nrgetic99

My 98 Ltd has 140k on it.

Under load, typically at wide throttle openings, I am getting Ping or pre-ignition. Its very consistent and noticeable, to me at least.

This can really only be due to ignition timing, poor fuel quality or a heavily coked top end.

I am pretty sure the ignition timing is set and not adjustable by me so unless I have bad crank sensor, its fixed.

Anyone else experience this ??

Thanks

David

mt_goat

Have you tried a higher octane grade to see if it helps?

ARB1977

If you need higher octane that generally means your pistons maybe caked with carbon which will increase compresson.

mokai

Try Chevron fuel..Toyota recommends it highly..I had that prob before getting S/C'ed and using Chevron fixed it..I was using bargain fuel..Also maybe a fuel system cleaner would help..

LuminoZ

just a question... how many miles do you have on your plugs?

UNR.Grad

I get the same thing, especially right around 3200 when it is about to up shift. I cringe every time I hear it. I only use chevron gas, but maybe if a run a few things of techron through the tank it would help. Also my plugs are very old, I haven't gotten around to changing them, would that affect it?

AppleJack

My '99 does the same thing and as far as I can tell there is nothing that I can do about it. I've tried premium gas, cleaned the system, new fuel filter, new plugs, gave her the Seafoam treatment, and it still pings. I have noticed that it pings most in hot weather. I don't really have the problem in winter. So I bought and amp and sub and just turn my stereo up so I can't hear it. I hate that sound!

excableguy

That's odd--within the last week or so I have had 2 instances where I get a big loss of power followed by what sounds like a lot of pinging. It kinda sounds like a little diesel or what a car would sound like using leaded gas! I took the go-or-blow approach, and it seemed to get past it, but I would love to know what is causing it--I've had ZERO problems out of my runner up until now.

excableguy

Anyone checked with toyota mdt tech? From the older posts I've read he's pretty slick--I might PM him about this and see if he has dealt with it.

nrgetic99

Thanks all.

I am going to do all the normal stuff this weekend. I will check my plugs but I have less than 12k on them.

I do believe its a combination of gas quality (MTBE in summer) and a coked top end. I do run a fuel cleaner every 3000.

I will then run mid grade for a tank and see what happens, however, that will just confirm that either the top end is coked or the timing is out.

In a pinch, I could try running a cooler plug but with all the city driving I do, fouling is a real possibility.

David

mjwalfredo

Giving coke to your runner cannot be good... Seriously though, nobody has mentioned cracked/bad ignition wires. That can sometimes be a problem around the mileage you are at David.

AppleJack

Let us know if you find a cure, sounds like a pretty common ailment.
I have a friend who had an '05 Taco and it was plagued with the "ping". He took it to the dealer service shop a number of times but nothing ever worked. They even replaced the fuel pump. He decided to trade in for an '07 and has had no ping problem with this one. I guess some have it and some don't.

excableguy

Is it intermittent with you guys, or is it all the time? The times mine has done it has been from out of nowhere, and only lasts momentarily. I noticed that the first time it happened to me it was 90+ degrees, and that my 4runner had gotten the hottest I had ever seen it just a few minutes prior from sitting and idling for 20+ minutes in a parking lot. Then it acted up on my wife yesterday...