lesha30

Hi,

After sitting for a couple of days my Runner is hard to start. The engine spins, and then it looks like it's gonna start, but it doesn't. What could it be???

Thanx

MTL_4runner

OK, first check if you have fuel and spark.

lunatic14r

need more info to help

Goose

I've got the same problem. I've read all the posts on this board and other, and now I'm stuck. Here's my issue: 1987 4Runner 22RE. Car died on the freeway, had everything shut down. Had the car towed to a repair place to have it looked at. After $100, they said it was the igniter, and that it needed to be replaced and then retested. They gave me the quote, and I said thanks, but no thanks, I'll go the junk yard route.

Here's the issues:

Starter OK - Turns over
Battery OK - Provides power, turns starter
Fuel Pump OK - Fuel is flowing, confirmed by smell, and spark plugs are wet
Distrubuter OK - replaced cap and rotor
Spark Plugs OK replaced
Coil and Igniter Ok - replaced with used unit - verified resistance in coil w/ ohmmeter
Fuses OK - checked
Wiring from coil to distributer OK - checked with ohmmeter

Truck cranks, but just won't bite and turn over. Any suggestions, it's starting to get frustrating. I just want my truck back!
:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

lunatic14r

do you have a good blue spark at the plug

Goose

I thought so, when I went through it this morning. What's the best way to check?

lunatic14r

a spark tester works best it plugs it the wire and grounds to the block if you dont have one remove the spark plug put it in the wire and hold it to block look at the electroid at the end for a good blue spark when you crank it dont get to close to the hole cause fuel will come out and you dont wont to burn you rig up

amusement

My 95' had the same problem with hard staring and stalling under various conditions. I replaced the EFI relay under the hood and another relay under the dash. I cannot recall what the relay was for under the dash its been many years since I fixed it.

The relay was located directly behind the cash about where the ignition lock and clock were. It was attached to a brace holding the dash.

I here that there are some stock alarms systems with anti-theft that could hard it hard to start or stall the vehilce after a few minutes of driving. I don't think this was my case. I though I would just mention it.

Goose

what's the cost of the spark plug tester, and where can I pick one up?


How'd you diagnose the relay?

MTL_4runner

Harbor freight has em cheap:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=36258

.....or almost any auto parts store will have em like this too:

lesha30

my Runner starts good after JUST 1 day (night) of sitting, but when it's 2 or more days - I have the problem. The engine turns, I have a spark (checked it today). Could it be a fuel problem (but why does it start after one day of sitting)??? COuld it be a cold start injector???

Thanks

MTL_4runner

That sounds like a fuel delivery problem.

Could be an EFI relay, cold start injector, fuel pump, clogged fuel filter....any number of things.
You obviously have spark so I would start looking into the fuel systems.

lesha30

How do I find out which one of them makes the problem??? I think if it would have been Fuel filter or a fuel pump, it would give me the problem even after 1 day of sitting. Am I wrong???

AgRunner06

Sounds like a leaky CSI. I don't know if the search function is up yet but there is some info out there about it. Basically the CSI leaks all the pressure out of the system. Then when you go to start it the fuel pump has to build pressure back up. Between the time that the fuel pump has to build up pressure and the extra-ordinary amount of fuel being dumped and already leaked, it causes the truck to have trouble starting.

You can check the CSI by removing it. There are two 10mm nuts that hold it onto the intake manifold. You can take it out and look at it. If it is wet than you have a leak. When I checked mine, I could wipe the gas away and then see it reappear from the two little holes. However mine isn't leaking enough to cause any real problems so I haven't replaced it.

That's what I think. Take it for what it's worth.

MTL_4runner

I must say I would agree with AgRunner06....
This seems to be the most common hard start problem on the 2nd gens.

Goose

Went back and checked through everything now, adn the engine still won't turn over. This time I can't seem to get any spark out of the plugs! :wtf: I've gone through just about everything, new cap, rotor, plugs, plug wires, igniter, new coil, check the wiring with a voltmeter, etc. It seems that I get power from the ECU to the igniter, and then from the igniter. Any other advice? It's got me stumped and I'm about ready to fork out the cash and have a shop go through it. Any ideas on why I wouldn't be getting spark? Or something I might have missed? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

86 TurboSR5

Check your efi main relay ? Drivers side kick panel . 15 dollars at toyota