Hey all!

Longtime lurker here from when I had my first 4Runner 11 year ago. I never failed to get good information here so my question is pretty simple.

I'm about to replace my injectors on my 3.4 after getting the P0301 code. I did all the (diagnostic, swapping, metering, eliminating bad wires, plugs, ignitors, etc... that everyone else has done in any forum search I've done)....... so I've determined a bad injector. I decided to replace all of them since my rig has 270K on it. It doesn't look like that big a deal since I've checked out the excellent write-ups here and on other Toyota forums.

I'm just wondering if it's absolutely necessary to separate both injector rails from the crossover pipe at the front of the motor to remove the rails? The write-up I saw here showed it being moved enough in one piece to get access to the one injector but it wasn't completely removed. I'm asking this because I found a pretty recent YouTube video detailing injector replacement on this motor but they separate the rails. I don't want to do this since I don't feel like trying to track down the crush washers that act as gaskets on the bolts that hold the two rails together. It looks like I can pull it all out together as long as I undo the fuel line going to the pressure regulator. Has anyone done it this way?

BTW, here's that link to the YouTube video
Thanks!
Ron

 

I happen to have that gasket number if you do end up wanting them:
Fuel pipe gasket (metal) 6 total 90430-12026
https://toyota-usa.epc-data.com/4run...e/2211/23803D/

Since mine was on the dining room table as part of a larger job I took pics...
fuel rail unbolted and sitting alone (pressure regulator removed for replacement)


and gratuitous pic

 

I replaced all 6 injectors on mine this spring without cracking open those fuel rail joints. I just unbolted both sides, wiggled/twisted all 6 injectors to break the stiction, and pulled it straight up. I forget if I even took off either of the fuel lines leading to it. You don't need much clearance to pull the injectors out.

The big mistake I made was buying a set of 6 'brand new' 'OEM' 'Denso' (should have been a red flag, that's the wrong brand, lol) injectors on eBay for about $240. There are even cheaper sets of 'new' injectors, but they're clearly repros/knockoffs. These really looked genuine, up close and in person. Other than a skinny red o-ring seal. And some sketchy incorrect packaging (seller claimed they 'buy them in bulk' and have to package them up. hah. Anyhow, I put them in and the car proceeded to run poorly. It would run 'ok' once started, a slightly uneven idle. But cold starts were hard, warm starts were hard, lots of cranking (5 seconds or more). I put up with it for about 3 days before I went by a PnP junkyard and picked up a set of actual genuine injectors. And the eBay seller agreed to accept a return and full refund in exchange for no review.

 

Thanks! The "naked" pic of the rails sitting on the intake manifold tells me all I need to know.