mardukbcp

I have an 88 toyota pickup 22re 4x4 5spd. I have had an ongoing problem that has boggled me for the past year and a half. Any help would be much appreciated!
I ran the truck out of fuel about a year and a half ago. Since then the truck has had numerous driveability issues. It started with the truck just dying on me and i couldn't get it started. So i parked it for about 6 months. Then i went through all the regular stuff cap, rotor, wires, plugs. No help there, then the check engine light came on and the codes came up 41 and 51 i think, which were TPS and ECU, along with some AC stuff which my truck is not equipped with.
My buddy has an 86 22re 4x4 5spd, i took his ecu and put it in my truck and it had trouble starting, but has no driveability issues. So essentially i could start the truck with my ecu and let it warm up and then switch his in and drive my truck with no problems.
On top of that i could take my ecu and put it in his 86 and his truck runs fine but has a check engine light on.
I figured my ecu was bad at this point, i have since got 2 used ecu's with matching numbers and they all have the same problem.... trouble starting have to spray starting fluid into the phlenum to start then idles fine, but the truck farts and pops at 2500rpm and will not exceed 4000rpm.

I have checked the following with no prevail:
all parts swapped between running 86 or 88

swapped out MAFS
checked TPS with ohmeter
swapped used TPS
switched out cold start sensor
checked exhaust for blockage
checked fuel pressure
injectors are clicking
swapped distributor
new plugs, wires, cap, rotor
new o2 sensor

My guess is that whatever the 88 engine has that the 86 engine doesn't is my problem since my truck runs fine with an 86 ECU but not with any of the three 88 ECU's that i have.
But what do i know i haven't figured it out in the past year 1/2. Again any help would be great!

abecedarian

code 41 is TPS signal open or short
code 51 is no TPS IDL, NSW or A/C signal to ECU with diagnostic connector jumpered

Those codes together suggest something wrong with the TPS sensor, either it is not adjusted properly or disconnected, or there are wiring issue causing the codes to be thrown, or bad ECU. Considering you've swapped ECU's to not avail, I'd lean away from that being the cause.

The other problem you're mentioning, misfiring at 2500 RPM & won't rev above 4000, sounds like a timing issue.

Clear the codes and get the TPS adjusted properly so you can set the timing: http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TPS/index.shtml

mardukbcp

i HAVE CHECKED THE RESISTANCE OF THE TPS WITH AN OHMETER SO THATS NOT IT, AND I KNOW THAT MY TIMING IS DEAD ON!

abecedarian

You checked the TPS, but did you adjust it?
You can't set the timing if it's not adjusted correctly.
And those trouble codes tell me you didn't do something correct if they keep coming back.

mardukbcp

If my timing wasn't correct and my tps was not adjusted right then how can my truck run fine with the 86 computer in it?

abecedarian

Given that logic, if the truck runs fine with the 86 ecu, there must not be anything wrong with your truck.

abecedarian

Let's forget that the TPS wiring is slightly different between 86 and 88's too while were at it.

mardukbcp

I'm not denying the fact that my truck has issues, i'm just trying to make sense of all of this. I hope i didn't offend you, i'm just at my witts end with this one. I will check the timing again and adjust the TPS. But, I still can't get over the fact that my truck will run fine with the 86 ecu in it? It makes no sense! Thanks for your help..... i pray that your right

abecedarian

I pray I'm right too.

1stgen4gunner

Check your airflow man, and air pockets in your engine it sounds like because you have popping exhaust. you may have to buy a new ecu, not a used one, sry this is a tough one man, maybe you should just get an 86 ECU if it makes it run fine.

abecedarian

I'm just going to add that when you short the terminals in the diagnostic test port the idle speed should change. If it doesn't, most likely the TPS is not sending the IDL signal to the ECU. That would cause your code 51. Also, if the ECU never sees the IDL signal, or the variable signal due to throttle position, that will throw code 41.
If the computer does not receive the IDL signal you will not be able to get the timing set properly... well at least not very easily. If you try to set the timing this way, you'll find that you are about 20 degrees retarded and will misfire and refuse to rev very high.