Hey what's up, FNG here, my first post. 1985 4runner 230k I was driving on the highway last night, had been on the road about 20 minutes without any problems, but just as I was heading up a long inclining stretch called Sunset Hill I felt a hesitation and began to lose acceleration, like it was starving for fuel. I went to 4th, 3rd, then 2nd gear searching for any kind of acceleration and got nothing more than a few spirts, then she sputtered out and I steered it over to the side of the highway and called in a tow. After doing some reading here I gather that I should replace the fuel filter first, then if need be, look into replacing the fuel pump. Sound about the right way to attack the problem to all you? I dug up a few posts about what a pain it is to change the fuel filter, and wonder if any one has figured the easiest way to get at, and possibly an overall of how to mod. mount it in an easier spot...


Thanks

Trevor FNG

 

Not to be a jerk but how positive on fuel level are you? And then yes, look at fuel filter and pump next

 

how did it run with out being in gear

 

ditto-- fuel filter

 

could it possibly be your fuel gauge and it just doesn't have fuel? If it just completely died all of a sudden i wouldn't think its the filter; i would think it would make it progressively run worse and worse if the filter was getting clogged. My guess would be pump or just plain ol out of gas....

 

Are you running a 22r or 22re? If 22r I have a good fuel pump at the house that I will sell you for dirt cheap. (I made the mistake of replacing parts instead of using my head and replaced fuel pump and fuel filter when my actual problem was some moron forgot to install the cam lobe that drives the fuel pump - that moron being myself )

If it's a carb, just turn the engine over with spark coil disconnected and see if gas sprays out of the fuel pump. Best to use a buddy with something absorbent against the line as gas will spray out! There's a picture of the gas output line in this thread if you look:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f198/navyrednecks-1985-pickup-build-up-thread-107890/

Oh, and my fuel filter is just below the fill connection. Very easy to get to unlike my 94 4runner. Compare a 3 minute job to a 6 hour evolution that fianlly required me to talk my wife into crawling under the 4runner so she could tighten fittings while I held the gas lines in place!

 

This is great, I appreciate the hints and opinions here... I can't get to it until Saturday, but I'm taking all of your advice to heart -- another unfortunate detail revealed to me by the previous owner -- there's an unmatched tire in the rear and I had been driving in 4wheel -- should this be taken into account? What's the damage...

 

WHy were you driving in 4 wheel on the highway? I wouldnt drive in 4 wheel on the highway at all, especially, not with a mismatch tire, but this doesnt sound like that, no.

 

In a hurry, had been on a trail earlier and forgot to throw her back into 2w -- regardless it's good to hear my focus should be else where...

 

You ran out of gas!

Seriously, the first thing I would try is dumping some gas in it and then move from there if it doesn't start.

Rob

 

with the mismatched tire, it wouldn't cause it to die like that, it would damage diffs, t-case and tranny.

 

So as it stands now I know I'll at least be replacing the fuel filter on Saturday morning, even if somehow I ran out of gas (if the fuel guage failed) -- and if that's not the solution I'll going at the fuel pump. Is it true you can tell if the fuel pump is working just by putting your ear to the backseat floor panel and listening for it to start humming while a buddy turns the ignition key? -- Man, sure pays to work within a two-minute walk from my house, but I miss this ride on the road -- best I've ever driven... Thanks again to all that've chimed in with ideas, salute!

 

If you just turn the key to the ON position (before cranking) and walk back toward the fuel pump you should be able to hear it.

Rob

 

Fuel pump will not normally be running with the key in the ON position (and the engine off), unless you install the fuel pump test jumper:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#FuelPump

 

Really? I can hear a high-pitched whine from the rear right before cranking. What is the noise I'm hearing?

Rob

 

You might have the jumper installed or your AFM Fc contact may be closed all the time. I know on my '85, there is no fuel pressure until you turn the key to Start (I have a fuel pressure gauge on the dash).

 

I think you two are talking about the same position of the key using different terms. The fuel system should prime when turned to the position the key rests in after you crank and start the vehicle.

 

I think this is correct.

Make sure your truck has gas first.
Then I'd check to make sure fuel and spark are getting to the motor.

 

Yeah that's the position I'm talking about. But Ron is saying that you shouldn't hear it in that position with the engine off unless it's jumped.

Rob

 

Well after all it was the fuel pump. PITA the whole way through. Accessed the fuel filter by removing the rubber wall inside the front right wheel well - why in hell would anyone want to remove the starter to get at this thing -- fuel pump was a different story, got to it via the access panel under the right rear seat and found the cap pretty rusted (guess when water gets up in there it is doesn't go anywhere and will just sit and rust everything out) had to be pretty delicate there, one wrong move and snap you're in the junk yard -- finally got the fuel pump up and replaced it and started her up -- at that moment found that I had ruptured a fuel line and went to five different parts stores looking for lines with that particular metric fitting and ended up having to pull the metric fittings off and put them on a custom fuel line of one 40" and one 50" 5/16" steel line with a compression fitting in the middle. Took me about 7 or 8 hours and missed Easter dinner, but I'm back on the road. Thanks to everyone who lent advice - great bunch on this site. Salute.