Kiroshu

Nice write up and repairs. Interested in results. ^_^

big bear

Well it has improved low-end power, starts great and idles well warm.

Cold start stills sucks, tons of black smoke, getting way to much fuel.

I've replaced the cold start injector (used, but flow tested)

Stills smokes real badly with the CSTS unplugged, as well as with the cold start injector unplugged.

Still has a small backfire decelerating, and going down hill.
Muffler is shot though.

The dashpot has no filter in it, I don't really understand how it works with no type of input, ie. vacuum hoses, electrical.

Kiroshu

Well on the 3VZE there is only a few places excessive fuel can leak into the combustion chamber...

-Cold start fuel injector
-x6 Port Fuel injectors

Coolant Temperature signal...?

Incorrect fuel injectors...?

Cold Start time switch and coolant temp sensors swapped/mix matched...?

Oxygen Sensor Malfunction...?

TNyota

I have a Honda that drove like that, seemed like the harder I wanted it to go the more it slowed down. Turned out to be a collapsed catalytic converter, the back pressure was huge!

big bear

Taking her to the shop Monday the 9th.
She needs to be smogged, so will see what the pro's say what the deal is.

I'll let you know what the problem was.

big bear

The guy I bought it from had been driving it around running on three cylinder for who knows how long, the cat is only a year old, but I'm thinking it's clogged from all the unburnt fuel.

Kiroshu

^--- Very possible.

-Raw fuel entering the Catalyst is definitely a high deteriorating factor.

big bear

Is there anyway for the home mechanic to tell if the cat is bad ?

Kiroshu

A simple Vacuum gauge will tell you.

Attach the Vacuum gauge to suitable manifold Vacuum(VIA a hose/pipe). Start the engine let it reach operating temperature. Monitor the Gauge. Normal engine vacuum at idle speed will be around a stead reading of 17-22 Hg's depending on elevation. Increase rpms to 1500-2000. If vacuum drops near 0 Hg's then you have a restricted exhaust system VIA a Catalytic converter.

big bear

Well gents, I took the Runner into the shop this morning, they called me a little while ago, they say I have a bad injector, it's stuck open.
That sure explains the smoking and miss.

The injectors are new Flame Throwers bought from injectordyne on ebay.

I sent him a message explaining the situation, I'll let you guys know how he's going to handle it when I hear from him, they do have a 100% positive feedback.

big bear

Almost got the plenum off,on break.

This is the second bad new part I've gotten on this rebuild, the first one was a bad coil wire, brand new out of the box.

It was purchased from Rockauto, they didn't even want me to return the wires, and credited my bank account in less than an hour, awesome return.

osv

for the record... if the cat is plugged up, hot exhaust gasses will be backed up in front of it, so when you use a heat gun to measure temps at 2500 rpm, you could see a good 100 degrees hotter in front of the cat than behind it... assuming no exhaust leaks.

I wonder how you troubleshoot a stuck open injector... black smoke in the exhaust? compare heat gun readings at each exhaust outlet in the head? mechanics stethoscope on the injector might be an option, if it's opening and closing it'll be making a clicking noise... no noise, make sure that you have an electrical signal at the injector as well.

big bear

The shop I went this time was Fox Farm Auto Spa, great experience.

When they called and told me the problem I told them I was going to come down and pick up the truck, as I was going to replace the injectors myself, I asked how much do I owe you guys for the diagnosis, they said NOTHING.

Needless to say they have themselves a new customer !!

The estimate to replace the injectors was 4 hours labor, very fair.

So if you're ever in Big Bear and need you vehicle repaired go to Fox Farm Auto Spa !!

osv

that shop sounds awesome!! gotta remember 'em if i'm wheelin' in big bear and I break down.

I wonder what they did to diagnose the problem.

big bear

He said they plugged into their computer, it said it had a bad injector.

big bear

Plenum off, fuel rail off, injectors removed.

Kiroshu

^-- Glad you found your problem.

big bear

I just got off the phone with him, he's going to send another set out today.

big bear

Installed the replacement set of injectors, NO CHANGE in how the engine is running, still way too rich, lots of smoke.

I'm very frustrated, ready to torch this f***ing runner.

Tested the set of injectors I took out, hooked the leads from my multi-meter to the battery (which was removed from the truck) then touched the probes to the injectors terminals, they all go click, click, click.

What if the regulator is letting too much pressure through (not tested) could that be keeping the injectors from closing all the way ?

ECU malfunction ?

No check engine light.

Let me hear your thoughts, no matter if they're off-the-wall or not.

Thanks again guys.

osv

so it probably wasn't the injectors... you could measure the fuel pressure with a gauge... excessive fuel pressure won't hold the injectors open, but if it's too high it'll send more fuel in when the injectors are opened... 3vze is a narrow-band O2 sensor? can a narrow-band sensor compensate for that situation as well as a wide-band O2 sensor can?

on a 22re, I think that the afm can be adjusted to richen the fuel mixture over the entire operating range of the engine... so i'm wondering of there is an afm problem on your 3vze that is doing the same thing? you should be able to check the afm with a multimeter.

black smoke is gas, blue smoke is oil, white smoke indicates moisture...