OK, there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with the way my truck is driving lately.

My truck is a 98 4Runner, V6, SR5, 2WD, AUTO. I fill her with 91 octane only since I bought it almost 3 years ago. Regular maintenance.

I don't really know how to describe what my truck is doing, but upon acceleration, it feels like it's tugging/pulling/slipping under me. It also makes a nasty sputtering sound for about 3-4 seconds straight. I thought this was only when I accelerated until I felt it again while at just under 2000 rpm on the freeway on the way to work. It didn't do it all the time, just for a few seconds as it "relaxed" at 2k rpm. I know this sounds strange... but it almost seems like that scene in Beverly Hills Cop where Axel puts a banana in the guys' tailpipe. It's not that extreme, but that's what it feels like to me. I checked my pipe and it's clean (I guess). My muffler is only like 2 months old, so I would hope that isn't it. This has been going on for about a week, but today is by far the worse it's been. It's progressing... please help!

 

Sounds similar to a problem I had a few weeks ago. After a day of stuttering under acceleration, the check engine light finally came on. Like yours, mine progressively got worse over the few days before I was able to get it checked, and it really did feel like something was slipping underneath. I had my friend check the code and we figured out that I had a cylinder misfiring and my O2 sensor was going bad. Upon replacing the plugs, we found a nice carbon trail on the outside of the one on the cylinder that was misfiring, which indicated that it had gone bad. We also went ahead and replaced the O2 sensor and fuel filter and my truck has been fine ever since. I'd reccomend checking the plugs and plug wires first. Just my .02 though.

 

I was gonna say plugs or plug wires as well. When's the last time you did PM to it and what was done? It may just be overdue for some little items.

How about the fuel filter as well?

 

Not sure what exactly was done, but I had a buddy of mine overhaul it last Oct. Plugs, wires, belts, etc... some other stuff was done too... I don't remember. The total nut was like $800. So, I would hope that nothing basic would go wrong yet... well, I do hope, then it'd be cheap.

 

My friend at work says it feels like it's misfiring when I took him for a ride in it. He suggested plugs and a tuneup as well.

 

OK, got the diagnosis... mis-fire in cylinder #3. Does anyone know what this entails before I agree to the quote?? So far, they are saying that I need new plugs/wires... this I agree with. However, he is saying that Toyota uses double platinum plugs which run $7-10 each and last 100k miles. As opposed to normal plugs for like $2 each that only last 15K. Is this true? Also, what else SHOULD be done to make this problem go away?

 

OK, here is the quote:

Plugs (Bosch) $59.70
Wire Set (Napa) $84.25
Tax $10.43
Labor $120.00
---------------------
Total $274.38

What do you think... should I do it? They won't let me bring my own parts (of course) since I can get them so much cheaper... but if I say no, I get hit with an $80 diagnostic charge... which will be waived if I do the service with them. I think if anything... if I do this, I should get to choose my plugs. Anyone out there have a recommendation for the BEST plugs for a 98 SR5 2WD? Anyone... help.

 

Yes, the truck uses double electrode (NGK or Denso) plugs, but those should should only be about $3-4 each at the dealer. Same thing with wires, get OEM only. Those are the most likely items causing your misfire. Replace and post back if you still have issues.

 

NOOOOOOOO!

Absolutely no on the plugs! Pay the money and get OEM stuff, you can thank me later.
Tell them you want OEM stuff from the dealer.....they should be able to get it for you.

 

not only that, but the plugs and wires are CHEAPER at the dealer. also, $120 for changing the spark plugs? lol... that takes 30 minutes if you're slow. you can change the wires in another 7-10 min since there's only 3.