I have a 2004 Toyota highlander AWD 3.3 V6 104000 miles and I started having sluggish performace and then started popping misfire codes on cylinder 3 and random misfires,

I would clear codes and they woud not come back until I floored it in passing gear, so even with very sluggish take off at rolling stops I dont pop a code, just at full speed and shifting in to passing gear.

I am confused on why it is so sluggish? it is like you floor it and the cable isnt even moving the throttle, then it slowly kicks in, in normal conditions going down the road it runs fine until you have to throttle up from a rolling stop or slow down for traffic.
Piston Heads please help?

 

when was the highlander tuned up? New plugs, wires, etc...

 

We just bought it a month ago from toyota dealer, I trust the dealers about like our politicans, but I really dont think the plugs have been changed or the timing belt, I am planning on doing my own service on it, but while I am in there I would like to know if my problem is in this direction or not, because I would think I would be poping code sooner than i do for the way it is running, I did read the VSC system reduces power from the engine if it detects slipage, and the Highlander has coil packs no wires.

 

you said you are getting misfire codes. In most cases i find its worn out plugs. Sometimes the coil packs go back so you may try swapping the coil to a diff cylinder and see if it follows the coil.

 

That was my 1st thoughts but then I got to doubting myself as I should be poping code earlier than I do, I would think as soon as it runs sluggish the comupter would pop code,unless the computer is compensating or confused at take off, and at higher RPMs the computer cant compensate any further then pops code.

 

Welcome to YT!

I moved this thread to the Newbie Tech Section as we try and keep the Introduction section as free of tech questions as possible.

Good luck with the Highlander!

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