Looking at 4Runner with motor problem.

modlite · 08-22-2009, 06:52 PM

Hey guys,
Went and looked at a 91 Toyota 4Runner today and absolutely fell in love with it. It had a 22re engine which is what I'm looking for. Upon driving it I noticed a loud rattling/knockish sound coming from the engine around 2800 rpm and would only do it when it was under load once you got past 2800rpm it smoothed out and ran fine. Also it ran perfect at idle.

My personal mechanic guessed timing chain, but he came and looked at it and was clueless. It seems to be coming from around the 4th cylinder. Do you guys have any ideas?

I'm thinking about just low balling the guy and buying a remanufactured motor and putting it in my self cause I love this truck so much.

It's also going to need a clutch, power steering gear box, and the front end aligned.

The list keeps going lol. I couldn't get the truck to engage in 4wd. I put it in 4Lo and back up and went forward and the 4wd light never came on the dash. Not sure about this.

If anyone has any advice about what could be wrong with the motor, the 4wd and/or what you would offer for the truck I'd really appreciate it.

It's the SR5 Package but doesn't have power windows lol

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1stgen4gunner · 08-22-2009, 07:00 PM

Is it more like a slapping noise, because then it probably is the the timing chain, it is a common problem with the 22re and if it hasn't been replaced really should be.

olharleyman · 08-22-2009, 07:07 PM

Low ball him and rebuild the motor yourself it's a lot of fun you learn your motor and really not that hard to do yourself. Get your rebuild kit from ENGNBLDR and you get the steel side timing chain kit which is a major improvement over stock.

As for the 4wd if it's A.D.D. probably just the vacuum lines not hooked up or dry rotted and need to be reattached/replace

Marli Crawler for the clutch kit HD works great I only have a couple miles on mine but you can feel/tell the difference over stock and not to expensive.

SR5 would have power windows as far as I know sounds like someone may have done some interior swaping which is not a bad thing they just didn't do the windows

peapicker · 08-22-2009, 07:07 PM

Could be something as simple as a valve adjustment, or timing chain. If you can get it cheap enough go for it. Those motors are pretty cheap to rebuild and you may not have to touch the bottom end to fix it. And the light is probley the little switch at the tcase that tells the light in the dash to come on. Nothing major

And the steering box can be rebuilt. Bout 75.00 bucks for the kit at autozone.

kiyobrown · 08-22-2009, 07:22 PM

I had an 88 sr5 4Runner and it didn't have power windows or a/c. My new 87 sr5 however has it all!!

Too bad my cruise doesn't work......

modlite · 08-22-2009, 07:34 PM

The best thing about it was, my dad has never been a Toyota fan and this was his first Toyota he drove.

He loved it as much as I did and sayed it drove really nice. He was mad when he started hearing the knock.

I was thinking timing chain too, but it was coming from the back of the motor (or so we think). Maybe I can offer him 1k and if I'm lucky it will be something real simple.

modlite · 08-23-2009, 09:23 PM

Well I decided to take a leap of faith and buy it. I'm expecting that it needs a new motor clutch and power steering pump. Hopefully nothing else.

Here it is I'm picking it up tomorrow:

08-22-2009, 07:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
1stgen4gunner Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 635	Is it more like a slapping noise, because then it probably is the the timing chain, it is a common problem with the 22re and if it hasn't been replaced really should be. __________________ -Dave "It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated." Sorry Guys but I am trying chevy for a while, Current Rig- 2000 Chevy S10 ZR2, but I am sure I'll be back! 1990 Deluxe Extended Cab 22RE 5spd, Roll Bar, KC Lites, Flowmaster 50 series- SOLD 1988 4Runner SR5 3.0 3VZE Auto, 31" BFG A/T KO, Bushwhackers, 205,000 miles- SOLD and was driven 4500 miles to Anchorage AK 2003 KTM SX125

08-22-2009, 07:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
olharleyman Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 3,291	Low ball him and rebuild the motor yourself it's a lot of fun you learn your motor and really not that hard to do yourself. Get your rebuild kit from ENGNBLDR and you get the steel side timing chain kit which is a major improvement over stock. As for the 4wd if it's A.D.D. probably just the vacuum lines not hooked up or dry rotted and need to be reattached/replace Marli Crawler for the clutch kit HD works great I only have a couple miles on mine but you can feel/tell the difference over stock and not to expensive. SR5 would have power windows as far as I know sounds like someone may have done some interior swaping which is not a bad thing they just didn't do the windows __________________ 1990 4 runner 5 Speed Pro Comp Stage II 4" Lift 6" coils rear Aussie Locker front 5.29's Front And Rear 35 x 12.5 x 15 MT's Micky Thompson Classic II Wheels Super Charged 3.4 on the way 1993 SAS 4runner 22re 5 speed 4" front 5"rear 5.29's 35 x 12.5 BFG KM'S Dick cepek DC 1's 88 stock 4runner 3.0 auto for now 1955 Harley Davidson Springer Stock 1955 Hardtail Frame 4 Speed Kick Start Only 1998 Harley Custom Dresser 107 rwhp 139 ft.lbs.trq. Last edited by olharleyman; 08-22-2009 at 07:09 PM.

08-22-2009, 07:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
kiyobrown Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 271	I had an 88 sr5 4Runner and it didn't have power windows or a/c. My new 87 sr5 however has it all!! Too bad my cruise doesn't work...... __________________ Jason. 87 4runner 22re SR5 5 speed 189k, supra MAF mod, battery/intake swap, Black Magic 165, Zuk mod, BJ spacers. 3rd gen rims with 265/70/16s. Pioneer/Boston Acoustics/Kenwood/Fosgate sound system, softopper. Craigslist and rattle cans have done wonders.

08-23-2009, 09:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
modlite Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 84	Well I decided to take a leap of faith and buy it. I'm expecting that it needs a new motor clutch and power steering pump. Hopefully nothing else. Here it is I'm picking it up tomorrow: Attached Thumbnails

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08-22-2009, 07:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
peapicker Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Morganton, NC Posts: 181	Could be something as simple as a valve adjustment, or timing chain. If you can get it cheap enough go for it. Those motors are pretty cheap to rebuild and you may not have to touch the bottom end to fix it. And the light is probley the little switch at the tcase that tells the light in the dash to come on. Nothing major And the steering box can be rebuilt. Bout 75.00 bucks for the kit at autozone.

08-22-2009, 07:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
modlite Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 84	The best thing about it was, my dad has never been a Toyota fan and this was his first Toyota he drove. He loved it as much as I did and sayed it drove really nice. He was mad when he started hearing the knock. I was thinking timing chain too, but it was coming from the back of the motor (or so we think). Maybe I can offer him 1k and if I'm lucky it will be something real simple.