Went and pooched it again...

[NorthernRyan]

So i was doing doughnuts on a lake and then going on some dirt roads that are thawing. Rpms where high but other than that nothing I haven't done before. Some water spraying up. Hard to describe the noise but it was the classic clunking that commercials use when cars die. Happened for maybe two minutes then she turned herself off. Engine oil looks fine, serpentine belt is still tight, no water in the air filter... I have no idea. I can start her but she runs rough until she shuts down. Any idea guys? Loosing light for trouble shooting.

 

[NJshadow93]

So i was doing doughnuts on a lake and then going on some dirt roads that are thawing. Rpms where high but other than that nothing I haven't done before. Some water spraying up. Hard to describe the noise but it was the classic clunking that commercials use when cars die. Happened for maybe two minutes then she turned herself off. Engine oil looks fine, serpentine belt is still tight, no water in the air filter... I have no idea. I can start her but she runs rough until she shuts down. Any idea guys? Loosing light for trouble shooting.

Any warning lights on the dash?

 

[jgue467]

So how is it today?

:gossip:

 

[DC runner]

Geesh. You let the engine the run for 2 minutes making what you classify, yourself, as "the noise an engine makes dying".

WOW. I am going to assume that noise was either bearing or piston noise. Heavy metal on metal?

That isn't good.

High RPM isn't good and can destroy stuff. You might want to have it professionally inspected. Definitely don't drive it any further until you determine it out.

 

[progress4m]

I agree, that doesn’t sound good… many catastrophic failures (rod bearing, bent connecting rod, cracked\broken piston etc..) will make very similar results and sounds;
How many miles is on the engine?

There is chance (if you are lucky) that in your case it is timing issue… when chain (if you have a V6) or belt (if you have a V8) have jumped… but hopefully did not jumped far enough for valve to hit a piston…

Tow it to the garage and let them diagnose it for you.

Good luck!

 

[NorthernRyan]

The clunking I heard I wasn't sure from inside the vehicle of what it was. Thought maybe a stick was stuck somewhere or it was just the thick mud hitting the wheel wells. Only when it died and I started it again sitting still with the door open did I hear what noise it was really making. And lucky she made it that far as where it started making that noise I couldn't really stop. Anyways started it again this morning to take it out of 4wheel to tow it and still was making that noise. Had it towed to Toyota. So we'll see what they say. And as far as lights i forgot to check as I just wanted to get it out of 4wheel and shut it back off as fast as possible.

 

[NorthernRyan]

How many miles is on the engine?

There is chance (if you are lucky) that in your case it is timing issue… when chain (if you have a V6) or belt (if you have a V8) have jumped… but hopefully did not jumped far enough for valve to hit a piston…

V6 with a bit under 180k. I was thinking timing chain too maybe. Don't know, I've done all my own work on this thing learning as I go, but I'm outa my league on this one.

 

[Altoidfishfins]

Hey, let us know what the story is. Curiosity is getting to me.
My company sends a number of people up to Ft. Mac. Never been there myself.
They do contractor work in the mine.

Heh I was with a buddy of mine years ago in his '70 3/4T Chevy. We were doing the same thing out in the desert when all of a sudden BANG! His rear drive shaft fell out. He twisted the tube off at the front yoke LOL. Limped it home on the front diff.

 

[progress4m]

V6 with a bit under 180k. I was thinking timing chain too maybe. Don't know, I've done all my own work on this thing learning as I go, but I'm outa my league on this one.

Sorry to agreeing on the bad news… but you may be right…

Unfortunately I have seen posts in the past with chain jumping on 4.0 V6… hopefully yours did not jump too far and there is no other damage…

Best of luck man!

 

[NorthernRyan]

Toyota couldn't look at it till tomorrow so labour being 200 an hour here in fort mac and an hour minimum to diagnose I thought I'd borrow my bosses code reader and check it out myself as it waits on the street. Plugged it in, no codes. My boss said I might need to run it for a few minutes for any codes to appear. But you guys saying what you have, I don't really wanna run it. What do you guys think?

 

[NJshadow93]

Toyota couldn't look at it till tomorrow so labour being 200 an hour here in fort mac and an hour minimum to diagnose I thought I'd borrow my bosses code reader and check it out myself as it waits on the street. Plugged it in, no codes. My boss said I might need to run it for a few minutes for any codes to appear. But you guys saying what you have, I don't really wanna run it. What do you guys think?

What is it doing exactly? Is it knocking? Or is it stumbling then dying? Does it sound like it doesn't have enough fuel or air? Could vacuum hose have fallen off? I can't really picture the sound you're describing without a little more detail.

