98 4runner strange shaking (1 Viewer)

[LukeZero]

So, just a couple minutes ago- I got home from a trip that I was able to complete the last 25 miles of only at 40 miles per hour. Because the check engine light came on, and the whole truck began shaking. Feels like it might be coming from the transmission. Does vary with vehicle speed, doesn't feel fast enough to be wheel speed (like a loose wheel).


Its dark now- so I won't do anything till tomorrow. What should I be checking?


98 4runner limited, 3.4 liter V6, auto, 145,xxx miles. Been treated very well, not low on oil or transmission fluid, tranny fluid is nice and red, not all burned and stinky.


I'm thinking possibly driveshaft U joint, because it seems to be worse while accelerating and lessens while coasting.


Although, it does seem to shake some while just sitting there idling, both in Park and in Drive. Maybe its just plugs or wires.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Maybe it's an engine/drive shaft problem? The accel/decel sugests u-joint, maybe have the trouble codes read and see what they say.

 

[LukeZero]

So- I had the computer scanned by a buddy of mine with the right tools and it says "Cylinder #6 missing"... so I pop the hood and nope its not missing, its right there. Pull the plug boot off and it still shakes like a cheap date. Pull another boot off and it stalls. Put in new plugs and new wires (3 of them, which was a point of disagreement at NAPA) turns out the passenger side has coil on plug and drivers side has wires. Now it runs like a champ and my gas mileage is way up. The old plugs looked like they might have been original with 145K miles. Nice maintenance man I am.

Later, Luke

 

[hodag]

We just had the same problem on our '99 the other night except it was the #4 cylinder. Same fix - new plugs and wires. Cleared the CEL and no new problems. My only concern is that something more sinister caused the #4 plug to fail. Guess we'll just wait and see.

Hodag

 

[Ronnie408]

So- I had the computer scanned by a buddy of mine with the right tools and it says "Cylinder #6 missing"... so I pop the hood and nope its not missing, its right there. Pull the plug boot off and it still shakes like a cheap date. Pull another boot off and it stalls. Put in new plugs and new wires (3 of them, which was a point of disagreement at NAPA) turns out the passenger side has coil on plug and drivers side has wires. Now it runs like a champ and my gas mileage is way up. The old plugs looked like they might have been original with 145K miles. Nice maintenance man I am.

Later, Luke

Hey Luke I have a 98 4 runner and it shakes as well I don know anything about cars what is your best advice would u happen to have a YouTube video??

 

[LukeZero]

Hi Ronnie-

No Youtube video. If you haven't changed plugs and wires recently, change them. Use some anti-seize on the spark plug threads since the cylinder heads are aluminum.

Other than that, take it to AutoZone or someplace like that and ask for it to be scanned.

 

[vipergrhd]

Used the OEM spark plugs (side electrodes) and Toyota wires.