toyogirl63

i bought this truck 3 weeks ago from this guy and i've had crap ever since. it started out throwing 3 codes, 25(air/fuel lean), 42(speed sensor), and 52(knock sensor). ok, i know most of the time the sensors are not bad, it;s something making them throw that code. guys, this truck runs like crap! chugging, backfiring, no power at all, spits and sputters. so, i check for vacuum leaks, none. put a complete tune up on it, no change. i take it to this guy that is highly recommended, he says my timing is off(thought of that already), it has one cylinder with low compression, and lots of carbon build up. so, i leave it with him over night. he calls me up, "your truck is 100%, runs like brand new. i reset your timing, made a few adjustments, she's good to go. perfect." i get there, same truck, same issues. i pay him for adjusting the timing, but now it has less power, chugs worse, backfires even when it's sitting in the driveway idling, got one heck of a dead miss. i don't know what truck he drove that was perfect, but it sure wasn't this one. guys i need some advice bad! i can't keep driving it like this, and i'm tired of getting jacked round by these mechanics. help!

james92toy

22r or 3.0 v6 ?
How many miles on motor ?
What is the compression on all cylinders ?

maybe
Fuel filter
o2 sensor
valve's need adjusting
seafoam
try cylinder leak down test for bad head gasket or bent valve's

toyogirl63

it's got a 3.0, 248,000

compression was low on only one cylinder, i think he said 60 on that one.

could i still need an o2 even if its not throwing a code for it? i put lucas in the tank

runs-on-4

iTrader: (1)

knock sensor code (52) will make it run terrible id start there

westjohns yota

if it has low compression on one cylinder then you def have a headgasket issue which could cause your backfire issue, start at the knock sensor and see if it runes better, check your cat and see ifs its plugged and change the o2 sensor, if still rusn like crap then plan on a rebuild or a 3.4 swap, if this an auto or manual trans?

james92toy

Your compression should be about 160.

Lot's of Water or steam out tail pipe , Loosing radiator fluid or coming out overflow = head gasket.
If not could be bent valve or need a valve adjustment.

I would check these thing's first before spending money on any part's. If you only have 60 something's going on.

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Hope you got it cheap....

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Did it not run like crap when you test drove it?

:wabbit2:

toyogirl63

ok, thanks. everyone keeps telling me not to mess with the knock sensor that its something else

toyogirl63

i came here for help, not smart comments. and as a matter of fact, i did.

toyogirl63

yeah it did, but for the price i gave for it, i figured it was worth the risk.

toyogirl63

my mechanic found that it has an after-market cat on it, would that make any difference? it's an auto trans

toyogirl63

not water or steam out tail pipe, not loosing ant fluids

a4runnerfreak

have you checked the oil to see if there is any trace of water in yet? It would look like a milkshake.....

Nailit69

If you got it cheap enough and it's worth it to you, keep your eyes peeled for a wrecked truck/4runner. I found a low mile 3.0 from a truck w/a bent frame for $600, pulled it and did a swap, easy enough to do w basic tools and a hoist. Probably easier and maybe cheaper than doing a head/gasket job on a problem motor.

If it's in your budget... do a 3.4 swap, everyone seems to love them.

toyogirl63

nope, no water in the oil. i chnged it the day after i bought it, plus did a full tune-up, flushed the radiater, and new air filter

a4runnerfreak

thats good. As for the low compression, sorry I can't help you with that. Hope you get it figured out, without too much of a headache.

donomite49

check valve adjustment.
if good,

do a leak down test. listen for air noise in intake or exhaust.

you can also try some mavel mystery oil soak on the low cylinder. for stuck rings
read this,
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/s...y-work-243376/

if all else fails buy a wreck and go (research) 3.4 swap, best long term (more expensive option).

runs-on-4

iTrader: (1)

all these symptons will make it run like junk, knock sensor will retard the timing and kill all your power, even when i had 488 and 33s with a code 52 i had no power at all.

this would be one part of your big problem, id look into a new motor.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

So in other words you pretty much got what you paid for!!

You took a chance and you lost this one.

I hope the rest of the vehicle is in good shape with that much mileage on.

Time to decide keep this one for spare parts and find a good running one to drive..

i myself would not put any money in this engine because I am not a big fan of the 3.0.

No matter what you do that low compression is not going to be cheap to fix unless you can do all the labor yourself.

Could be bad valves could be rings could be headgasket just bleeding into the next cylinder.

Not to mention all the other issues!!

Good luck.