22re randomly cutting out

[1stgenoverland]

I noticed it this morning on my way too school. I would be driving along and all of a sudden the engine would lose power and then catch again...there is gas in the tank I know thats for sure...I did run it a little low this last week though. Is there a possibility I could have picked some crap off the bottom of the tank and it causing it to randomly run bad...or is it maybe in need of a good tune...Get back to me...this truck is precious to me and I dont want to just lose it because of the motor...its a 1985 4runner if that helps

 

[corax]

Cut out how? A sudden loss of engine power like it just starts decelerating then takes off again? Do any of the dash lights come on, radio stop playing, lights dim, etc? Were you doing anything when it "cut out?"

I had an issue years ago coming back from Yosemite - if I turned the headlights on or tried to open the rear window it would stumble really bad. Turns out the battery negative terminal came off and the alternator couldn't keep up with a sudden electrical load, I put the neg terminal back on and no problems since. I also had the thick wire that goes from the battery to the underhood fuse box fail, sometimes it would cut out and finally it stopped working completely - replaced the wire and been great since.

First thing to check:
- clean and tighten both battery terminals
- check the thick ground coming off the battery, make all the ground bolts are snug

If that all checks out, then try this: with the engine running start wiggling and gently tugging and wires that look important. Ignition coil wires, battery cables, wires to the fuse box, etc

 

[Owyhee H]

Check all your electrical ^^^ as he said. It could be a clogged fuel filter. Does it feel as if the whole car is shutting off or just the engine. If it is the fuel filter, they are not too expensive but a PITA to change out. The filter is under the intake bolted to the passenger side of the block. I had an old ford once with these symptoms and it was the filter.

The fuel filter is supposedly a liftime part but you have exceeded its lifetime if it is the original. As much of a PITA and it is to change out, it might be worth changing just for peace of mind.

Good luck and if there are any realizations let us know.

 

[YukonRob]

I had similar symtoms a few months back. Convinced it was an O2 problem or something similar, I was shocked when the mechanic claimed it was a leak in the radiator - supposidly insufficent pressure in the cooling system was confusing the computer. Different motor but same brand, so might be something to look at. The vehicle never ran hot, but they changed the radiator and it is running fine.

 

[bikerjosh]

2nd on checking the fuel filter. My 83 toyota did this once, piece of crud stuck in the fuel filter all of sudden car would run like crap or die. I'd pull over, turn the engine off (if it didn't die) wait a couple seconds turn the key and it would be fine. Replaced the fuel filter and all was good, until mechanical fuel pump sprang a leak.
Josh

 

[1911]

A bad ignition coil will do this also; some of the windings crack with age and vibration and make an intermittent open in the windings. It will feel like you turned the key off, then in a second or two it will come back again like you turned the key back on. If this is what your truck feels like, disconnect the coil and check the resistivity between the center electrode (where the wire to the dizzy goes) and the little terminals on the side. Compare with the values listed in the FSM. If it is not within range, replace the coil.

 

[1stgenoverland]

I actually replaced the main lead from the battery to the relay Box last week. A proper job..none of this fooling around with electritions tape...Proper crimps and shrink wrap... terminals were cleaned and ground wire is good too. I could check the fuel pump...Not a PITA to fix...Did lots of them when I worked at toyota...Ive just never had an issue like this before...Even at toyota....mind you most of the people that brought vehicles in this old had looked after them...The problem has already stopped...I thing it was just some crud in the line somewhere with the fuel system...I might throw a little cleaner down there just to be sure...Hopefully its not the mass air flow sensor...I heard they can be hard to get...I'll clean that whole system out before rule that one out...Thanks for all the advice everyone...Good to have an online community that cares about keeping toyotas on the road...Especially solid front axle 4runners...I'm thinking about doing a diesel swap later anyways...It just might happen sooner if these problems persist. Anyone want to know what the motor would be....

 

[corax]

If you suspect the VAFM, I believe I remember hearing a rumor about using a Supra or Cressida unit instead of the original 22RE one - probably best to do a bit of research if that's what you need

Anyone want to know what the motor would be....

OM617?

 

[PirateMcGee]

AFM are pretty cheap and plentiful for these trucks

 

[1stgenoverland]

If you suspect the VAFM, I believe I remember hearing a rumor about using a Supra or Cressida unit instead of the original 22RE one - probably best to do a bit of research if that's what you need



OM617?

wow good call...You must have seen that on another forum...Yup thats the one

 

[PirateMcGee]

have you tested the one in your truck? There's a procedure in the FSM

 

[Toyotero]

Here's another possibility. What you described reminds me of my 1988 4R that did something similiar... it would "stumble" and lose power when I was accelerating. It turned out to be broken injector wires... where the harness jumps to the engine, the wires are flexed when the engine moves and on the 3VZE, they are slowly baked over one of the headers. A couple had broken and when the engine tilted due to torque, the wires lost contact and 1 or 2 injectors would stop firing.

It took the dealer 3 days to figure out what the problem was. It was a tough one since the ECU is not smart on these systems like the OBDII systems which could report a loss in injector circuit conductivity.

 

[1stgenoverland]

So the problem has completely stopped now...It fixed its self in an amazing sort of toyota way...I'm gonna still check a few things though and clean the intake system and also the fuel system...Pick out any of the last bugs that might be there...