Login|Contact Us
Question and Answer

Toyota

Ask a Toyota Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

  • Ask A Question
  • Browse Answers
  • Meet The Experts
  • How JustAnswer Works

88 4runner: Cyl..interstate/highway at higher speed, if I..idles rough

 

Customer Question

88 4runner 3VZE 6 Cyl - after running on interstate/highway at higher speed, if I stop for gas or food and turn off the engine for several minutes, when I strat it back up the engine idles rough and I have to give it some gas for 15 seconds or so to clear it up. What could be causing this? I have the plenum off now as I'm replacing the valve cover gaskets. Was wondering if it might be something located on the plenum. Also where are the cam seals and how would I know I had a leak?

 

Country: United States
Make: Toyota
Model: 1988 Toyota 4Runner
Year: 1988
Engine: 3VZE

Already Tried:
Removed plenum, replacing PCV valve and valve cover gaskets, and plenum gasket.

Submitted: 921 days and 1 hours ago.
Category: Toyota
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
Picture
Expert:  .......... replied921 days and 1 hours ago.


Brian :

When was your last tune up? how old is that fuel filter? has the egr & throttle body been serviced recently?

Customer :

tune up by auto shop - been several years. I replaced plugs and wires myself last March.

Customer :

EGR and throttle body haven't been serviced that I know of.

Customer :

fuel filter - no telling

Brian :

You have several issues that could be causing your problems, I'd first check the plugs & plan on new NGK or Denso plugs, a new distributor cap & rotor. I would remove & clean the EGR, verify that is works & re-install. Since the plenum is off, use a liberal amount of

Brian :

O2 sensor safe TB/Air intake cleaner & clean your TB well. It often requires a semi-stiff brush to remove the carbon build up.

Brian :

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by idles rough, but these things should take care of any misfires or loaded up cylinders.

Brian :

Yes, it would be a good idea to change that fuel filter. Wear crappy clothes as you will take a gas bath doing so

Brian :

I think your issue is old spark plugs more than anything, & quite possibly a distributor rotor that is over due for replacement, they'll run almost worn to a nub but not well. I also highly recommend NGK plug wires, they are well worth the extra $20.

Brian :

Also, I would perform a compression test on that engine.

Brian :

Your cam seals are behind your cam pulleys on the front of the cylinder heads. You can not see a leaking cam seal unless the majority of the timing components are removed & the rear timing cover removed. Leaking cam seals would result in loss of oil only & lack of oiling to the cams. That may present itself with oil dripping down the engine, however, since your oil filter is there on the left & power steering pump/reservoir is right there on the right, there could be much oil on the engine & not necessarily from leaking cam seals. Those are usually addressed with timing belt changes.

Brian :

I think you are just in need for another major tune up. Here are a few guidelines that I use. Semi-synthetic oil every 3K, new rotor every oil change, new dist. cap/NGK/Denso plugs every other oil change, new wires every 2 plug changes, new air filter with plugs or as needed, new fuel filter every 50K, EGR & TB service with plug changes.

Brian :

Additionally, just so you are aware, depressing the gas pedal does not introduce more fuel to the system, but opens up that butterfly that you see in the TB, that in turn brings in more air to intake, that is then assessed by the EFI system in which case it adjusts the ignition timing & regulates the correct amount of fuel going into the plenum, so just pressing the gas pedal does not necessarily bring in fuel but does bring in air & sets off many reactions in the system to compensate for that.

Customer :

Had same problem before I put new NGK plugs and wires in last March. I'll try the rotor.

Customer :

where is the fuel filter located, under the truck near the parking brake cable?

Customer :

What's a TB service?

Customer :

What maintenance do you do on the EGR? blast with compressed air?

Picture
Expert:  scionking replied920 days and 13 hours ago.

do you have some black smoke after this happens, if so sounds like you have a leaking fuel injector orf several, remove injectors and inspect for nozzle stains, replace as nessasary

Customer replied920 days and 13 hours ago.

no black smoke. and it only happens after running at highway speed for extended time. not affected driving around town.

