Retire my 2002 4-Runner??

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I just pissed away 3.5k for a new steering rack and PS pump*

*Bay Area labor is expensive.

 

What if it's not the coils? Then what?

P0303 definition: Cylinder 3 misfire detected
P0306 definition: Cylinder 6 misfire detected
P0420 definition: Low catalyst system efficiency

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT P0420 YET! Fix the misfire first. P0420 may go away after you get it fixed.

You can see that 3 and 6 are on the same Coil Pack. It indeed appears that Coil Pack 3 may need to be replaced. Again, I would replace with a TOYOTA pack only.

It COULD be a break in the wire from the ECU too. Wires are cheap to fix.

I would still swap the coil packs and see if the misfire moves to be 100% sure. If it doesn't move, it's not the coil pack.

 

Oh and you do NOT have an O2 sensor. You have an AF (Air Fuel) sensor. They switched somewhere in late 2000. You can call the dealer and they can check your VIN and tell you. Every auto parts store will sell you an O2 sensor that won't work.

 

Don't I feel silly. Listen to @negusm for these repairs. I forgot all about the 3.4L only having 3 coil packs.

 

For what it's worth...if it makes feel more confident with your decision to repair your baby, consider this:
Add up all the $$ you will probably have to put out to get her right, and then ask yourself what you could buy with that amount in the current economy that would be even close to your Runner. I think you are going in the right direction. JMO.
I wish you good luck. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Good info!

 

AMAZING INFO. I didn't realize there was a second page on this thread until now. So I have come back on here and boned up. Thank you.
I am not going to lie it took me a hot minute to figure out the code reader thingie but I got there. I had the air hood off, disconnected ignition coil harness (i have discovered its called) and changed coil 3 and then i lost my confidence and was worried I wouldn't be able to put it all back together but I did but when I started her she was still running rough. So i thought about what you guys said about spark plugs and those wires and one of them looked REALLY DODGY like it had rubbed it was a slightly different color and could have even be an original wire (I am not her original owner) so long story short I have gone HOG WILD and ordered 3 wires and 6 spark plugs. I am so into it. And I didn't go to NAPA i ordered them from Frontier Toyota and they are going to arrive in 2027. I get them on Friday. I will need to borrow more tools than my one little wrench that is not a problem.
I am glad that I have made the decision to keep Big Red and I look forward to the day i can go back to driving her like my hair is on fire.

 

FFS LandCruiser I didn't need to hear that but also I am very sorry you had to stump up like that -sucks

 

weed from the devil's garden ? eek-a-monga!.....

 

Post pictures of what you find. Especially that dodgy wire and the spark plugs you pull.

 

Update: So I wasn't sure if you guys could soldier on with your week without knowing the latest on Big Red.
The spark plugs and wires arrived (apparently "overnight" is open to interpretation) and at around 3pm yesterday the heavens parted, the angels sang and Big Red came back to life OH HECK YES SHE DID purring like a kitten i tell you.
It only took me about 15 minutes to change the spark plugs and the wires JUST KIDDING. I know you guys were rooting for me and you really gave me the confidence to at least attempt it (which is appreciated by me and all womenkind that there are men out there who want to help women with car stuff without patronizing us and Negusm will be receiving his baby-angel wings shortly) but it was just a bit beyond my skills. I thought i would strip the plugs or not do the right amount of torque when i put them back in or all these other ghastly things. I found a friend of a friend who is a retired mechanic who might not be able to pick up a wrench when he drops it but this man knows his way round an engine block. Thank you George. I watched him very closely so I reckon I could probably manage to change spark plugs now and wires
THANK YOU FRIENDS!

 

Really good to hear you got er done, kudos.

 

Nice! Please... may I request you post pictures OF THE OLD PLUGS! I want to see the tips and how bad they were compared to the new ones.

Did you find any issue with the wire between 3 and 6? Pink wire in the picture above?

It sounds like the plugs and wires were maybe original?

And you didn't replace the coil pack(s), right?

 

Very nice Emma, so glad you got help, and the needed parts to get it purring.

 

I WAS chasing a misfire. I just spent thousands on my 2000 4Runner Limited 4x4 with rear diff lock at one of our Toyota Stores replacing the top end, New factory heads (old one were cracked after magnafluxing) new head gaskets (one was blown which caused misfire when cold) and I still wouldn't trade mine off for a new one.
I work for a dealer group in technology, cars are way too complex and chips make critical parts hard to obtain. I'll keep my rust free damage free example and am putting new leather on the front seats next week.