it needs new plugs and 4 new coil packs. I but the parts swapped them all out still same thing. This mechanic is an idiot and wasted my money.
Throwing Codes P0300, P0301,P0304,P0307,&P0308 I take the car back. I hooked up a snap on OBD reader cylinder 8 has the most misfires. Check compression on 8 nada nothing. Check compression on every cylinder they all are reading from 110 - 125. Any help on next steps from here. The belt was changed at 109,000.Truck hs 161,000 miles now

All maintenance has been done on this truck the guy I bought it from gave me a folder with all the receipts. Oil changed every 3,000 5,000 miles etc... It did have a tick coming from that side of the engine when I bought it. He told me his mechanic said it needed a valve adjustment, but it was fine to drive.

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[Bob J]

So I bought the 4runner a few months ago. Driving about 80 miles from home the check engine light came on flashing. Pulled over engine is running really rough especially at idle. Tow it home to a mechanic. He tells me it needs new plugs and 4 new coil packs. I but the parts swapped them all out still same thing. This mechanic is an idiot and wasted my money.
Throwing Codes P0300, P0301,P0304,P0307,&P0308 I take the car back. I hooked up a snap on OBD reader cylinder 8 has the most misfires. Check compression on 8 nada nothing. Check compression on every cylinder they all are reading from 110 - 125. Any help on next steps from here. The belt was changed at 109,000.Truck hs 161,000 miles now

All maintenance has been done on this truck the guy I bought it from gave me a folder with all the receipts. Oil changed every 3,000 5,000 miles etc... It did have a tick coming from that side of the engine when I bought it. He told me his mechanic said it needed a valve adjustment, but it was fine to drive.

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The tick is common on all 4th gen V8 and is probably associated with a cracked exhaust manifold... Not a big deal mechanically but somewhat annoying...

For all the cylinders to be misfiring at once it has to be associated with something that is systemic and not associated with a single cylinder... This would tend to rule out compression, spark plugs etc... What remains is either timing and/or fuel mix (mass air flow sensor)... Either should be fairly easily diagnosed by a good technical shop or dealer...

 

[rock4200]

The tick is common on all 4th gen V8 and is probably associated with a cracked exhaust manifold... Not a big deal mechanically but somewhat annoying...

For all the cylinders to be misfiring at once it has to be associated with something that is systemic and not associated with a single cylinder... This would tend to rule out compression, spark plugs etc... What remains is either timing and/or fuel mix (mass air flow sensor)... Either should be fairly easily diagnosed by a good technical shop or dealer...

But I actually did a compression test and cylinder 8 has no compression. I cleaned the MAF sensor and intake. Can not imagine that would cause the cylinder to read no compression

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[blackoutt]

I agree with Bob J, recheck compression, might just be the tool wasn't sealed on that rear most cylinder. Multiple cylinder misfire is most likely not a single cylinder issue. No one ever checks or adjusts valves on the 2uz-fe. If it was a loud valve it would be loose meaning that someone had reshimmed it, quiet valves are the ones that are worn and need adjustment. It was most likely the injectors, fuel pressure damper, or cracked exhaust manifold ticking, they are all common "ticks" from this engine. If it truly has low compression then it's a head or piston ring issue, are you prepared to deal with either of those yourself? If not, take it to a reputable mechanic for troubleshooting before tearing anything down, they may save you some headache.

What had you done different before this trip? Did you just clean the MAF before leaving? You may have damaged the sensor.

Flashing CEL is from the misfires, they can cause overheating and melting of the catalyst so OEM's tend to blink that light at you to get you to stop.

 

[jrbpit]

Diagnose what is going on with #8. Do your compression test again to confirm. If low, shoot some oil in the cylinder, not a lot, if compression comes up you have a ring problem. If it does not come up, you have a valve/head issue, ie burnt valve or stuck valve.

If it is a burnt valve, you need to figure out what caused that. If you ignore that and repair the head, the burnt valve will happen again.

 

[03V84R]

Ecu?

 

[rock4200]

I checked this cylinder multiple times same read out at 0 compression. I also put some oil in the cylinder and again still no compression. All cylinders were slightly misfiring, but number 8 had the most misfires, about 3x as many as the rest of the cylinders.

 

[rock4200]

I agree with Bob J, recheck compression, might just be the tool wasn't sealed on that rear most cylinder. Multiple cylinder misfire is most likely not a single cylinder issue. No one ever checks or adjusts valves on the 2uz-fe. If it was a loud valve it would be loose meaning that someone had reshimmed it, quiet valves are the ones that are worn and need adjustment. It was most likely the injectors, fuel pressure damper, or cracked exhaust manifold ticking, they are all common "ticks" from this engine. If it truly has low compression then it's a head or piston ring issue, are you prepared to deal with either of those yourself? If not, take it to a reputable mechanic for troubleshooting before tearing anything down, they may save you some headache.

