What's up with my '97??

[Tilt]

My '97 4Runner started giving me grief yesterday.

It seemed to start when I was at a set of traffic lights. I noticed that the engine seemed to 'miss' a little once or twice every 10 or 15 seconds. Then upon acceleration, there was this strange static (kind of a crackling) noise coming from under the dash (sort of behind the glove box) - and the engine seemed to run quite rough along with it. It only seemed to do this as I hit the gas. When I'd let off, it would stop. I can only think that the static crackling noise coming from under the dash is something electrical. It was doing this intermittently all the way home (I was driving a short distance on a highway). Eventually the 'engine light' came on, and I got home shortly after. I haven't done anything with it yet - but I made an appointment at the 'stealership' for tomorrow. I'm not happy about that, but every other shop I phoned in the area can't take me for at least 2 weeks. I can't go that long.

Anyone have any ideas what this could be? I'm totally mystified. Up until this, my 4Runner has run like a dream. Never an issue.

 

[Dous]

Go get the code read at an auto parts store, that could narrow down a culprit

 

[Tilt]

Not sure which places around here do that. And I don't really have the time to drive around looking for such a thing. I know they'll hook it up at the shop tomorrow, and I know that'll cost me. But I was just wondering if someone here had any idea what it could be.

Sadly I do not have a garage that I can pull the truck into and work on it myself. And we're getting brutal winter here, so working on it outside is not much of an option either. That's why I'm at the mercy of a shop for this.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Not sure which places around here do that. And I don't really have the time to drive around looking for such a thing. I know they'll hook it up at the shop tomorrow, and I know that'll cost me. But I was just wondering if someone here had any idea what it could be.

Sadly I do not have a garage that I can pull the truck into and work on it myself. And we're getting brutal winter here, so working on it outside is not much of an option either. That's why I'm at the mercy of a shop for this.

Autozone, oreilly/checkers, or advance auto? I think they all read codes for free but I know autozone does.

You may need new wires....go take a look and see if one is exposed.

I'm pretty cheap so I would find 10 minutes to get the code read before I paid someone $50 or more to do the same thing.

 

[Tilt]

Autozone, oreilly/checkers, or advance auto? I think they all read codes for free but I know autozone does.

You may need new wires....go take a look and see if one is exposed.

I'm pretty cheap so I would find 10 minutes to get the code read before I paid someone $50 or more to do the same thing.

I'm also a 'thrifty' type person. However in this case, I won't save any money by getitng an auto parts place to code it for me. I'm self employed, and I'm currently swamped with projects. Fiddling around trying to save a couple bucks - and then not being able to do hardly anything about it myself - won't serve me well. I stand to make more getting my projects done, and getting someone else to figure out my issue.

With that said, the 'stealership' just called and said it's looking like the ignition coil is toast. So they're going to put a new one on, along with new plugs. The whole thing (including the diagnostic) is suppose to cost about 500 bucks. Not happy about it - but there's not much I can do about it. It's times like this that I really wish I had a garage space where I could do my own work (not to mention the time to do it). I just hope this fixes it.

 

[blizz86]

I'm also a 'thrifty' type person. However in this case, I won't save any money by getitng an auto parts place to code it for me. I'm self employed, and I'm currently swamped with projects. Fiddling around trying to save a couple bucks - and then not being able to do hardly anything about it myself - won't serve me well. I stand to make more getting my projects done, and getting someone else to figure out my issue.

With that said, the 'stealership' just called and said it's looking like the ignition coil is toast. So they're going to put a new one on, along with new plugs. The whole thing (including the diagnostic) is suppose to cost about 500 bucks. Not happy about it - but there's not much I can do about it. It's times like this that I really wish I had a garage space where I could do my own work (not to mention the time to do it). I just hope this fixes it.

I'm pretty sure this is a very easy task to perform.. heres a tip for next time. Im assuming you have an android smartphone: get a bluetooth code reader and an app called torque pro. It reads codes etc, and basically pays for itself. And you said yourself you would rather not fiddle, but you let the dealership handle it and you arent even sure it will work ? ):

 

[Tilt]

I'll look into the phone app. Could be interesting for down the road.

Yeah, I honestly didn't want this to be a debate on doing my own work - as apposed to getting a garage to do it. The bottom line is that we need two vehicles in our house-hold. One vehicle makes life miserable. The only time I have to do any work on it myself would be in the later evening. It gets dark here by 5pm (not to mention -21 C with the wind-chill). So working on it outside is not a thrilling option. Getting an appointment at a non-dealership garage (around here) is like pulling teeth - I can't be without my ride for 2 weeks. So I was unfortunately stuck with going to the Toyota Dealership.

My original hope was just to see if anyone had any idea (from their own experience) what was going on with it. That's all I was asking for.

When I get in a place where I can have a garage (that I can actually use as a garage), and have a little more time, I'll take on these battles myself.

 

[Tilt]

I'm pretty sure this is a very easy task to perform.. heres a tip for next time. Im assuming you have an android smartphone: get a bluetooth code reader and an app called torque pro. It reads codes etc, and basically pays for itself. And you said yourself you would rather not fiddle, but you let the dealership handle it and you arent even sure it will work ? ):

Am I right in saying that the ELM 327 Bluetooth Code Reader is what I want?

Here's one on eBay...

ELM327 BLUETOOTH DIAGNOSTIC INTERFACE OBD2 OBDII Ver1.4 | eBay

 

[blizz86]

I'll look into the phone app. Could be interesting for down the road.

Yeah, I honestly didn't want this to be a debate on doing my own work - as apposed to getting a garage to do it. The bottom line is that we need two vehicles in our house-hold. One vehicle makes life miserable. The only time I have to do any work on it myself would be in the later evening. It gets dark here by 5pm (not to mention -21 C with the wind-chill). So working on it outside is not a thrilling option. Getting an appointment at a non-dealership garage (around here) is like pulling teeth - I can't be without my ride for 2 weeks. So I was unfortunately stuck with going to the Toyota Dealership.

My original hope was just to see if anyone had any idea (from their own experience) what was going on with it. That's all I was asking for.

When I get in a place where I can have a garage (that I can actually use as a garage), and have a little more time, I'll take on these battles myself.

Ahh i totally get that, i cant imagine that kind of weather. Hey as long as its functioning normally :thumb3:

Something like that would work, i think.
Amazon.com: Soliport ELM 327 Bluetooth OBDII OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner: Automotive

Thats cheaper via Amazon, not sure how it getting to CAN though.

Have you gotten it back yet? If so, is all good now?