As I was going up a slight incline I started to loose power, pulled over and noticed it was running REALLY rough. Feels and sounds like the timing is off. So I've been leaking coolant for awhile so i figured it made the belt slip. Thinking that the belt just jumped a tooth I proceeded to take the dust cover off and it looks normal to me, like the timing is just advanced.

I really need to get back on the road soon (4 hrs left) and I am trying to figure what is wrong. Please help! Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated.

Sorry for the bad quality as I don't have my camera.

Right cam timing marks

 

LEFT cam timing marks

 

Above and right of waterpump

 

slightly to the left of the fan bracket

 

Above and slightly left of water pump.

 

Also I checked the cap and rotor and that's normal.

If it still leaks I don't care, I'll take care of that this coming weekend, I just need it to run normal.

 

After spending awhile thinking and searching I realized the the cams are out of whack.

How can I fix this without putting a whole new belt on?

Also The leak looks like its from BEHIND the water pump.

Behind here there's a pool of coolant. No lines are loose but I wonder if the water pump isn't really bad.

 

Damn. well I dont know how to help you but I am in Edwardsville right now and if you are broke down I might be able to help if needed. I live in East Alton so and time you need like a tow or wanna go offroading im always up for it ok? just message me some time. If you want you can have my number to. but thats your choice. Just trying to help out.

 

Thanks man. But I'm way up in Iowa, 77 miles west of Davenport. trying to make it back to college. Nice to know someone else who has a 4Runner! Are you going to SIUe as well?

 

No i havent started college yet. Lol. but im sorry dude. If you were near here hell within about 100 miles i would help you but im sorry dude your a little far for me. And yea I got a 99 4runner. I'm always up here though. and I work at Pasta house here so if you ever see me wave some time haha.

 

nothing

 

nothing

 

nothing

 

nothing

 

Just wanted to update in case anyone has the same problem.

The idler pulley was loose, and the tension of the timing belt pushed it up, tearing the gasket. They also used Black RTV. I cleaned the mating parts with a chisel, WD40 and a towel. Applied some RTV specially formulated for contact with coolant.

If someone was to attempt this, and they had parts, you might as well change your timing belt, all that was left to do was remove the No.2 Timing Belt Cover, and crankshaft pulley. Mine looked pretty good, and was genuine Toyota as with the waterpump. Also, very important, you will need a 3/8" U-Joint, and 12 MM socket. I had to hitchhike to get to civilization (aka NAPA), to get the U-Joint, and some good gasket stuff.

Took a hell of a lot longer then it should have, due to the mis diagnosis. I ended up getting back to college at 3 AM tuesday morning

 

Damn dude that sucks...At least you made it back.

 

Yea it was my fault for not fixing it earlier. I thught it was the tensioner, but it was just the coolant leaking that made the belt skip.