Charecter1

Hey guys, Here with another problem with the 3.0 It's a 1993 auto with 214k on the clock. So Yesterday I was just driving around in it and I was at operating temperature and I had it sitting running in the parking lot for about 3 minutes in park. The idle randomly got really low and it sounded like it was about to die so I shut it off. I then drove it down the road and it died on me after I let off the gas but it took like 5 seconds to die after letting off the gas. It wouldn't immediately stall and when it did, it wouldn't sputter or anything, it would just kill itself. I could start it right back up but then if I got to a stop light, the jeep would stall on me again after I let off the gas for a little bit. I ended up getting it home by keeping my foot on the gas every time I came to a stop. I know it's either fuel, gas or spark but I need some help. It has a new fuel pump but I'm leaning more towards a bad air idle control.

rworegon

All vacuum hoses attached and in good shape? Dirty air filter?

Team420

Vacuum leak

Janos01

Dirty throttle body can also cause this along with what rworegon & Team420 stated as well.

Charecter1

I have not checked the vacuum lines yet, I'll have to throw a tester on it and see if I do later today.

Charecter1

Okay so I hooked up a vacuum gauge and at idle, the needle was steady at about 15 inches of mercury which is pretty low, it would kind o fluctuate between 12 and 15 every time the Rpms got lower. When I blipped the throttle, the reading would go straight to zero and go back to th steady idle of about 15 inches of mercury.

oldblue

low steady vacuum can mean a vacuum leak, or a worn engine. with the engine running you can spray brake clean around the intake and hoses to check for a leak, just keep it away from the distributor (boom). compression check will verify if its mechanical engine problem. but as already stated, i would pull the boot off the throttle body and see if it needs cleaning.

Team420

Make sure the intake tube isnt cracked... They are notorious for it, and will cause issues.

Charecter1

So I ended up taking it into my trusted mechanic and he told me it has a large vacuum leak on the intake manifold and some vacuum lines were pretty much trash. He charged me 350 to do all of it so hopefully it works

Charecter1

Okay so it was the intake manifold gasket. Thanks for all your help guys. But now I have a short somewhere. When I press the brake pedal, my fuel gauge and my oil pressure gauge move all over the place and as soon as I let off the gas, they go back to normal.

Rhalejr

Charecter1
I realize I'm replying almost 10 years later, but I believe my '92 3VZE runner is behaving exactly the same way. Did you work out your stalling problem? & How? Thanks in advance if you are still active. Rhalejr

Glad to join 2nd Generation forum, and could use some expertise in diagnosing an 3vz-e engine problem. I just had a shop rebuild my engine in Jan. 2023, in lieu or replacing the head gaskets for the 4TH time, (496,000 miles), considering a complete head vat, grind, surface & deck was required. Included, all parts OEM from YotaShop.com : NEW pistons, rings, freeze plugs, multi- gasket, O-ring, seal sets, head gaskets & bolts, valve covers, timing belt, water pump, thermostat, pulleys, tensioner, oil pump, fuel pump, fuel filter, salvaged fuel tank, fuel damper assembly, muffler, air filter, distributor, plugs, plug wires, throttle body air intake hose, battery, bearing sets, thrust washers, vacuum hoses, break-in oil/filter change, etc, etc, good- tested alternator, empty CAT in-place in lieu of a new straight pipe replacement

My 4ruuner starts, idles, and runs fine, BUT after running and warming up - engine starts sputtering and stalls upon braking to a stop, or making a slow 90* turn. I can quickly shift to neutral, & give it excessive throttle, and it starts right up and runs as long as I give it excessive throttle, including when I have to brake to a full stop. Prior to this behavior, for several months, it's 'Check Engine' light came on while driving a few times-But not every time, but after turning engine off and restarting - NO 'Check Engine' light, and didn't start stalling until now.

What could be it's problem? What to consider is the cause? Any input would be appreciated. Bobby