What had you done different before this trip? Did you just clean the MAF before leaving? You may have damaged the sensor.

Flashing CEL is from the misfires, they can cause overheating and melting of the catalyst so OEM's tend to blink that light at you to get you to stop.

The only thing different before the trip was my wife put gas in the car. I cleaned the MAF after the problem persisted. I drove about 80 miles after the wife filled up the truck. I do not think it could be bad gas.

 

[jrbpit]

Sounds like a valve problem. Went through a similar problem on my son's S10. Had a misfire I could not cure, finally did a compression check and had zilch on #4. Had a burnt exhaust valve. Rebuilt the heads, all is good. Truck has 245,000 miles on it and runs great.

Did you get a code for a lean condition? What the problem on my son's truck were the crappy intake manifold gaskets GM used. It was sucking a bunch more air in.

 

[rock4200]

Sounds like a valve problem. Went through a similar problem on my son's S10. Had a misfire I could not cure, finally did a compression check and had zilch on #4. Had a burnt exhaust valve. Rebuilt the heads, all is good. Truck has 245,000 miles on it and runs great.

Did you get a code for a lean condition? What the problem on my son's truck were the crappy intake manifold gaskets GM used. It was sucking a bunch more air in.

No no code for lean condition. I am thinking valve problem as well.

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[Brian3676]

Leak down test. It will be a 100% sure way to know where your compression is going. Oil no help means it's likely a valve issue. Leak down test it and find the valve issues. Likely gonna be pulling the head off and sending it to the machine shop.

 

[suuny]

Hello Folks: I have a 2004 V6, had been running great bought it new in 2003. Its about 200K now (199,545K ). I found some oil leak took it to dealer and below is what he said

1. Oil Pan Gasket Leaking
2. Rear Main oil Seal Leaking
3. Rear Brakes almost there
4. Steering column needs to be replaced ( since I had a mild shake whne I hit 60-65mph)
5. Tires need to replaced

Total quote is ~$5500. The value of the car is about the same or less. My question is should I fix it or get another car for a trade in. This has been my car for 14 years never let me down... just wanted your thoughts. Is it worth the fix .. any thoughts..?

Regards
Sundar

 

[rock4200]

Hello Folks: I have a 2004 V6, had been running great bought it new in 2003. Its about 200K now (199,545K ). I found some oil leak took it to dealer and below is what he said

1. Oil Pan Gasket Leaking
2. Rear Main oil Seal Leaking
3. Rear Brakes almost there
4. Steering column needs to be replaced ( since I had a mild shake whne I hit 60-65mph)
5. Tires need to replaced

Total quote is ~$5500. The value of the car is about the same or less. My question is should I fix it or get another car for a trade in. This has been my car for 14 years never let me down... just wanted your thoughts. Is it worth the fix .. any thoughts..?

Regards
Sundar

Hi Sundar
You may want to start your own thread before posting in here.


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[lbhsbz]

Pull the valve cover and see if a valve is stuck. Bad gas can certainly cause it, although rare.

You might be able to free it up without pulling the head...

Shove a piece of rope down the plug hole and run the piston up to hold the valves from falling in, pullbthe cams, buckets, retainers, and the guide seal off of the stuck one and dribble in some solvent. Light taps with a brass hammer might get it moving again...keep working it and cleaning until it's free, then put it all back together

 

[V8Man]

[MENTION=5900]rock4200[/MENTION]
I think it may be a valve too. Pull the valve cover and look things over. My guess is a stuck valve and it may be from carbon build up. The oil passages to the cam and lifters are very small. I have an engine that was completely sludged and seized the cam. To free up a lifter the cams have to be removed, that is a big job, but looking under the valve cover may help decide what you need to do.

 

[proz07]

No other codes came up? Reason being sounds similar to how mine was running when the timing belt slipped 4 teeth due to a weak tensioner after doing a timing belt change. see here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...just-went-full-retard-highway-code-p0021.html

Hope that helps.
Z

So I bought the 4runner a few months ago. Driving about 80 miles from home the check engine light came on flashing. Pulled over engine is running really rough especially at idle. Tow it home to a mechanic. He tells me it needs new plugs and 4 new coil packs. I but the parts swapped them all out still same thing. This mechanic is an idiot and wasted my money.
Throwing Codes P0300, P0301,P0304,P0307,&P0308 I take the car back. I hooked up a snap on OBD reader cylinder 8 has the most misfires. Check compression on 8 nada nothing. Check compression on every cylinder they all are reading from 110 - 125. Any help on next steps from here. The belt was changed at 109,000.Truck hs 161,000 miles now

All maintenance has been done on this truck the guy I bought it from gave me a folder with all the receipts. Oil changed every 3,000 5,000 miles etc... It did have a tick coming from that side of the engine when I bought it. He told me his mechanic said it needed a valve adjustment, but it was fine to drive.

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