Squidler

First off I have a 2000 4runner with 153,000 miles. This 4runner has ran perfectly for 13 years until July of this year (2013). It started with a jerking like it was pulling backward type of feeling between 40-55 mph. Took it to the dealer where I always take it for the past 13 years. I was told it was my torque converter. per recommendation i got a new transmission. I drove it off the lot and half way home it did it again!!! Brought it back the next morning to dealer and they replaced spark plugs and wires. I was told it was misfiring. So drove my 4runner home and it seemed ok but it lacked the power it once had. I shook it off as a new trani on an older engine. Two days go by and it starts jerking again but more profusely. It is doing this around 50mph. I could replicate it every time by taking my foot off the accelerator slowing down to around 50mph then accelerating. It will jump and jerk every time. My CEL would blink during this but never stayed on. Took it back to dealer they replaced all three ignition coil packs on cylinders 1, 3, and 5. Ok so drove the car home and it has not been jerking but the amount of gas it is using is crazy It also still feels very sluggish around 50mph. it just does not have that get up and go that it use to. Going up small inclines I have to press the gas all the way down just to keep it at the current speed. Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. I am very frustrated because I love my 4runner and I don't want to give it up but I do not have a money tree growing in the back yard either. I figure other toyota 4runner owners may be able to help.

kevo4runner89

fuel pump or fuel filter would be my first guess..

Squidler

Thanks Kevo4runner89...I will look into that and see what the cost is plus I really do not want to take it back to the dealer. I'll keep the situation posted.

Squidler

What are some ways to check out your fuel pump or filter....trying to do this without cost of an uto repair shop? And suggestions?

mynameistommy510

Filters are cheap and easy to install. I doubt it's a fuel filter, that would suggest it's clogged, Running bad at all speeds. Bad fuel pump would probably cause the engine to not run at all, but not completely out of the question. I don't know why they replaced the whole trans for a torque converter. The torque converter is Seperate from the transmission. Maybe they never changed the torque converter?

I would start with testing the O2 sensor, cleaning/testing the Mass Air Flow sensor,bad cats could also cause this problem