Hi,
A weird thing happened to my 1998 runner the other night. When I came to a stop light, the engine just died. There was no shaking or shuddering, the engine just cut off. It started back up no problem, then when I came to the next corner and slowed to a stop, the engine died again. Luckily I was able to make it home trying to avoid any dead stops and slow downs as much as I could. This has never happened before. Here’s some info:
-bought it used w/about 90,000 miles, now has 127,700.
-shortly after buying it, changed everything – all belts and hoses, water pump, changed oil and filter, changed out all trans fluid, fuel filter and air filter.
-kept up with regular maintenance since. never any probs until this.
-Auto transmision 4x4
-Starts fine and all lights work so, I don’t think it’s a battery, alt, or electrical prob.
- when it dies, no CEL light comes on. Hooked up an OBD and there were no codes.
-For the past 2 months have been filling up with Costco gas and Arco gas (two cheapest in the SF bay area) previously filled up w/mostly Shell or Chevron.
My guess is it’s fuel related, maybe the fuel pump.
I did some searching around the forum and decided to clean the MAF since I had never done that yet, and read that a dirty MAF can cause the engine to die. I let it idle in Park for a while and it didn’t die. Then I drove it around the neighborhood for a while – didn’t die at stop signs. I let it idle in front of my house in Drive for 5min – didn’t die, then in Park for 10min – didn’t die. Funny.
I hope it’s the gas and not the fuel pump because I don’t want to change it if I don’t have to. I don’t think it’s the fuel filter because it’s fairly new (toyota filter) w/a little under 40,000 miles on it. There’s about half a tank of Costco gas in it right now.
I’m going to drive to a friend’s house about 20 miles round trip and take it on the freeway and see how it does.
Thanks in advance for any input and sorry for long post,
-Mike-

 

No clue but real quick check all your vacuum lines.

 

Well, I'd bet money it was the IAC... Its a simple task, has been problematic among other 3.4L owners
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f123...ac-pics-92286/

Its located right below the throttle body. Have to unbolt the butterfly valve, and get underneath to access it. Takes a few hours if your slow.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys.
I drove my runner last night and all around today and no problems. I filled her tank up with Unocal 76 gas. the RPMs stayed steady at 6000 at stops and 7000 in park. So far so good. I took her to my mechanic and he wanted to test the fuel pressure but couldn't break the union at the fuel line and didn't want to risk breaking anything so we just left it. we cleaned up the throttle body real good while we were in there.
so, now i think it's ok but i have that uneasy feeling like she could die at any time and i'm always watching the RPMs when i come to a stop.
when i have more time i'm definitely going to try and clean the IAC. it seems easy but quite involved, taking a lot apart.

 

you mean 600-700 right? 6k rpm is a tad high at idle...

 

Oops! yeah that's what I meant, 600 to 700. if my idle was 6000 then it would probably blow up on acceleraton.