Wet weather VTech

J

junkyardbiker

New member
Hi guys, been around for a while but now I've got a real stumper. 1989 22RE, unsure if original motor, 436,000 on the odometer. Damp, rainy, or wet days my motor is real sluggish from idle up to maybe just half above the rpms, and then all of a sudden it feels like VTech, a turbo and NOS all kicked in. Motor will have suddenly have waaaaay more power and take off until I shift, then I start back over lugging slowly along until the rpms get up there. Just did an oil change, NGK copper plugs, wires, OEM air filter and oil filter. New battery, rebuilt OEM starter and alternator. Removed AC equipment. Remember, this only happens on wet rainy days (almost every day in florida) and the truck runs perfectly on sunny dry days. Any ideas? Ive pulled connectors and WD-40 sprayed them. Out of ideas after that. ??????????????
 
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The 22RE in my '86 used to do this. Sluggish and slow to rev until about 3000 RPM, then it'd take off like a cat with a firecracker up it's ass. It's definitely water related, because it would only happen when there was heavy moisture. Didn't matter if the motor was warm or cold, it would only go away when whatever got wet dried out. I put my front skid plate back on and it seemed to happen less often, but I never did figure it out. Hope you have better luck.
 
junkyardbiker said:
happens hot or cold, all day when its wet. anyone know where to find a 1st gen IFS skid plate?
Click to expand...

I think I have one in my scrap pile, but you'd pay me more for shipping than you'll pay a local junkyard for one.

junkyardbiker said:
Maybe the MAF is over comensating for the moisture?
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Doesn't have a MAF, the 22RE has an AFM. It's a completely different animal, and it doesn't know anything about humidity.

I don't know exactly where the TPS goes from actually measuring throttle input to just transmitting WOT, but I suspect it's right around 3000 RPM. Maybe moisture gets in the TPS connector and corrupts the signal being transmitted to the ECU.
 
The TPS connector is on the TPS :D. On the side of the throttle body.

004-12.jpg~original
 
Read through the thread titled "1995 4Runner Sputtering" for some ideas of where to throw parts at the issue. I agree it sounds like an ignition issue, if it were mine I'd start with the easy/cheap and work up:
- new plugs
** new plug wires
** new distributer cap & rotor
- check for vacuum leaks
- clean the airflow intake (sits on top of the air filter)
- clean the throttle body
- check EGR valve
- coil --- these are kind of pricey, $50 for after market, $80 for Toyota
- Ignition pack (sits on top of the coil)
- Fuel injectors (check them electronically)

**since it only happens when it's humid/wet, I'd start with the ** items.

Fuel injectors are $115-200 each, so you don't want to indiscriminately replace them unless you know one is likely bad. That's why I put it last. The bad fuel injector on my truck was contributing to other very minor issues (hard starting, occasional stumble while idling, seemingly slight power loss in mid-range RPM's) in addition to the major issue (rough running in the mid-2000 RPM's).

If water/heavy moisture is getting into the distributer cap you'll have a rough running engine, but it'll run fine when dry. In my experience, distributers are VERY intolerant of ANY moisture. You might check that you're distributer cap is seating correctly and there are no gaps for water/moisture to get inside. A new cap and rotor are relatively cheap, maybe $25-35, and easy to replace.

Good Luck!
 
I just had a thought, maybe it's pulling timing advance? See if you're getting knock codes. Maybe water is getting in the knock sensor and shorting it out.
 
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