I just installed a Ford relay into my 90 4runner with a V6 and now she is running so bad I got a check engine light.

So here is what I did- added in new relay
wired in solenoid wire to S on ford relay
added the new battery wire into the system.

She starts great! But now i have a truck that is running like absolute crap! So much so the check engine light has come on. I rebuilt this engine and NEVER got a check engine light before.

I am going to check and see if I knocked something loose during the install now but I was more curious as to see if anyone else has encountered this.

 

What do you expect adding a Ford part to a Toyota. You're lucky the truck hasn't slapped you silly.lol

 

Yep, Ford relays are standard and Toyota relays are metric. You'll have to add a metric converter to the Ford relay.

 

Well, OP, you're getting some smart-alec answers which aren't helping you much, but part of the reason for that is you haven't given us a clue where you hooked up the relay or what it's supposed to do or replace. Starter relay, EFI relay, ADD relay, AC relay, horn relay, headlight relay?...we've got nothing to go on.

Give us some details about what you were trying to do, what the relay is for, etc., and we may be able to answer more intelligently instead of just making wisecracks.

 

Be nice to know like Ron said just what you are trying to do .

Without knowing we have no idea how to help.

Ford relay just what do you mean there are several different kinds they use??

I have to think you broke or disconnected something in your work.

 

Run the code and see if it isn't just coincidence that these two issues didn't just happen. I am assuming you run a relay for an electric fan? You will need to jumper TE1 and E1 and see what your code is. You may have just forgotten to hook up your TPS or AFM connection while adding the relay or something similar to that.

 

I installed a ford starter relay. Removing the ignition switch to the starter and letting the relay turn the starter on.

As far was what happened.....I have NO idea! I went to get the codes, nothing!

I started her up and she ran perfect! Gremlin in the system I am pretty sure will come back to bite me!

 

If you disconnected the battery, sometimes it'll run rough while the computer gets things up and running again. Triggering a cel is not typical though.

 

There are a couple of codes that will light the CEL but are not stored in memory, one of them being lack of a starter signal during cranking. Your relay wiring job might have changed something there such that the ECM isn't getting that signal. That shouldn't make it run poorly, however. Dntsdad may be correct in explaining the initial poor running being caused by the ECM regrouping after the battery was disconnected.

The other possible malfunction which doesn't store a code is 53, "knock control malfunction". This is different than code 52, "no signal from knock sensor", which is stored. Either one can cause poor running because the ECM severely retards timing to save the engine if the knock control system isn't working.