 

[DC runner]

Wrong. Your computer stores all codes until they are manually erased, meaning if a code was going to show up, it would have already and be readable.

Running it will just risk more damage. There is a ton that can go wrong without a code showing up.

You don't sound very experienced, so my suggestion remains the same: let Toyota take a look and don't risk further damage.

 

[Code2]

whens the part out? ill take the head lights

 

[NorthernRyan]

I want to describe the one noise as knocking but haven't heard it before so I can't say. I think the second noise started up when I restarted it the second time. It's almost like a belt squeal I've heard before but its rhythmic with the knock and its more... guttural, if that makes sense. What ever they say, if I can run it without doing more damage I'll take a video of it so other know what the sound potentially means.

Not saying I am DC Runner. Just posing a question to what my boss said, and I think he meant not that the code would disappear but not have shown up yet. But even so, he's built his monster jeep up, engine swap and all, but even he said when it comes to engine internals he's more or less in the dark.

I decided not to mess with her.

Hey now be nice, let's not talk about parting it out yet. I remember reading that a swap up to a V8 involves new transmission, ECU and moving stuff around in the engine...unfortunately. Otherwise I would do that before I parted the girl out, love my runner.

Where she died.

 

[DaGimp]

I dont think 4runners have "Rods", dont they have a OHC and timing chain?

A stretched timing chain can cause some crazy symptoms in a modern vehicle. A broken timing chain means your vehicle wont run at all.

When does this happen?
1. When the engine is off?
2. When the engine is started?
3. When in forward but not moving?
4. When in reverse but not moving?
5. When in one either 3 or 4 and moving? (what speeds if relevant?)
6. Only at freeway speeds?

It could be as simple as a Ujoint or CV depending when you're hearing the noises.

 

[NorthernRyan]

I dont think 4runners have "Rods", dont they have a OHC and timing chain?

A stretched timing chain can cause some crazy symptoms in a modern vehicle. A broken timing chain means your vehicle wont run at all.

When does this happen?
1. When the engine is off?
2. When the engine is started?
3. When in forward but not moving?
4. When in reverse but not moving?
5. When in one either 3 or 4 and moving? (what speeds if relevant?)
6. Only at freeway speeds?

It could be as simple as a Ujoint or CV depending when you're hearing the noises.

The noises happen when idling in neutral and stationary. Starts ok for the most part but once the engine is going so do the noises. And started while I was driving in locked 4high. (really greasy mud hill that had melted in the sun.) Noises were still happening when I turned her on to put it in 2high to be towed.

 

[DC runner]

I am not saying she is dead, more just trying to keep her alive if possible. As for codes showing up, my point was that if the code did not show up during the incident then I don't think the worth of risking running her to see if any show up is worth it.

Just my thought. I am hoping it is nothing serious.

 

[NorthernRyan]

I am not saying she is dead, more just trying to keep her alive if possible. As for codes showing up, my point was that if the code did not show up during the incident then I don't think the worth of risking running her to see if any show up is worth it.

Just my thought. I am hoping it is nothing serious.

For sure, I agree with you, and appreciate the time. And so do I. *crosses fingers*

Though if not, some "fun" info for the forum, I know I'd like to read about it ...silver linings right.

 

[DaGimp]

The noises happen when idling in neutral and stationary. Starts ok for the most part but once the engine is going so do the noises. And started while I was driving in locked 4high. (really greasy mud hill that had melted in the sun.) Noises were still happening when I turned her on to put it in 2high to be towed.

Were you, are you low on oil? Are you the sole owner?

Sorry to say but it sounds like from what you've told me it engine related. I would think of the fuel systems having a problem would generate an error you could see with and OBD scanner.

My experiences with 20 years of Toyotas tells me a fault in the block of the engine (metal parts) is rare but not impossible, especially with poor maintenance.

 

[NorthernRyan]

Were you, are you low on oil? Are you the sole owner?

Sorry to say but it sounds like from what you've told me it engine related. I would think of the fuel systems having a problem would generate an error you could see with and OBD scanner.

My experiences with 20 years of Toyotas tells me a fault in the block of the engine (metal parts) is rare but not impossible, especially with poor maintenance.

Not the first owner, 30k kms of the 150k is mine. Bought it as a pavement princess from Vancouver that was dealership serviced all its life. So had all the proper maintenance records that looked good, but who knows. Oil didn't look milky and was at the right level. I'm rough on her but I use Mobile 1 Synthetic and have done 4 changes since I've had her, was about due for another one once the weather warmed up a bit.