Hello All,
1993 Pickup 4WD 22RE Manual Transmission 142,000 miles
Manual Transmission

For the past 4 months, my check engine has been flashing intermittently while driving. Noticed loss of power when I accelerated once but it never happened again.
Now the flashing comes on more frequently to the point the it keeps flashing when the ignition is ON. When I start the engine it keeps flashing. I jumped E1 & TE1 but no code is ever stored.

Idle is very rough and the car vibrates, although not heavily. I have not had a no-start problem; but when I start the truck, it idles very high and then drops. After the idle drop, the CEL starts flashing. I have done the following so far:

1) Changed fuel filter which was due
2) Changed O2 sensor
3) Changed spark plugs - the wires were changed not too long ago
After the spark plug change, it run very well for a day or two and went back to its nasty self.
4) Changed distributor
5) Changed Air Filter
6) Changed bi-metal VSV
7) Changed engine coolant temp sensor

Any insights, advice or guidance will be deeply appreciated.

Thanks

 

Is there any repair work that was done prior to this condition occurring?
New plugs fixed it for awhile then came back. What do the plugs look like?
Any change in fluid levels, like coolant?

i hope you saved all the parts you took off.

 

Thanks for your response. No repair work was done. The tip of the plugs are slightly black. There is no change in fluid levels. No coolant loss and no overheating. Yeah, I have saved all the parts I replaced. Like you,everything is stock except the BF Goodrich KO 31x10.5R15 tires. And our paint color is the same.

 

Hi All,

Does anyone have any advice or insights to help solve my problem?

Thanks

 

Maybe something in this thread could help...

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/9...-light-140762/

Also just a general net search of "Toyota 4runner flashing check engine light" results include dealer sites with this info...

A flashing light reveals that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of quickly may result in extensive and meaningful damage to the car. If the check engine light in your Toyota 4Runner starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention quickly and your Toyota should be brought in promptly. This blinking light usually signifies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.

 

missing dealer text.

A flashing light reveals that the problem is very serious and it not taken care of quickly may result in extensive and meaningful damage to the car. It the check engine light in your Toyota 4Runner starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention quickly and your Toyota should be brought in promptly. This blinking light usually signifies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system.

 

Thanks Prcnctoyo. I am fully aware of the potential ramifications of a flashing CEL and that's my reason for reaching out to other pickup users who had or are having similar experiences with their 22re engines for insights, advice and suggestions.

 

I certainly didn't mean to offend you with my post. Just thought the link to the yotatech thread in my previous post might be helpful since no one had responded.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/9...62/index2.html

 

Prcnctoyo,

Oh no, I am not offended. If my post insinuated I am offended, please accept my apology. In fact, I am grateful for your response and I appreciate your time.

Cheers,

Agbofortsi

 

I'm not aware of any condition where the CEL flashes without the jumper from TE1 to E1. A regular malfunction just turns the CEL on solid. Then you read the stored code with the jumper method.

The '97 has a completely different ECM (OBD-"2"), so the page cited by prcnctoyo doesn't tell me much.

agbofortsi states that there are never any stored codes, which tells me he knows what codes look like, so I guess what he is seeing without the jumper (or with it) is the the 2 hertz "no codes" signal.

Is it possible that TE1 is just shorted somewhere to E1, so that the CEL is continuously displaying the "no codes" indication?

Here's the section from the FSM: https://web.archive.org/web/20121119...85diagnosi.pdf

 

Scope is right, if a vehicle came in with a flashing MIL we’d assume something had gone wonky with the diagnostic system itself. Some brands had both solid and blinking MIL (Audi for example) but not Toyota. At least not back then.

 

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your inputs. I intend to do the following checks::
1) Misfire test that I pulled from 22RE performance
2) EGR check from 22RE performance
3) Compression test
4) Spark test
5) AFM check
6) Fuel pressure test
7) TPS check

Some of these tests/checks require that the engine is at operating temperature. Is there any harm done when I try to get to operating temp with CEL flashing?

After these tests/checks, I intend to check timing on the engine, adjust valves if necessary and adjust ignition timing to 5 deg BTDC. Just thinking about how I will adjust ignition timing without a timing light.

What are your thoughts?

Cheers

 

Innova 3551 works good for timing, and idle RPM adjustment. $35.89 at Amazon. Bought one back in 2017.



Changed distributor? Did you use the old cap and rotor, or did you install new parts? Weird conditions can happen with bad caps and rotors such as no start, misfire, and just random stuff.

 

Thanks very much Snippits. I will check if I used an old cap. I ordered Innova 5568 for the timing.

 

Hi All,

I have resolved my problem through the following:

1) Replace fuel injectors with OEM injectors from Toyota - very expensive at $167.00 each but worth it.
2) Replaced fuel regulator with OEM from Toyota.
3) Changed half moons under valve with metal ones from 22RE performance. They were leaking.
4) Changed valve cover gasket.
5) Adjusted valves to spec with engine hot.
6) Did compression test:
Cyl 1: 180
Cyl 2: 180
Cyl 3: 182
Cyl 4: 180

My truck is back in business! Next, I will time the ignition to 5 degrees BTDC.

I think the primary culprits are the injectors.

Thanks for your input.

Cheers.

 

By the way, I also tested the AFM using directives from the 93 truck service manual and everything is within specs.

 

Gentemen/Ladies:

I am back again with my woes. My beloved truck is acting up again. Funny thing is I have a 2015 Tacoma Prerunner SR5 with only 28K miles but I don't enjoy driving it as much as my pickup. Well, here is the issue:

I have been having intermittent flashing CEL.
At idle
a) When I start the truck, it runs for a few seconds and the idle drops accompanied by a flashing CEL. It seems to be going into a test mode. When I check the timing it sits at 5 BTDC.
At times, it runs for a while and the flashing CEL goes off.
b) When I jump TE1 and E1, the CEL flashes; but when I unjump the TE1 and E1, the CEL continues flashing.

When driving
CEL flashes intermittently. But at the times, the engine runs so smoothly you will think the engine is brand new. Weird!

Any insights?

 

Guys, I have finally located the source of my problem after changing a billion parts. It's a defective ECU. After I replaced it with a used EOM one from eBay, the CEL has stopped flashing and all's good. Thanks for your input.

 

Glad you got it sorted, sucks the parts cannon had to be fired

 

Thanks a lot, Dicombobulated. Cheers.