1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

High Idle after Valve Cover Gasket change

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by treyus30, Jan 14, 2021.

  1. Jan 14, 2021 at 2:20 PM
    #1
    treyus30

    treyus30 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2020
    Member:
    #18312
    Messages:
    123
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trey
    Vehicle:
    '99 Limited & '99 Tacoma PreRunner
    I quadruple checked connectors and hoses, but still could have missed something. Only other thing I can think is that I clogged something in the throttle body when I sprayed some cleaner in.

    In Park its at 1500, in Drive 1000. Normally 1500 is normal when its cold, but it didn't fix itself later. And actually when it was cold it was normal...its backwards

    Any suggestions?
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2021
  2. Jan 14, 2021 at 9:13 PM
    #2
    Clutchplate

    Clutchplate New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2020
    Member:
    #13982
    Messages:
    73
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    96 4runner 3.4 Liter
    Sometimes it takes a while for the computer to readjust itself after cleaning the throttle body. Drive it for a couple days and report back.
     
  3. Jan 15, 2021 at 7:00 AM
    #3
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,095
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    Did you use new plenum gaskets? They can't (shouldn't) be reused.

    Also, like was said, high idle is normal if the ECU has been disconnected for a good while. It will relearn.

    I put in an entirely new Throttle Body and it took about 30 minutes of idle and driving around for it to get back to its correct idle. Now it's perfect.
     
  4. Jan 15, 2021 at 10:19 AM
    #4
    treyus30

    treyus30 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2020
    Member:
    #18312
    Messages:
    123
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trey
    Vehicle:
    '99 Limited & '99 Tacoma PreRunner
    No they were recently replaced, look new. And I've not replaced the ones on my tacoma before, which are old and crusty, and it never had this problem.

    And same on the ECU. The ECU "relearns" timing and fuel trim; I don't know what it does in relation to the IAC, but I've never had a battery reset do this. Guess I'll just keep driving for now.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2021
  5. Jan 15, 2021 at 12:33 PM
    #5
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,095
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    I would drive it for a bit. If it persists, do the carb cleaner trick and spray around the vacuum lines and plenum and see if the idle changes due to a vacuum leak.

    But you're right, low idle at cold then switching to high idle is kind of backwards. I would suspect the IAC or the MAF or the TPS I guess. When's the last time the TB was cleaned thoroughly? I know I was not able to clean mine properly unless I removed it from the car. 250k miles of neglect and it had a ton of gunk. Enough gunk that just cleaning it on the car would have probably blocked some of the small airways.

    I ultimately replaced the entire thing and it fixed my idle problems (which included low idle and surging). But on my car, it is a different setup. There is no IAC and the TPS wasn't sold anywhere at the time. The TB was a complete, "unserviceable" unit which had the TPS, Pedal Position Sensor plus motors for adjusting the throttle all included.
     
  6. Jan 15, 2021 at 1:28 PM
    #6
    treyus30

    treyus30 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2020
    Member:
    #18312
    Messages:
    123
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trey
    Vehicle:
    '99 Limited & '99 Tacoma PreRunner
    I actually replaced the TPS and purposefully neglected to clean the throttle body at the time, ironically because I thought it might cause a new problem. MAF was cleaned though.

    If it progresses I will just remove the whole thing and give it a good scrub.

    One other notable is that when I took off the air intake for this job, I noticed the tube for the IAC was disconnected. I kinda figured I nudged it out on the way, but maybe I'll see what disconnecting it does..though no idea why that would work.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top