On my way home the engine felt like it was missing a little, still producing power just didn't feel "right", then went away. Drove some more down the highway, then started missing again.

It feels similar to the other day when I pulled a spark plug to check how its condition and forgot to put the plug wire back on...oops.

It feels to me like an ignition problem, recently got the vehicle and haven't replaced the plugs, wires, cap and rotor...etc.

Any thoughts on what it could be?

 

First thing to do would be to replace the plugs, wires, cap and rotor. This will give you a better idea how it runs and the piece of mind that all is new.

If you want to check it first, start the engine and with a good insulated glove, pull the plug wires individually and see if the engine idle changes.

When the idle does not change, it means you found the cylinder that is causing trouble...

I will make a guess and say #6 cylinder(drivers side rear) is the problem.

 

definitely will try that tomorrow evening with plugs, cap, rotor, and wires.

Hopefully that will solve it, it seems weird that it went away for a while, then came back.

Has anyone had that happen with the parts mentioned above going bad?

 

My truck had a bad problem of fouling the plug on #6 cylinder.

I got used to carrying a set of plugs and the proper wrenches to change the plug when this would happen.

I usually only got a few thousand miles and then I would get that miss at cruising speeds.

Sometimes the miss would go away after starting, but in a few days, it would come back and stay.....

Just look at your plugs and see what the condition of them are. The one that is fouled will be the offending cylinder...

 

Gotcha, thats what it started doing today at cruise it seemed like it would miss say twice in a minute. Then when I got to slower speeds/lower gear it seemed like it was continually doing it. Luckily I was close to home so I didn't have to continue driving it without a little diagnosis. Sound similar to what yours would do?

 

Tune-up first(Plugs, wires, Distributor Cap, Rotor button). Air filter dirty? Main Intake Hose leaking?

 

Air filter is really dirty right now, did 100+ miles on dirt today.

Some jackass before I bought it put a K&N Cold air intake on it, so its a metal tube/pipe.

Response?

 

Well the only issue with the Cold air intake on the 3VZ-E is cold mornings. They don't run too well until warmed up with it. Atleast from my exp with the hand full of 3.0's i've had. Dirty air filter is never good it should always be clean for good air flow to the cylinders.

 

So i just took the air filter off to clean it, drying as we speak.

I decided to look at/clean the mass air flow sensor/air flow meter, pulled the two screws off, pulled it out about a 1/4" and noticed it wasn't what i'm used to seeing. Put it back in.

Now, starting the engine then giving throttle, there is a small lag....I messed up didn't I?

Did i break the AFM?

 

if you tried to take it apart...yep, you prolly messed it up...... I did the exact same thing forst time I messed with one...luckily for me, I found one for $20, at the local bone yard.

 

Not ever good to disasseble the AFM(Air Flow meter) Its never good to clean the sensor part of it either(the little black nipple hanging from top). Now cleaning the "flapper" door and the joints is ok but anything else no.... Those are they type of device you never ever touch. If it acts up its time for replacement... You prob are going to have to get another one now....

 

I took apart the AFM today, turns out i broke two soldered contacts off of two of the contacts. Took them off, tested resistance at all points and was within range. Put it back on the 4runner and it works fine. The soldered pieces inside there, does anyone know why they are soldered on when they're not needed to function correctly?

 

Also bought cap, rotor, plugs, and wires today. Still need to put those on. Probably tomorrow.