The Ghost - terrorizing our 4Runner for the past year

Hey folks, new here...thanks for having me

I won't lie...I probably won't be of much use, as I am not that handy beyond very basic car mechanics , but hopefully someone out there can still help me

So, as the title suggest, for the past year, a "ghost" has plagued our 2000 4Runner. Let me explain a little more...

Whenever we drive for 3+ hours (and we live in Costa Rica, so it's hot), if we turn off the car, then before it can cool completely, we turn it back on, it won't accelerate. It will turn on just fine, go a few (sometimes hundred), meters then, for all I press on the gas, no more gas is going to the engine.

It doesn't happen 100% of the time, but pretty close to: a good 80% of the time, we know that if we go on a longer trip, and stop (say to fill up with gas, or the cooler with beer) and turn off the car, the ghost is likely to strike.

To "kill" the ghost, I usually turn the car off. Wait a minute or 2, then turn it back on. Sometimes it starts going again without further issue right away. Sometimes I have to repeat the process a few times. But eventually we're always back on our way (never been stranded). However, i'd like to be ghost-free if possible of course.

I had the throttle replaced some time back (with a used one). We've had the injectors cleaned or replaced if needed. Regular maintenance.

It's hard for my local mechanic to troubleshoot, as I would have to take him on a long road trip for him to actually see the issue (and I'm not ready for that kind of commitment just yet ;-)

If anyone has any ideas, please share. I had a video, but of course, when I go to post this I can no longer find it

Thank you in advance!

 

Maybe a bad fuel regulator? It's getting heat soaked by the engine and failing. When cool\cold it works again.

 

Hey Negsum, I appreciate the suggestion. I see they're about $15 new on Amazon...probably worth the switch to see. It may end up having to be some trial and error with a few different parts unfortunately, so other suggestions more than welcomed!

 

I never buy car parts from Amazon anymore. Too many fakes. I'd check a dealer's price.

 

Solid...will do. Appreciate all the feedback i can get! Thank you!