This spring while driving my 4runner between where I live and town, about 45 miles, about 65 mph the truck would started jerk/pop/hesitate. So all I needed to do was just back off the throttle just a bit and it drove fine. As the summer went on the problem started to get worse and happen closer from home. At its worse it would not even idle well or die at an idle and when I rev'ed the motor when not in gear it would pop and backfire. I replaced the cap and rotor and got no change. I also checked the muffler because it sounded like it was plugging up, but removing it made no change. So it sat all summer long. So now I am looking at it again cause of hunting season. After a jump start I drove it around. I got to the main road ok, no problem. Then after hitting about 40-50 mph it started the hesitating/sounding like a backfire again. So I limped it back home, no matter what gear, speed or RPM, the problem did not go away. Got it back in the yard and it started to seem ok again. Went on a test drive again and got the same thing. Only thing different this time around as to last spring is it seems to run fine at an idle and so long as it is not in gear I can rev it up and no problem. So something has changed and I have no idea where to even start to look for a problem. I don't understand why I can start up and have it run fine and rev it up to 4K, but get out on the road have start to have problems.

 

is the check engine light on?

i would also check the fuel pump/filter.

 

No check engine, except when it dies from poor idle. Will have a go at a fuel problem, but I think the filter was change out. The 4runner was given to me.

 

I had a similar problem my choke was sticking closed at random times , is it 22r or re , if you have carb spray all linkages with carb cleaner . GOOD LUCK

 

I would check the fuel filter, when they sit for a while the filters catch any crap in the tank. If it is Carb'd the filters are cheap and can be changed in minutes.

 

It is fuel injected. I have the filter now. Just need some time to put it on. Right in the middle of deer hunting. Picked up a manual too. Fuel injected is the re type, correct?

 

yes...

 

OK, replaced the fuel filter. Seems to run better at top speed, has more power and idles better, but still have the same problem. The filter looked like the original toy filter, at least it had a toy label on it and the bolts were rusty. Either way it was probably time replace it. It is still popping and hesitating, but higher speeds. Also still seems to have more trouble up hill than down. Fuel pump next? BTW, the 4runner has 167,000 miles on it. I am going to try to set the timing and and check the plugs too.

Also, this many mean nothing but seems like the colder it gets the the better it will run. It did sit over the summer at the warmest, but that was when it was having the most problems and ran the most. Till this fall and today after the replacing the filter was even cooler. Could there be some relation?

Loved the Chilton manual, not. It gave illustrations of the filter only and did not say where it was even located. Good thing I cruised this board or I would have never found it. Love the pics with the guy holding a big ol torque wrench like the truck was not in the way or anything. Read another thread about the starter being a great place for the bolts and he was right. Ended up dropping the bottom one taking it out and the top one reinstalling it. Good thing I was able to get my fingers in there.

Anyway, I don't know about other toy trucks, but if I had known before hand I would have relocated the filter with a generic filter on the inside fender wall. There was more than enough room, just would have needed a little extra gas line, steel tubing, and some clamps. I live 45 miles out of town, so it was just faster this time around to reinstall the replacement. I would recommend one of those with a removable glass bowl. It would be a real pain if you are out in the sticks and needed to check it or clean it.

 

im having the same problems with my 85 runner, although i cant get mine to start at the moment. i think i have fuel pump issues.

please post if you fix the "herky,jerky" hesitation, or what helps.

 

Had similar problem with 87 4runner the strainer in the gas tank on the fuel pump was clogged.