Ok so I was driving around today in my 86 4runner 22re (brand new motor, new spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, alt, starter, clutch, etc) that has over 1k miles on it since everything has been replaced. When suddenly I lost a significant amount of engine power and the engine started running very rough.

It basically ran and drove like when you get water in your distributor.

This is the first time this has happened.

Not the Afm (checked with spare)

Not water anywhere

Not a head gasket (checked compression)

Runs perfectly smooth when initially started especially when cold then starts running like crap after about 30sec or so.

Idles way too low once it starts running rough

Idles perfect initially

Timing is correct

Does not sound like a vacuum leak especially since it runs perfect initially

Anyone got any ideas? I'm so royally pissed off at this freaking pos that I'm ready to freak out and go postal. I've replaced so much on this 4unner yet it still manages to spawn issues at random. Now I'm back to driving my lowered 93' "project" that some how keeps managing to be my daily driver since sold my car to get this 4runner.......%$*!

 

Pulled the engine code which is number 6

 

Check the injector ground wires that get bolted to where the 2 halves of intake mani connect. They are red and go to a crimped ring connector.

 

code 6 for the 86 22re means the ECU did not get the NE signal. possible causes are pick-up coil in distributor, igniter, ECU or wiring. Since the engine does start, I'd rule out the pick-up coil and wiring between that coil and the igniter. That leaves the igniter itself, the ECU or the wiring between the igniter and ECU. So first check the connetors to the igniter (on top / near the coil) for any loose connections, corrosion, etc. and check for continuity between those wires and the ECU plugs. If those are all okay, then that leaves you with the igniter or ECU. Hopefully you know someone with a similar setup to your truck or the local wrecking yard will let you test out parts before you buy.

 

My only issue with it being a ignitor or the distributor is that it runs fine initially...also when an ignitor goes it usually just goes it doesn't just slowly die/semi work...

so distributor is my best guess

SOB I hate replacing constantly

 

where is the engine revolution sensor on these trucks? Is it built into the dist?

 

thanks to whoever changed the title by the way

 

already told you it's not likely the distributor since it starts and runs.
the igniter will take the signal from the distributor and start the engine with it so that's not a real point of failure, but after the engine is running, the igniter feeds the signal to the ecu and the ecu feeds back to the igniter and adjusts the timing appropriately.

 

so ignitor huh ok

 

i have a problem like this but it is backwards it starts and runs great idleing, when i go to step on it when it is cold it hesitates and then goes. and other times i could have the truck getting up to speed and it is not running right after it hits a certain point it lets out all the power and you can feel it. i have new plugs, filter distributer, mass air flow sensor, i have no clue what it is and it is really starting to make me mad. the engine is a v6 3.0 sr5 pick up thanks

 

Fuel filter?
Or vacuum leak?

 

I've got the exact same problem in my 95 3.0 I'm looking at it tomarro and will report my findings if i can figure it out.

 

I had this same issue on my 3.0 come to find out the spark plugs were working themselves loose. Only happened while driving at a higher rpm (highway). changed to some copper gaskets and shes fixed.

 

i changed the fuel filter last week and checkd for a vaccum leak and there was nothing. someone told me it could be the cold start injector or sensor. thanks for the help and keep me informed thanks

 

As it turns out a spark plug wire of mine was touching the egr? valve, which got hot, burnt the insulation off my new ngk wires, and was shorting out the wire. Got it put together with a better way of wiring (aka not touching the egr valve) and it smoothed it back out. I hope this helps

*did also fix a vacuum hose that needed fixin, but i don't think that helped much...

 

when i smell the exuast it smells like unburnt gas so maybe an oxygen sensor any help would be greatly apprecitated

 

there is a small spring powered (valve?) that pushes up ever so slightly on the throttle cable where it mounts to the throttle body. I'm only mentioning this because this happened to me today - the stupid pos is bolted to the TB by two very tiny bolts (my guess is 4mil). If, like mine, one of those has broken and the spring has slipped - then she'll be running rich as hell and very rough. Just a thought. I'll probably need to tack weld mine by together since the aluminum mount broke, but I'd thought I'd chime in for anyone else who may encounter this in the future.

 

also I should add I mentioned this because while I was initially diagnosing internal mechanics and wiring - it made sense for my issue to be an air/fuel problem