Hey guys, first time post on here.
I have a 1996 Toyota Surf, which is the New Zealand version of the 4runner. It has the 3rzfe in it and is auto. Most 4x4's over here are diesels so its bit of an oddball for here.
So I've had the car for a few years, but its always been gutless as hell, I've replaced the head (Blew a headgasket and the old head was warped), checked the spark gaps, replaced the HT leads (it's the dizzy version of the 3rzfe), and checked the compression which seems all good, and changed the fuel filter.

I was playing around with the vacuum lines and when I disconnect the line that goes from the throttle body to the VSV on top of the charcoal cannister the revs pick up at idle, I took it for a drive with this line disconnected and it was a lot more responsive and felt like it had a bit more pep. Upon further investigation I see that the 3 vacuum line adapters that come from the throttle body (to the left of the line that goes to the VSV) are capped off, and I can't seem to find the EGR vacuum modulator, google pics tell me these capped off lines would normally go to the EGR vacuum modulator.

Does anyone know if any of the 3RZFE's came standard without this EGR vacuum modulator?
It seems to me that someone has done a partial removal of the EGR system, I would have thought you would have to take off the VSV/charcoal cannister aswell?
What would be the reason for the engine being more responsive when I disconnect the vacuum line from the throttle body to the VSV?

Hope someone can make sense of all this, this EGR is a bit over my head, and I apologise if I'm using the wrong terminology.

I'd love to get this thing going well, cause its a tidy vehicle, but the lack of power is tempting to trade it in. Everything I read says the 3RZFE is a great engine and good for towing, but its not the case with mine!

 

So after a bit more research I've realised I'm way off.. It's a jap import so don't think it has an EGR system fitted.
What I thought was the VSV valve is actually the evap purge solenoid.
I've tested that, and its shut wit no voltage, when I apply 12v it opens.
However doesn't seem to open when the engine gets up to temp, as i think it should.
Does anyone think it could be the ECT sensor causing my issues??

There's no check engine light on.

 

I looked up the Jdm versions and you're right they in fact do not have egr systems fitted. I never knew that.

Not sure if yours will have the VSV, if its not equipped with the egr valve. However, the attached picture shows the one that uses those capped vacuum lines. There are three total, two on the charcoal canister, the third in between the plenum and intake runners.

The ECT sensor is located right behind the cylinder head and firewall closer to the exhaust side. If it isn't reading operating temp or is out of spec the ecu will force the engine to run bad (rich i believe, not sure though).