I have a 93 SR5 4X4 with the 3.0V6 and 252,000 on it. It dosent run well, diesels, idles rough and dosent seem like it's firing on all cylinders. I replaced all plugs, wires, cap, rotor, it's getting spark, fuel and unrestricted air. It wont run at all with the timing advanced at all, runs better with it all the way retarded, but still is off. I've eleminated just about everyting but the timing chain/belt or whatever it has in it. Is there any special tools needed to replace/fix that or can it be done with simple hand tools.

 

moved to newbie tech, you had this in the 84-85 folder...

You can download the Factory service manual using the link in my signature

 

search and your answers will come into the light. But seriously you have a belt and look around there are many threads dedicated to 3.0 timing belt change. Might be part of your problem but you never know. try searching for 3.0 issues and see what your motor is telling you. Might be a simple fix if the belt has been done recently. Research my friend!

 

So you've drove in the dirt as far as you can, now you want to repair it but don't have a lot of money and have zero experience working on engines?

Am I close?


"dosent seem like it's firing on all cylinders"

Harbor Freight, compression tester. http://www.harborfreight.com/compres...kit-66216.html

"It wont run at all with the timing advanced at all, runs better with it all the way retarded,"

So, I'm assuming that when it does run, it runs fine?

Set the timing PER the FSM or a Chiltons manual. But, "runs better with it all the way retarded"


... Have you ever taken the distributor out?


I'm gonna leave the chain part alone


"Is there any special tools needed to replace/fix that or can it be done with simple hand tools."


None that won't be outlined in the timing belt removal and installation section of a Chiltons or FSM.



EDIT: N00b MUST READ! And take heed

This is not the kind of job you wanna keep doing, so most ppl that get this info do it right and for the long haul.

You are well advised to replace the Timing belt, water pump and TB tensioner with FACTORY, OEM parts.

You wanna be cheap and save a dime? Don't come crying to us when you have to do the job prematurely again b/c of cheap inferior parts.

Remember this, there are NO higher quality parts than those your truck came with, factory. Failure to replace quality parts on your quality 4WD will result in it having to be serviced more regularly.

It's a matter of fact salvage OEM parts are higher quality than after market suppliers.

 

I just bought the truck accually. $1500. for it. that was a steal where I'm at given the condition. Yeah, I havent been able to get a manual yet, that and a Compression test was the next step. I've been working lots of overtime so I dont have much time for research. Im also kind of seeing if there is anything else that it might be before I start tearing into it.
It ran like crap with timing all the way retarded, it could barely hold an idle, diesel'ed, knocked and hesitated. It coudnt get above 60 in 5th when I pulled out on the highway and quickly lost power untill the point where I barely maintain 30mph in 2nd. I'd let of the gas for a few seconds and it would regain a little more power but it would quickly fade when I got back on the gas again.
I'd pull a spark plug wire from the distributer one at a time and #1 and #3 wouldnt make a difference in the way the motor idled at all where the others would.
Now it wont run, It lost power when I was driving, acted like I just shut the key off and wont start back up again. When it's cranking it acts like one cylinder is premature sparking.
The distributer has not been out yet.