Today i got in my truck to go to school and it started really rough and continued to run really rough after it warmed up. It acted like it was running on three cylinders. but not like it did when i blew the head gasket. I think it is a spark plug or a plug wire but i think i need a more educated opinon. It is a 87 4runner sr5 with a 22re motor. any help would be greatly appecitated.

 

Well the easy and obvious question if you thought it might be plugs, did you check each pluge wire and make sure it was snug both at the motor and at the distributor?

What exactly was it doing? Did you have any clues before this something was off key, or was it just suddenly?

 

Timing Belt (a tooth or two off)
Rotor (worn)
Cap (worn)
Ignition Coil (sparks too weak)
Ignition Moudule (sending poorly to coil)
Plugs and/or wires (fouled or loose)

I don't know much about the 4-bangers but i just went through this drama with my V6, total cost, $860, good luck.

 

Check engine light?

I'd start with a timing light and then move to the typical tune-up stuff.

Good Luck

 

I had it diagnosed yesterday and it turned out to be that damn head gasket again. I checked all the plugs and wires and they all were working fine so i had it compression tested and found out that the gaskets shot again. This time im going to have the head milled and make sure that its straight cus it has to be warped, this will be my second gasket in three months and im getting tired of changing it. Oh well at least i get to drive my granma's big brown '83 custom chevy van. its a beast. thanks for the help anyway. :cry:

 

Was there a issue with the 22r motor headgasket? I'm too familiar with the V6 recall & "issues" but I was unaware of any widespread 4banger problems. A fluke maybe?