1993 Toyota 4Runner Performance Issues

JMDOMBROSKY

MEMBER
1993 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
123,000 MILES

Good evening and thanks for your time. I have a 93 toyota 4runner 4x4 v6. She's a wonderful truck but she started rough idling(to the point that she would bob around 300 rpms). I changed out distributor cap and button, new plugs, and new wires. She's been running smooth for about 8 thousand miles and now it acts like in wants to drop again after she'll idle again for a while. Also, it's to the point it takes about 1 minute for it to go into reverse(automatic transmission.) Any suggestions?

Sunday, March 21st, 2010 AT 5:35 PM

3 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

As far as the trans goes, you may want to try having it serviced (filter & fluid). That may help with the slow engagement into reverse. The engine, try pulling theplugs (keep in order) and comparing them to each other to see if any one looks different than the others. Is it using any coolant, but not leaking it? Those older Toyota V-6's had alot of problems with head gaskets letting go.

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Monday, March 22nd, 2010 AT 8:02 AM

JMDOMBROSKY

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Changed the tranny filter and that solved the shift problem, and I checked the plugs and they're still good. It feels like its being bogged down slowly, as if a weak leprechaun was slowly choking it. It's performance returned when I filled up the tank though. I saw you said they like to run hot, is there something I can do to help keep it cool, like installing electric fans instead or bigger radiator?

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Thursday, March 25th, 2010 AT 9:05 PM

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

If filling the tank made it run better, you may have aproblem witht hepump/pick-up assembly in the tank. As far as cooling goes, it isnt an issue with the cooling system, but rather the head gaskes. The stock size radiator and fan clutch work fine.

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Friday, March 26th, 2010 AT 7:22 AM