Picture
Expert:  .......... replied920 days and 13 hours ago.

Although I appreciate Scionking's info, the overpost was unprofessional & un-needed. A leaking injector would foul a plug & not come around. Your issue sounds tune up based, & based on lack thereof I think needs several things addressed and in fact sounds like a stuck egr. Brian40494.6369363079

Customer replied920 days and 12 hours ago.

stuck EGR causing rough idle after highway travel? replace or clean?

Picture
Expert:  .......... replied920 days and 11 hours ago.

Yes, that is possible, in my experience with the 3vze at least. I don't think that is the only issue either. Your tune up schedule is spotty & incomplete at best. Until all the items I mentioned above are known to be non-issues, you can't very well diagnose your hot start issues to any one of them. I'd be interested in what the plugs look like too. As long as the egr moves I see no need to replace it. If it does not move under vacuum pressure than yes it will need replaced. .

Customer replied920 days and 11 hours ago.

plugs are new NGK

Picture
Expert:  .......... replied920 days and 11 hours ago.

What did the old ones look like? or what are these ones starting to look like?

Customer replied920 days and 11 hours ago.

old Denso plugs looked good, not too corroded considering they'd been in for over 5 years

Picture
Expert:  .......... replied920 days and 10 hours ago.

You had plugs in there for 5 years?.. and I'm interested in the coloring of the electrodes after 5 years.. yeah you just need a complete tune up including; cap, rotor, air filter, fuel filter, clean egr, TB service, replace any dried out vac hoses, adjust the valves, and check the catalytic converter for clogs. If after a complete tune up your issues persist, we can then start to diagnose your issues.

Customer replied920 days and 10 hours ago.

ok. how do you clean the egr? what is TB?

Accepted Answer

Picture
Expert:  .......... replied920 days and 10 hours ago.

TB = throttle body.




The egr is easiest cleaned is a parts cleaner, but as long as it is removed spraying it liberally with intake cleaner works well. I often let them soak too.

Expert Type.................
Category: Toyota
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 27
Answered: 11/12/2010

Experience: ....................

Ask this Expert a Question >
 
Tweet

5 Toyota Mechanics are Online Right Now

Ask Your Question Now
Toyota Questions Date Submitted
toyota: I have a 93 toy pick up and Im changing sparkplugwires 5/16/2013
Hi- my car didn't pass CA smog. The emissions test passed, 5/16/2013
Corolla CE: I have a 1998 Toyota Corolla CE. The horn does 5/16/2013
Toyota Pickup: I have just acquired a 1987 Toyota Pickup 22R 5/16/2013
Avalon: 1997 Toyota Avalon.How can I turn off the airbag 5/16/2013
I am considering purchasing a 2004 Toyota RAV-4 for $11,000 5/16/2013
1997: I have a 1997 Toyota Landcruiser. Somehow in replacing 5/16/2013
Corolla 4AFE: 1990 Toyota Corolla, 4AFE engine. The ignition 5/16/2013
toyota avalon: I have a 1999 toyota avalon that needs a rear 5/15/2013
Toyota Corolla: 2000 Toyota corolla cranks but wont run. I 5/15/2013
RSS
Next 10 >
Ask A Toyota Mechanic
Type Your Toyota Question Here...
characters left:

Top Toyota Experts

See More Toyota Mechanics

JustAnswer in the News

Nbc
Washington Post
New York Times
Cnn
Learn More

How It Works

  • Ask an Expert
  • Get a Professional Answer
  • Ask Followup Questions
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Learn More
close
Find Expert answers related to your question.
Sign up using email
We will never post anything without your permission.
Already have an account? Sign in

Ask a Toyota Mechanic

Get a Professional Answer. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
115 Toyota Mechanics are Online Now
Type Your Toyota Question Here...
characters left:
Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Truste
Contact Us | Terms of Service | Privacy & Security | About Us | Our Network
© 2003-2013 JustAnswer LLC
  • Pearl.com
  • JustAnswer UK
  • JustAnswer Germany
  • JustAnswer Spanish
  • JustAnswer Japan