ohio4runner4x4

Guys.....Need some help!

It's about 20 degrees here this morning.....Went to the garage to start 4R with 160K and planned on letting it warm up. Got in, turned key...engine started for about 2 seconds then died...kinda sounded like a stuck choke would the way it died.
Now when you turn the key, it sounds like there is no compression...motor turns over fine but nothing happening? The only thing out of the ordinary is that I was working in the garage all day yesterday with the 4R parked out side. Brought it in last nite at 10:00pm from 14 degress outside to 50 degress inside and it was about 28 in the garage this morning. I'm wondering if the timing belt broke or slipped a tooth? It's only got 40k on it since replaced. Or posibly fuel line freeze up?
Any ideas? Need help fast...gotta work tomorrow and this is my only available vehicle!
THANKS

ohio4runner4x4

Well it's not fuel line freeze up...shot some ether into the intake and still won't fire.
If anybody has any ideas....I'd appreciate a response of better yet, please give me a call....330-421-6800.
Thanks
Todd

habanero

It's not real hard to get under the top plastic cover for a glance at the timing belt if it's the 3.4.
Got spark?

Rivalred

My vote would be timing... This happend to another vehicle I had... Turned over, was getting fuel also.

MTL_4runner

Where did you put the ether?

Try cranking the engine for about 30 secs then pull a plug and take a whif, if you smell gas then fuel si not the issue. Next check the fuses to see if you blew something (esp since the truck started and then died after a short time). It would also be good to check the cam pulleys to be sure the timing belt didn't let go. Let us know how you do with those.

ohio4runner4x4

Where I sprayed ether.??...I Pulled off the boot and flipped open the throttle plate and shot ether in the intake.
So far...I have drained the radiator and pulled the cam belt cover off....turned it over and belt spins...not broken. Also seems tight.
Will check fuses...then gonna pull a plug and check for spark next......

ohio4runner4x4

What did you figure your problem then??? broken belt? skipped tooth?

ohio4runner4x4

Ok....pulled plug on front drivers side and got spark and smell fuel. Checked the underhood fuse box and all fuses you can look at are fine.
I'm out of ideas.....other than possibly timing belt skipped a tooth.....anyway to tell without tearing the whole thing apart?
Anybody??????

MTL_4runner

I would try a compression test if you have one handy. Do at least 2 cylinders to make sure you're getting proper alignment on the timing belt. You could also pull off the front cover and verify that all the timing marks line up (ie both cams and the crank at 0 degrees / TDC). If you have all 3 (spark, fuel and compression) the engine should fire.

Rivalred

Timing belt broke, but was on a 95 Escort..... Hope you get it fixed for sure... Next step like the another members have mentioned would to be see what your compression is on each cylinder.

rdharper

Amazing coincidence. Yesterday my sister called me over to her house. Her car wouldn't start. She has a 944. It had fired up, and then quit immediately. So it took 10 minutes to determine that she'd broken a timing belt.

She had let it sit for a week in much colder than normal temperature (26F), after draining the oil, and not refilling it until just before starting it in the cold air. The extra friction caused by the colder than normal temperature, and the fact that the oil had drained from the cam area, caused the problem (imo). Plus she was probably running a heavier oil than she should.

Timing belt had about 10k miles on it.

Diagnosis was to pull a plug, notice the wet plug and the piston movement when cranked. No sound of air exiting the open plug. Stuck a compression tester on it for good measure.. zero, not a flicker.

On top of all that, the 944 is an interference-engine. Be thankful yours is not.

ohio4runner4x4

Pulled the cover....all 3 marks are lined up. Just talked to a local 4R mechanic and he told me that there has been a rash of water in the fuel at the local BP station......which is where I got my gas last time. SO, I'm gonna crack open the fuel line at the frame filter and blow the fuel both out the engins side and back into the tank....hope maybe that works????

rdharper

Hmmm.... ice or water in the cold start valve?

Compression has to be ok if TB is ok, although you didn't check it... or even for a "whoosh" with the plug out. You had the sense that it was free-wheeling when you cranked it. Doesn't quite add up. More info

ohio4runner4x4

Checked compression in #1....was 125lbs....
Where's the cold start valve????

anomad

This exact problem has happened to me after letting my truck sit for a few days in the cold (20F). Both times it was parked immediately after a long pull on the highway, I was living about 2 blocks from the interstate.

My solution? Crank it with your foot on the floor for about 20-30 seconds. Mine sputtered to life and ran fine. Its happened twice in 3 years. My theory is that the gas tank and fuel system lost vacuum.

rdharper

Did a search for pics... I know they are there, but no cigar.

I'll try words.. its easy to find and get to. On the intake manifold casting, on the passenger side, there is an imbedded TOYOTA in the casting. Come back with your finger from the second O while standing on the passenger side, and you will hit the CSV.

You can verify it as it will have a fuel line coming in from below and to the left, and a connector standing above the plane of the intake manifold.

rimpainter.com

The 3.4 has a CSV?

rdharper

Thanks for catching this.. I was thinking 2nd generation. Sorry for the diversion guys.

ohio4runner4x4

Ok guys....IT'S RUNNING!!!!!!! :bigclap: :bigclap: :bigclap:
Looks like it was bad watered down gas........Ended up pulling the tank and draining it, then cracked open the fuel line on the engine and sent compressed air to clear out the entire line. Filled it with fresh fuel and dry gas, hooked up the battery charger and after about 25 - 30 seconds of fast turning over it started!!!! Now I just gotta go buy some anti-freeze and put it all back together!
Thanks for all your help!

rdharper

Way to go guy... nice work.

What else did we learn.... avoid BP?