1992 4runner with 3.0 automatic 4wd. If it's been sitting over night it takes a couple times of cranking to get it running. I'll turn the key and it'll run for a second then die, but the second or third time it stays running. If it push the gas pedal slightly it'll crank first time usually. Sometimes when I'm driving I'll be holding constant speed and the motor will bog down and loss power and speed. The other day I was coming off the interstate on an exit ramp and the rpms dropped I had to hold my foot on the gas to keep it running at a stop then it eventually cleared up. Does this sound like a fuel pump or something else?

 

What kind of gas mileage do you get? Check engine light on? If you turn the ignition switch to run (on) you should hear the fuel pump buzz for about 20 seconds. Have a friend turn the key on without cranking and listen by the gas tank or take the gas cap off and listen for the buzzing there. Have your friend repeat it a couple times if you need to. No buzzing means the pump isn't turning on with the key when it should be.

Also, check your connectors in the engine bay especially the air flow meter and throttle position connectors. While you're at it thoroughly inspect the air intake hose. Mine split right at the throttle body underneath the rubber hose. Caused a lot of trouble and weird running issues.

 

My mileage is around 11-12 mostly highway driving with 35s last summer I was getting around 15-16 so it's dropped slightly. I'll check to see if the fuel pump comes on immediately with the key, I've used the jumper wire trick and made it come on so I know it's still pumping just not sure how strong I'll need to find a gauge to test my fuel pressure. The afm connections are clean I checked it recently. I'll check the tps I need to test it anyway to see if it's out of spec. The air intake hose is new along with vacuum lines

 

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I started to loose power in 5th gear when my headgasket blew.

 

I suspected that also and had it checked out the shop said it was all good in that area

 

Bump.

 

How's the fuel pump?

 

I haven't had time to get a pressure gauge yet but I think that's the problem it seems to run better with a full tank

 

How about turning on with the key? Also, could be plugged up fuel filter. If you're planning on changing that out I'd recommend you start with the penetrating oil now and make sure you have a flare nut wrench for the front side.

 

My filter is a few months old I'll check it this weekend. So far every time I had someone turn the key the pump came on with it. I'll check it out more this weekend

 

Have you changed your fuel filter recently? If not, that would be my very first guess as to what is causing your problems.

To correct the information posted above, the fuel pump in these trucks does NOT run when you turn the ignition to "on" (as is the case with most other cars I have worked on). The fuel pump does not kick on until you put the ignition into "start". The correct procedure is to check with the jumper wire, which it sounds like you did.

If the fuel filter is good, there is a chance that the "filter sock" on the pump is completely plugged up. The good news for you is that I believe you can easily access the fuel pump through a port under the rear seat of the 4-runner. On the trucks you have to take the whole bed off. If changing the fuel filter does not fix your problem, you may want to take a look at the pump sock.

Judging by the post you put up while I was typing, it looks like you might be delving into the tank itself to check out that pump sock soon.

 

I don't think you can pull the pump through the access panel that's only for the hard fuel line. I'll have to drop the tank so if I do that I'll just replace the pump

 

Good catch and right you are. Ran out to my own 4runner to verify.

How about the check engine light or stored codes? You can have codes without the light being on. If the battery has been disconnected since the last time you drove it there probably won't be any codes.

 

No cel but I'll pull the codes and see if any are stored

 

Ok I checked the fuel pressure, while running it was at 39psi but once I turned off the engine it climbed to 45psi. Should it go up like that once the engine is off? I thought it went down

 

So temperate seems to play apart in my problem. If the weather is above 60 or so it has no problem starting just whenever it cools off some it gets hard to start

 

It would not explain the near stall you described, but have you checked to see if your Cold Start Injector is working?

 

I've cleaned it but haven't pulled it and cranked to see if it squirted

 

I had similar issues with bogging down and loss of power and a weird powerband when my alternator got wet and subsequently died. Its free to check at autozone.