Thinking about junking my 4 Runner now that it has a misfire cyl 1 :(

98 4 Runner SR 5 315k miles.
Just picked up a misfire in cylinder 1.
Bought new coil packs, still misfiring.
Spark plugs only have about 1000 miles on them.
Fuel filter only has about 1000 miles on it.
I really don't want to buy injectors and try to do the job myself for it to not work.
I tried disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes to reset ECU, didn't work.

Before this is started and ran fine, starts with a screwdriver and has a slow battery drain but otherwise runs.

Thoughts?
Other than cleaning the MAF, any other cheap/free fixed I can try?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

 

starts with a screw driver?

Might have to do a compression test.

What does the spark plug look like in cylinder #1?

Hire a good mechanic to check it out and fix it!

Wow KV... that's a lot of miles.. Congrats.

So it's cylinder #1 misfires?

Let us know how you fix it. I bought a good scan tool that would show misfires - but haven't used it.

IF IT's like Al 2000 4runner poster below... you NEED just one FUEL INJECTOR perhaps ($20)..

These are the injectors for my 2005 SR5 4runner

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Petro...5------------&vehicleName=2005+Toyota+4Runner

2.7L (your 4runner) are $49 for 4 injectors.

https://www.amazon.com/YYCOLTD-2325...r+2.7L+SR5&qid=1570755914&s=automotive&sr=1-4

OR THESE

https://www.amazon.com/Injectors-23...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

MIGHT BE THESE (1998 4runner)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TJM4V8...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==


I had three F225 Yamaha 4 strokes that I ran around 800 hours and 12 years - with different issues.

Spark plugs over 50 hours old are not reliable in marine Yamahas - and I kept getting a "bog down" at 5000 RPMs on different engines- BUT, after cleaning the plugs with Draino (or replacing with new plugs) - I would get 5800 RPMs again - like your are supposed to get on these engines. Yamaha says SPs are good for 100 hours but that's a lot of hooie..

I haven't tried this with my 2005 4runner (150,000 miles), but I certainly would try it if I got in a pinch finding new ones. I've got iridium in there now - from Dec 2018 - I think.

6 Fuel injectors rebuilt like the poster below (Al 2000 4runner) got rid of a "miss" I was having with the Yamahas. Sent the old ones back for rebuilding too.

 

The metal in the lock cylinder, from 20 years of starting, fatigued so much it broke. So I literally unplugged the plastic part that gets turned to start it, replaced it for like 20 bucks and I just turn it with a screwdriver.

With this many miles I dont want to put a lot of money in to fix it. I was ok spending 40 bucks on new coil packs because it needed them anyway but to do expensive fixed I dont want to do that. 1st gear slips every so slightly too now.

 

I took them all out a few days ago and they all look what you would expect I suppose, although Cylinder #3 was a little oily on the threads. Nothing on Cylinder 1 that looks troublesome.

 

Flush the transmission and then see what codes you're getting. Maybe the head gasket?

Actually, you should also check your crank cog woodruff key.

 

How does the transmission impact Cylinder 1? I ask because I checked my tranny fluid when cold and it was way over the line so I had to drain some. Im curious to know because Ive been doing drains and fills on the tranny fluid recently.

And I never heard of the cog woodruff key.

 

You check tranny fluid with the vehicle running and warmed up.

 

So then what's the cold line for on the dipstick? Not being a jerk, I just thought I could check while warm and cold.

 

I have no idea. I’ve always checked them warmed up and running. Was taught that was the proper way. I guess I’d follow the manual and whatever it says.

 

Mentioned the transmission slipped?

The timing cog is what turns the timing belt. It has a little metal key that keeps it locked in position on the crankshaft.

IF a gap wears on the cog, it can allow the timing to get funky here and there. Basically instead of being fixed the cog can wiggle a bit. You could tell by trying to turn the cog, it should be impossible to turn it without turning the drive shaft. If it has any play, it needs to be replaced.

 

Have you used fuel injector cleaner? Try lucas. its cheap and it works. Plus its the only one that treats a large gas tank like the 4runner has.

Try putting battery electrical grease (you can get this at autozone) on the top area of each sparkplug. This will ensure you have a perfect electrical connection between the spark plug and the coil pack.

if you still have problems....

You may have gotten a bad coil pack out of the box and ended up with the same problem(it happens and can make troubleshooting hell). If you have the originals you can try swapping them around just to see if it fixes the problem. If you can put a scanner on it it will tell you which cylinder is misfiring making swapping old parts to test easier.

 

Thanks for the info - I tried swapping coil packs and spark plugs to no avail, still have a cylinder 1 misfire. Ive actually used injector cleaner probably 3 times over the last 8 tankfuls, the Lucas kind.

 

My 2004 runner had a misfire checked everything like you did turned out to be bad injector changed all of them Got them from moto west in LA 60$a piece send back old ones and they give you 60 bucks back . My Four runner Runs great now did the work myself after watching Timmy the tool guy on u tube he shows you step by step how to do it check him out good luck

 

Wow KV... that's a lot of miles..315,000

Congrats.

So it's a cylinder #1 misfire?

Let us know how you fix it. I bought a good scan tool for under $200 that would show misfires - but haven't used it.

IF IT's like Al 2000 4runner poster right above... you NEED just one FUEL INJECTOR perhaps ($20)..

These are the injectors for my 2005 SR5 4runner - $20 each at Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Petro...5------------&vehicleName=2005+Toyota+4Runner

2.7L (your 4runner) are $49 for 4 injectors.

https://www.amazon.com/YYCOLTD-2325...r+2.7L+SR5&qid=1570755914&s=automotive&sr=1-4

MIGHT BE THESE (1998 4runner)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TJM4V8...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Congrats Al 2000 4runner TOO!!!!!

 

Thanks all for the info. I didnt want to do an injector job so I got rid of it. It was sad. Now whenever I see a new 4Runner Off Road or Pro I look longingly.

I also looked into the cylinders and saw a lot of oil on #5.

 

I know it's too late to do anything about your old 4R but, I also had a '98 Limited with 275,000 mi. and it threw a misfire in #3 code. I helped a mechanic friend of mine determine that, after a comp. check and bore scope camera look-see that the exhaust valve in that cylinder was starting to sink back into the head. The "fix" would be to buy new heads at $1,200 ea. That's a bare head, no valves, guides, springs, or cam.
It didn't take long to find a dealer to take it in trade and buy a new vehicle.