85_yota

I have been having an issue with power loss.

1994 4Runner 3.0 5spd

2nd block, 3rd set of HG on this block

I installed rebuild heads (last set had a burned exhaust valve, and got very bad gas mileage). Installed a new timing belt, all other gaskets, installed header wrap on the crossover pipe.

When everything was finished started right up but died and something was dripping from the intake and exhaust pipe.

I pulled the intake and there was fuel in it and it had filled the entire lower half of the tube, it was also dripping out of the tailpipe. I installed the return line on the wrong vac line. Fixed that.

Then I was able to test drive it. It was very slow. I checked the valve timing and it was way off. reinstalled the belt and spun it around two times and it was fine. Then again took it out and the same thing. no power.

Again took of the belt and inspected the tensioner, it was bad. replaced that. After install the valve timing is on and not a factor.

took it for a drive, better but now it takes forever to reach hwy speed, and after a 10 minute drive the cat was GLOWING RED. I pulled the catalytic converter and with a very bright flashlight on the other side I can only see a very small spec of light.

I tested the TPS and it is in spec...

Tonight I am going to try and drive it with out the front o2 hooked up and see if it changes it.

sorry for the long post but I wanted to include everything to try and get this solved.

Thanks

Fink

Sounds like your cat is clogged to me...

Fink

vital22re

iTrader: (2)

if a cat glows red like that, thats usually a good sign its clogged. Headgasket failure tends to take out cats and 02 sensors.

1990yota-pickup

you got a pipe cutter or a sawzall .. they make easy work of exausht pipe

Fink

Biggest bummer for you is that you're in Cali so you are going to need to come up with a permanent solution, but you can get a cheap Carsound/Magnaflow cat on eBay for $60.

Fink

1990yota-pickup

just gutt the cat and put it back up there....

85_yota

update

last night I punched a few holes in the cat to see if it would change it. It changed a little. I then unplugged the front o2 sensor, and it got a little better. next was the cold start injector, after that was unplugged this little v6 woke up and ran great!!!

The reason we unplugged the cold start injector is when I pulled over to see if the cat was glowing, the manifolds were cherry red. So I think the injector was leaking causing the flooding like symptoms.

So this morning I bashed out the rest of the crap inside the cat, fixed the broken exhaust bolt and we will see how she drives to work.

Thanks guys for the input!!

Fink

Nice work man!

Let us know.

Fink

1990yota-pickup

u going to run it down the road with a bunch of holes in the cat..

you will the sound of a high preformance fart can exhaust but have a stock looking exhaust.

85_yota

Its better, but not much. Before I left to go home I plugged the front o2 back in and it made no change.....

It is very strange sometimes it runs very strong with a quick throttle response and will get out of its own way in a hurry. Then there are other times in the same drive with no changes it runs like crap and boggs out with no power and damn scary to try and get on the freeway.

I kinda have a gut feeling it might be the TPS? no idea at this point. I guess I could recheck the valve timing for the 8th time.

Any ideas?

Last night I put some holes thru the mesh/honeycomb on the inside to clear the blockage. This morning I just finished the job... yes it sounds like crap. A new cat is coming very soon.

norcal707

it sounds to me to be the tps.....check the ohms on it and adjust it if you need to.

85_yota

I did test it but has any one seen a intermittent probably with them?

85_yota

Another update.

A few times yesterday it was having problems getting up to like 25-30mph taking a long time to get up to speed.

on the way home it was not as bad but when I parked the headers were glowing red.

I took off the black cover to the MAF and watched the needle while revving it making sure it worked. i turned the truck off and turned the key to the on position and turned the needle by hand.

With the key on and the truck not running are the injectors supposed to squirt when turning the MAF needle????

Thanks for the help guys!

1990yota-pickup

did u do a compresson check

bliponscreen

85 Yota, did you ever find the cause of your trouble? Mine is acting very similar to what you described and I'm hoping get some ideas about where to start looking.

85_yota

Yes I did, It was the AFM I found a used one on eBay for about 60 bucks. Make sure you get the same part number thats in yours.

I also got a new cat installed, Just a heads up the direct replacement from magna flow does not fit. It was about 3 inch's to short. I had to get there universal replacement

Hope that helps

bliponscreen

That helps a lot. Thanks! Because there are so many acronyms in car parts, I want to make sure you're talking about the Air Flow Meter?

85_yota

correct

Kalihi,HI

Aloha from Hawaii, I am the proud owner of a 3.0 4x4 manual pick up and have been dealing wih a few issues, most recently I just noticed my catalytic converter was glowing red hot after driving only 30 minutes. I have never experienced this problem before. My truck has been running fine with no check engine light on. I do know I have a misfire in cylinder 2 (all cylinders checked out fine for compression test, but #2 leaked for leak-down test) would that cause the cat to clog up and thus glow? Obviously the glowing indicates I need to replace/fix it...what would possibly cause this? Thank you for any help.

RJR

If a cylinder is misfiring, that will inject unburned fuel into the exhaust stream. The catalytic converter will do its best to burn it before it goes out in the exhaust, creating a lot of heat and a glowing converter. That does not mean the cat is plugged or defective, just that it is working harder than it was designed to. However, eventually the excess heat will damage it.

The important first step is to fix the misfire problem.