thowho1985

The 3.0 is got the shakes. Last night I was driving and the idle started to to be a little shakey and when it went into lock up it would kick/ stumble. Today, I went to start it up to go to work, and the tail pipe was shaking alot, and the idle was really bad. I backed out of the drive way and it didn't feel right, and the exhaust made it sound like a go-cart. It's sounds like it's misfiring and/or incomplete combustion and it smells like gas coming out of the exhaust. Could it be either EGR valve or 02 sensor? I have 91,700. About time for the emission controls to go out?

-thanks

oly884

I would start with the spark plug wires. That happened once to me and it was as simple as that. I'd replace the O2 sensor anyways if you find that's not the problem because the gas can damage it. good luck

thowho1985

The spark plugs and the wires were changed like 12,000 miles ago. I just checked them of recent and they were fine.

I have been doing alot of start and stop driving. Drive 1-2 miles turn it off 2-3 times a day. I know when when you do this the emissions controls are on all the time.

oly884

Is it possible that you jumped a tooth on the timing? Also, look for a vaccume line leak. That can also cause an engine to do that.

L33T35T 4Runner

did your smoke have a white color to it? I hope to god not

if you have white smoke, you blew or are leaking at the head gasget. i blew (leaned) mine around 96k... close to yours. I also have a 95 and wasnt covered under the well-known head gasget recall.

Shane

Doubtful. Have you lost any coolant?

thowho1985

no coolant loss. I started it up this morning and it was doing the same thing again. The engine was really shaking. I took it around the block, up to operating temp and the problem got a little better. Under decent acceleration it has a hard time getting up to the higher rpm's. Also, there is a constast click coming from engine? It sounds more than the normal ticking valves the 3.0 has. Could it be the timing? What would it take to adjust that?

thowho1985

there is no white smoke at start up. I don't see any milkshake type of substance under the oil cap either. Is there any other sign of a bad headgaskted?

AgRunner06

To check you timing, first you need a timing light. You can buy one at your auto parts store or probably Wal-Mart. Then you need a paper clip or a piece of wire. Take the wire and jump the TE1 and E1 holes on your diagnostic connector. The diagnostic connector should be located on the passenger side fender by the fuse box. Then start the truck. You should have a couple lights blinking on your gauges, the check engine and OD off lights, if I remember correctly. Then attach the timing light to the battery and the No. 1 spark plug wire. Shine the light down on the crank pulley and you should see the mark on the pully and the marks on you block. The mark on your pulley should line up with the 10. If it doesn't, you can adjust your timing by loosening the bolt on the distributor. Then slowly turn the distributor. You should be able to see the mark move as you turn the distributor. If you can't see the mark or if it is way off something else is wrong. Like maybe your TPS.

Note: Your idle speed will change by adjusting your timing.

This may be a stupid question, but do you have a check engine light?

thowho1985

Not really a stupid question. No it isn't. At start up all the normal start lights come on, but the rear ABS light stays on longer that usual. I know there is a way ti diagnose using these lights, but I cannnot find it in my Hayes manual. I am really leaning towards ERG. How much does that run.