Gatorgrl's Grand Gen2 4Runner makeover

Well she is still going in to limp mode after about 40 minutes of driving. We are now suspecting the power brake booster might have a small leak that is causing the system to lose vacuum, thus putting it in limp mode. UGH! I really really hate replacing power brake boosters. I cursed the last one I did and vowed never to do another one. He unplugged the EGR when it when into limp mode and nothing changed, so that obviously isn't it. He did notice though that he lost the brake pedal when in this mode.

 

Can’t wait for ya to get this issue sorted and hear that new motor purr like a kitten

 

You and me both!

 

Well hurry up and get
To work hahah

 

Well called in sick to work today so I could work some more on my Runner. Today we are fabricating mounting arms for the floorboards I took off my Rav that I want to now put on the Runner. They were useless on the Rav because it sits so low to the ground and I need them in the Runner because it sits so high. Of course the mounts are no where near the same, so fabrication is a foot.

 

Still working on finding the source of the intermittent limp mode issue and trying to resolve the tire issue. I found one guy about 4 hrs north of me that has (1) KO in my size for sale that I might take a day trip to go get, if it's still available. Otherwise we might just buy (2) BFG KO2's and put them on the back, turn the good KO into the spare and call it a day.
Looked at a new brake booster and they are smoking crack. Not paying $1200 for a new booster, especially after all the $$ I have already spent on this ride. I have 4 working days left then this $$ gravy train will come to an abrupt halt! All my travel $$ has been funneled into this damned ride and it's making me a bit grumpy.

 

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Not me, said the flea.

 

So, not I said thy

 

And it's not the power brake booster. He took it out yesterday and when it switched to limp mode, he disconnected and blocked the brake booster and it didn't change anything. No codes are being thrown either.
The only way he has found to get it out of limp mode is if he is driving and he feels it switching and slowing down, he turns the ignition off and restarts it, then it runs normally.

WTF?
This is not normal.
I want my Runner running normally, is that too much to ask?

 

Well it looks like we will be replacing the new condition tires because one of them is broken on the inside and we can't find a replacement anymore. The date is 2014, but they are in remarkable condition. AARRGGHH!




See? no cracking or dry rot and there are still knobbies on the tires for Christ's sake! Just galls me to have to replace something in such good condition. Would feel better about it if they were toast. Such a waste.

 

I had to replace a practically brand new Blizzak snow tire on my IS300 because the tire shop destroyed the bead mounting it to my rims one Winter. Of course I couldn't prove that they damaged it so there was $250 down the drain. sucks to replace something that otherwise looks like it's in great condition but better to be safe than sorry.

 

Exactly, but what sucks ass is i have to replace all 5! Only one is broken, but since they don't make these anymore and I refuse to have 3 alike and one different, then they all must be replaced. And our spare is original to the car so it's 28 years old....time to go.

 

Have ordered her a new Throttle Position Sensor since the current one is still missing occasionally with its sweep. Hopefully this will correct it's issue.

 

Sweet haul!!! Every time I got to a pick and pull. I grab a ton of fuses, relays, and wiring pigtails. You never know when depinning one to fix your harness or needing one to splice in will be needed.

 

Well we put in the new and properly adjusted TPS and it ran better but is still stuttering a bit between 2200 to 2800rpm. Will look at the AFM next.

 

That’s a start but damn I wish that thing was fixed already. Can’t wait for that stupid stutter to be gone

 

Well all I can say is with each replacement and fix, she is getting better. We will test the Mass Air Flow meter today and see if that is the culprit. I kinda hope it's not because I can't find a new OEM one anywhere on the net. Will have to go bend over Toyotas parts counter and take another one for the team.....unless it is also made out of unobtanium.

 

Patience is growing very thin. Was driving it up to the shop to tighten up the new exhaust and she went into limp mode several times. If we had cliffs down here in SWFL, we would have driven it off of one.

 

We attempted to pull the codes and all it did was steadily blink repeatedly with no break in pattern. WTF?

 

ECM is also not saving codes like it is supposed to.

 

Maybe the computers been part of the problem

 

Me thinks you might be right. Just shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Almost considered taking it to Toyota, but I am already in so deep with it now I can't justify the ass raping they will do.

 

Maybe you could find someone local to swap with and see if that fixes the issue

 

Following this post even if I'm a 5th gen. Just great to see a good old wrenching thread.

 

By any chance, did you weld on it without removing the ground off the battery?

 

EGR?

 

I assure you "we" didn't but I have no idea what the Previous Owner (PO) might have done. He was an automotive painter, not a mechanic. We have spent far too much and too long on this project already. I retire next Saturday and we are supposed to be hitting the road dragging this behind our big ole bus...but can't leave till we get it figured out.

 

ERG is good. He even disconnected it and it still acted funny. TPS is new and properly adjusted. Fuel pump is great. AFM was pinned and is reading as it should. The fact that he is able to shut the engine off, while we are driving and turn it back on and that seems to clear the limp mode, leads me to believe it is the ECM. Plus the ECM is not storing the codes as it should.

 

Any chance you can snatch up a new ecm at that pick n pull you’re always going to?