runs good in park and neutral, like crap in drive

[blondejoncherokee]

i have an 86 runner with the auto
it runs great in park and neutral.
it idles like crap in drive and wants to die and run like crap.
totally runs like hell until it hits higher rpms, then it runs fine at higher rpms.
also, it wont shift through the gears on its own, so you gotta start in low, then 2, then d, but it almost seems like it wont start in first.


like the bands or something?
or the solenoid?
or could it be the ecu?
or some other sensor?
could it be the tranny?

 

[joe_peters]

Does the 4-runner use a separate TCU like the AW4 XJs? If so, disconnect the TCU and see how it drives shifting manually.

 

[old_man]

Symptoms sound like a throttle position sensor on an XJ. If it has a MAP sensor, check that out as well.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

right now it only shifts manually. you have to start in low. then second.
then drive. its gutless in the lower RPM range and gets balls in the higher RPMS, which makes me think something is up with fuel delivery like too much fuel due to leaky injectors, or maybe some oil getting into the intake.



from what i can tell it doesnt have a seperate tcu.
i installed and adjusted a new tps with some improvement.

i also adjusted out the slack in the throttle cable and adjusted the throttle valve cable too and that helped more.

i think the solenoids in the tranny are shot or the the ECU is bad/going out.
also maybe the injectors/and or cold start injector are leaking but i cant for the life of me find the fuel rail nipple thing to throw my pressure tester on

this thing is way different than an XJ

i can usually troubleshoot a bad running XJ and thats whyi did the TV cable and the throttle cable

i have already done:
air filter
plugs
TPS
adjusted the TV cable
throttle cable
changed the dirty tranny fluid(no flush, just drain)
changed oil
cleaned the MAF
cleaned throttle body but not intake manifold
been checking the vacuum lines



i have in the garage:
intake manifold gasket set(gonna pull it off and clean good)
thermostat
coolant temp sensor
coil
plug wires
fuel filter

i plan on grabbing soon:
new o2 sensor
cap and rotor


i plan on doing:
check the valves for adjustment and adjust if needed
pull injectors/inspect for leaks around inkake manifold
test fuel pressure

i plan on replacing if all else fails in this order:
injectors
tranny solenoids
ecu
egr

 

[joe_peters]

Things that make them run like c*ap under load:

Fuel pressure
Fuel volume
Poor coil
Poor plug wires
Poor cap and rotor
Poor plugs
Carbon tracks and the spark is going to ground
Anything throttle plate position sensitive--TPS, MAP/MAF, MAT.

 

[NorCalChris]

Hey Jon if you need some help just pm me on here. I shut off my cell service, so Kayla and I are just sharing a phone.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

i think it ended up being that the cold start injector on the plenum was non existent. made a gasket tonight and it seemed to fix the massive vacuum leak(thanks to checking with carb cleaner)
i also replaced in the past 2 weeks
o2 sensor
throttle cable
cap + rotor
plugs , wires
coil
TPS
coolant temp sensor
thermostat
coolant
tranny fluid
replaced all engine and battert ground wires with massive 0 guage wire
fixed other small vacuum leaks
got new muffler welded on and exhaust cracks welded up

compression is good(150+-5 on each cylinder a week after sea foaming)
timing is on
fuel injectors all test within spec(2.9 ohms each, spec is 1-3ohms)
checked wiring harness for poor connections to the injectors with no luck

 

[blondejoncherokee]

oh and chris thanks for the offer, i might still take you up on that if the misfire persists!