WetbehindEars

Hey Everyone,

Well I went out the garage, stuck the key in the 89 4Runner 3.0 and turned the key. Turned over tried to start and then just kept turning over. I turned the key once more, and the same thing.
Hopped out and pulled a plug wire to start checking the basics. Had my son turn the truck over, and I would get one spark (truck would sound like it was trying to start right when I got the spark) and then nothing. Motor just keep turning over, but no more sparky? Tried it again... same thing... One spark, then nothing.
Any had this one before?
Thanks!

Jay351

check coil and/or igniter

sb5walker

Coil/Igniter my first thought, but also check for power going to the IGN fuse in the driver kick panel: that's the IG2 lead from your ignition switch. IG2 powers the coil/igniter, but doesn't go through that fuse - I think the fuse is on the path to the coil side of the EFI relay. IG2 powers the injectors, too, so if the ignition switch is bad, there are all kinds of reasons the truck won't start.

NRandall

EFI relay-- in the fuse box underhood.

WetbehindEars

Where is the EFI relay on this truck. There is only one relay under the hood labeled "HEAD". It just happened to be the same relay on the 98 Runner so I swapped them, but that did not solve the problem. I just put in a new ign coil this evening, and that did not solve the issue. I did another spark test with the same results. Just ONE spark and then nothing. I had my son turn the truck over for about 10 secs and the plugs get fire one time, then nothing after that. I just checked the primary & 2nd resistance, and they are within spec.. and its a brand new coil.. about 30 mins old. Im thinking of getting into the distributor and looking around.
NOTE: Yesterday... I was driving the truck and noticed that the idle seemed extremely low 4-500. This is a 'New to Me" truck and I had just changed the VSV for the EGR "Green One". I was actually headed out in the driveway to warm the truck up to check TPS and then Timing.... but got this no start problemo.
Thanks!

Jay351

did you check the igniter?

WetbehindEars

Sb5... im headed out now to pull the kick panel and hook the multi up and see if I have power at the ING fuse.

WetbehindEars

Hey Jay,
Do you know of a igniter test? My FSM has nothing listed about testing it (that I have found)

sb5walker

Here you go.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/n...89-95-a-10543/

Jay351

Thanks Sb5!

WetbehindEars

Hey Guys... THANKS!!!
So.. did my tests and the ohms are way off on the first two. I tried with both analog and digital meter just to be sure. So.. no problem, I have changed a pickup coil before.
Does anybody know the part number? I called both Autozone and OReilly and niether show a pick coil or signal generator in the books?
Thanks!

Getting Closer!!

sb5walker

So... it sounds like you were checking the distributor. Just wanted to make sure that you have access to a 91 or older fsm, because the distributor changed (in 92, I think) and the specs are a little different from the later years, and the connector is different.

To confirm that you have the right terminals, looking into the connector at the end of the distrib wire, and holding it so the part that connects to the wiring harness shield is at the bottom (and the little tab that clips to the other half of the connector is at the top), then starting in the top left corner and proceeding clockwise, the terminals are: G1, Ne, G-, G2.

Also, the 91 and earlier signal coil specs are a little different: all of them should be between 140-180 ohms. I think that must be the cold spec, but the 89 manual doesn't specify.

The air gap spec is a bit tighter, too: .2 -.4 mm or .008 -.016"

As to your question regarding replacing a signal coil: I am not aware of any source for just the signal coils or signal rotors for the V6 distributors: if they're bad, so far as I know you have to replace the distributor. If anyone knows of a source, that would be great to know.

Since even from 1sttoyotaparts the OEM Densos are over $400, and because used distribs from that year range are a very iffy proposition, I think the best options may be a remanufactured Denso or a new non-Denso. Two years ago I bought a distributor from Distributor King on ebay for under $200. It's not of Denso quality but it works perfectly and it comes with a lifetime warranty, for whatever that's worth. Apparently they are made in Canada, not China, so that's something.

But that's the distributor - have you checked the igniter?

Flash319

Bad ground on ignitor maybe. Pull the ignitor/coil off the body and take some sandpaper to the bottom of it and the mounting points.

WetbehindEars

Thanks, Sb5 & Jay
I started the testing just as you guys sent it. Dist checked out fine on the ohm readings (at that point I was thinking about that expensive igniter). Checked the gap inside the dist, and it too was in spec. So, I headed over to start the knock test. When I unpluged the connection to the igniter, guess what... COMPLETELY FULL of water. I took some Di-Electric cleaner to both connections and then cleaned out with compressed air. I was curious, so made the connection back up.. and she fired right up!
Heres the connection, just in case someone else has this same problem!
Thanks again everyone!!

superchiem

iTrader: (1)

I'm glad you found the problem. I also have a starting issue with my 1990 toyota RV with the 3vz. I have changed the plugs, wires, coil pack, and igniter. Does your plug look similar to the 1990 3vz plugs? It was raining out when our rv decided to take a long nap

Any advise is welcome.

Thank you,

Navy

sb5walker

I don't know what connectors are in the 90 RV - I know my 89 Ex Cab Pickup has the newer style connectors and coil - I was surprised to see the old style coil & connector on the 89 4runner.

WetbehindEars posted a pic of his connector, is it like the one you found on your igniter?

At any rate, the ignition and fuel injection circuits are nearly identical, so the connector style shouldn't make a difference to troubleshooting. This post may be of some help:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116.../#post51130411

If you would like some more focused suggestions, it would be helpful for you to describe the symptoms - what's it doing or not doing. Is it turning over? Is there spark? Fuel pressure? Did the problem begin suddenly with no warning or were there were some lead-ups? Have you checked for codes? That may provide some clues.

Have you checked your fuses? Especially the IGN fuse in the drivers kick panel and the EFI fuse in the fuse box under the hood.

superchiem

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the reply sb5! Should I start a new thread since I may have a different problem?

sb5walker

Yeah, that's probably a good idea.