The ol' Yota is getting expensive lately. Two months ago it was the Ignitor and Knock Sensor. It's been running rough on cold starts for about a month now, and the check engine light has come on a few times -- then gone off. My mechanic ran the codes and says the O2 sensor is bad (replaced it back in 2004). Ouch. The trials and travails of keeping an old truck? I've been wanting to buy new tires, but these repairs are sapping the 4Runner funds. I hope this is it for a while.

I'm not griping -- just looking to commiserate, I guess.

 

50 miles, and the Check Engine light is back on.

 

did you replace that O2 yet?

If not it might be the same light.
Vehicles break when they get older, just something you have to deal with.

 

O2 sensors are a replacement part like spark plugs.
Your ROI, return on investment, is pretty good on both those.
Your truck will run better w/ new ones. As long is everything else is good.
Just remember to disconnect battery when changing O2 so the computer resets.

 

gotta think, if the 02 sensor went bad that quickly, maybe your problem lies somewhere else in your emissions system.

 

Did you replace the 02 sensor with a Denso? Very reasonable for sparkplugs.com. I'm pretty sure mine was around $70.

If you good with wiring and your connector is good you can get it a whole lot cheaper there also by buying one with pig tails only.

 

Return on investment? It only lasted 50 miles! ha ha

I think I'm going to drive it a few days. I need my truck, and it seems to be running okay for now.

 

It only last 50 miles?

I think you need a new cat converter along with that O2 sensor.

 

what about taking a look at the egr system? maybe thats posing a problem?

 

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I used to know how to do stuff to my cars waaaay back before computers and sensors and stuff. These things go bad, and I feel like I'm at the mercy of the "technicians." Sometimes they diagnose things right, sometimes not.

My truck was idling rough, especially at start-up. Not so bad once things warmed up, but still noticeable. When the check engine light came on, they ran the codes and said it was the O2 sensor. They said that a bad one could account for the rough idle. So, I told them to go ahead and replace it. (The truck was tuned last year, and has been getting great gas mileage.)

Got it back, and it still seemed to idle rough, but no light . . at least for a couple of days. Today, after driving it about 25 miles, the light came on. Of course, they want me to bring it back in so they can check it out, but I need it for at least a few days. Told them I'll get it to them when I can. The thing is, I have next to zero confidence in them correctly diagnosing it, and fixing it. I'm asking around, maybe I'll try a different shop.

 

You may want to check for vacuum leaks. I had the check engine light come on once (and I mean only one time in 23 years) and it decoded out to be the O2 sensor. I found a vacuum hose hanging off the BVSV, plugged it in, and the light went off. Just a thought.

 

There's something else goin on if it only lasted 50 miles.
Is it still clean other than slight exhaust residue?
Or is it coated w/ oil or other residue?

BTW- my parts store hooked me up w/ new O2 for less than 70$.
How about this price? It's universal, meaning you have to splice/reuse the old connector.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OXYGE...mZ330091046236

Yota Tony-
"I think you need a new cat converter along with that O2 sensor."

Probably not since his truck has O2 sensor, in front of cat. It should just start to run for crap, to much backpressure, if the cat plugs up.

 

Thanks, 84 and schralper. I will check those out.

 

Didn't know that.

 

It happened. Temp guage went up, and she started running really rough.

Blown head gasket. It made it for 156,000 miles.

I gave my mechanic the green light to repair it. Anything I should tell him to do/look at while he's at it?

 

I made it to 153K and some change. Got it fixed then found YT. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

Thanks. I have high hopes that once this is fixed she'll be good to go for a while.

 

I sure it will be

 

My 95 made it to 156 as well, fixed it and now at 160k it runs great

 

I've searched through a lot of head gasket threads, but still am wondering if I should tell my mechanic to look at/do anything while it's apart?