quiggs12

Alright, I am new to this so please be kind...

I bought a 1988 Toyota pickup from a guy that said the timing chain was bad. He described the symptoms and I thought that it sounded like he was right. Unfortunately he had started removing engine components and then found out he was not able to get the crank bolt out.

Anyway's I got it because I thought that was a simple enough fix. He claimed to have owned the truck for two years and that the previous owner had put a newer engine in it (he said a 91). It is the 22RE. The truck does not have an EFI emblem on the outside anywhere (I thought the 22REs had them) so it is possible that he changed out the 22R for this motor. (This info maybe relevant). In addition I found an older looking ECU behind the seat so I figured with the engine change he had to change that too, but I am not sure if the 22R had one.

So I took the remaining parts required off to access the timing chain... It was brand new with NO issues! Apparently the owner previous to the guy I bought it off from had replaced it when he did the motor change (according to my seller). I put a new one on anways because the truck came with the part. I failed to mention though that when I took apart the distributor the plug wires and cap were not in the correct sequence (which would obviously cause it to run like crap!

I put everything back together and the truck won't start. I checked for a spark from the plugs (which are new along with the wires, distributor cap, rotor button) and it looked good. The plug was dry though so I checked the coldstart injector and found that it was not getting power. I checked the start time injector switch and that was not getting power either. My check engine light does NOT come on when the igntiion is on so I thought the two may be related. I checked the bulb (good) and tried grounding the ECU (W terminal) to the body to see if it comes on (no) I checked the coil and it seemed okay (ohm test). I checked the ignition switch to see it it sends power appropriately once I try to start the truck (yes). I checked the fuel relay (good) and all of the fuses in the (EFI, Engine, Ignition) (GOOD). I cleaned everything up as I was checking for things including some grounds. I checked for continuity between the ignition and ECU (good). I had the starter tested because it wouldn't engage at times for a small stretch (good) fly wheel looks good.

Then all of a sudden I have power to my cold start injector and it is spraying gas as it should. I had forget to mention that I checked the fuel supply, changed the filter, checked the time switch and everything was good (fuel filter changed) right at the begining of this project. Anyway's I now have gas to the injector but have lost my spark??? The engine cranks but again I am no longer getting any spark. I had a good spark before (big and blue) so I don't know what is happening. And I still don't have my check engine light on.

Any of the toyota mechanics that could help I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks

snobdds

Is your EFI fuse blown? Is your coil good? Is your battery putting out enough juice to engage your starter? Is your ignition switch good?

Just a few things I would eliminate before going any further...

Bojangles

Ok...Check the EFI fuse just like snobdds said.
Under the hood on the passenger side in that fuse box.

But also you're check engine light should come on when you turn the key to the on position no matter what.

xxxtreme22r

CEL Bulb blown out? that's the first thing I would check. Change it with a known working bulb, not just look at it's filament.

quiggs12

Yes I checked all of those first. Fuses are good, bulb has been changed, cluster and ECU have continuity, I tried grouding the W terminal of the ECU to the body (still no light), coil checks out with specified resistance, I checked the ignition switch with a test light and all terminals had power except for the 2 that are not supposed to until you crank the key... they had power then. HOWEVER, I did not check the amount of voltage there so I don't know how much power is actually present. If I was to do that would I put the + probe of the multimeter to the terminal and the - to a ground??? Do I need to know this or is the fact that I have power there good enough?

I have chased wires and checked continuity between as many points as I thought might be related. But I still have no answer... Thanks

quiggs12

What would a different ECU do as far as starting? Running?

quiggs12

Does anyone know someone I could talk to about this (someone that is on here but not as often as he/she may be needed)? Thanks

Bojangles

With the wrong ECU i guess it is possible that the truck would not even try to start.
My friend has a Toyota corola and they put the wrong ECU in it and it wouldn't crank either...

quiggs12

But I had spark before while cranking... I was only missing fuel. Now that I have fuel I have lost my spark?

The check engine light (CEL) deosn't come on so I am not sure what the reason could be. I have troubleshooted everything I could think of including the what the FSM for an 85 says. I don't know for sure if the ECU and the engine in the truck are matched correctly. The VIN on the block is gone so I don't know how to figure which year it is?

Does anyone have a .pdf file for the 1988 FSM?

xxxtreme22r

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/87-4Runne...4runner_88.pdf

xxxtreme22r

check your ecu's part number with this:

quiggs12

The problem with this chart is that it doesn't include the Denso numbers too. And, the one ECU I have that does have a sticker has a differenct Denso number on the cover than on the circuit board itself. Therefore, I am looking for someone that can open there ECU and tell me how their numbers compare... Thanks

quiggs12

For all of the people that viewed my complicated mess and did not have any suggestions I figured I would update you.

I went to a local junkyard and found an igniter of a truck that was running and just had its motor taken (therefore I knew it worked) and the guy only charged my $25. I installed it as well as a different instrument cluster and my CEL finally appeared and it fired right up!

As far as the cluster goes I still don't know why it wouldn't work. I had power and the bulbs were all fine? But whatever the different one works!

I want to seafoam the fuel system to clean it up since it is old and has been sitting a few months. Should I just add a little in the PCV tube as well as the gas tank??? Thanks

malvagio yota

Hey man, so im having the same cluster of problems. So what is it you changed out, the ignition?

quiggs12

I didn't come up with a conclusive answer. I use the truck to plow with (right now). So when summer came I just parked it. I think the O2 sensor is questionable as well as possibly some sort of injector issue. I plan to take the manifold apart some time in the next month or so (when I get a free minute). However, honestly, I have been hoping someone else would come up with a concrete answer for me. PLEASE let me know what you come up with. Thanks and sorry I didn't have what you needed.

quiggs12

And my ignition passed all the tests the FSM had me do. So I don't believe they are related... Thanks

putneysmachine

It's a long shot, but......

I recently had a customers truck in the shop with similar issues (cranks, no fuel, no cel, no spark etc....)

Turns out a rat/mouse had got in between the plastic inner wheel well housings (on both sides, actually) and the fenders. He chewed just enough to put breaks in the wires on both sides (i repaired the passenger side first, and eliminated half the problems, then pulled the fender liner out on drivers side and found the rest of his handiwork). Strange enough, it never blew any fuses since he had made some nice clean chew-throughs and the exposed wires never grounded themselves.

Could be worth looking at. You never know.

quiggs12

Thanks for the info. But the CEL ended up being a faulty in the cluster. I am still having starting issues and plan to take apart the manifold this summer (as soon as I get some free time). Thank you for posting though!!!