Engine running rough

[vilasman]

So I'm driving along to work... everything good... and all of a sudden the engine starts running rough. It has no power. Check engine light comes on...
I check oil and antifreeze... there's oil on the tip of the dipstick
My mechanic thinks it's the throttle bottle sensor... what you guys think?

 

[planomateo]

Plug a scanner into the ODB-II port and solve the mystery . Autozone, etc will do this for free.

It's probably an ignition coil.

post up what you find out.

 

[DTCsk8er]

Without reading the code, its pretty hard to help you out. Get the code read!

If it was a coil, it would run like s***, but still run.

 

[vilasman]

It's at the shop hopefully I'll know soon... it did run... run like crap... then I cut it off got some oil and antifreeze put maybe a qt of oil in and half filled the antifreeze over flow... wouldn't start. Turns over... roughly but wouldn't start. Got it towed

 

[gregnash]

Keep us informed.. while you are at it, looks like time to expand your tool selection and grab a cheap OBDII scan tool. Hell even the bluetooth one's aren't overly expensive these days, you can get a normal handheld one for less than $50. Indispensable tool.

 

[FlammableFishie]

Could also, perhaps, be a failing fuel pump. Mine ran like crap on occasion after firing up and had a P0171 code (bank 1 lean). Everything cleared up when I swapped the pump FWIW.

 

[vilasman]

Well so far as of this afternoon, they've found that it needed spark plugs and they were draining the gas tank because he suspects the fuel pump is not working

 

[boobird]

How was the condition of the ignition coils

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Oh boy. No need to drain to replace the fuel pump. Also probably just one coil back needed to be replaced.

 

[vilasman]

Well that sparked a debate... he text me and says your spark plugs were black as tar... So I says it has ignition coils and he says the coils set on top of the plugs... I let him have it because I can trust him to look up what the right part is and get it

 

[vilasman]

Well... wouldnt it make sense to change all the coils so you dont have to think about it any more?

 

[planomateo]

Learn how to wrench on your vehicle is my suggestion. Great learning opportunity.

Don't change all 8 coils, you replace the bad one(s).

 

[boobird]

Other than physical inspection, Is there a way to test coils using a multimeter or another tool?

 

[Ayune]

Other than physical inspection, Is there a way to test coils using a multimeter or another tool?

Not to be flippant but just run them until one dies. It's fairly common, while fuel pump failures are rare.

Truck starts running rough, Check Engine Light comes on, pull over, read the code, and replace the correct coil. This can be done easily on the side of the road in minutes.

Keep the following in your truck:

1. A new coil pack - Toyota 90080-19027 or Denso 673-1303
2. 10mm socket w/12" extension
3. Cylinder diagram
4. OBD II reader - P0301=Cyl. #1, P0302=Cyl. #2, etc.

 

[vilasman]

So... now the jr mechanic is saying there's no compression on one side of the engine. Sr mechanic is going to check it out

 

[vilasman]

I get the concept of changing my own coils... I did a year of mechanics class in High School.
My only reservation would be... occasionally I'm out on the side of a mountain with it...
Or flying down the interstates at 3am.
Or , when we get the once every 5 year snow storm here in DC.... I'm sure as hell going joy riding in it...
Would hate to have wrench or call AAA in either circumstance

 

[mitchjohnson000]

I get the concept of changing my own coils... I did a year of mechanics class in High School.
My only reservation would be... occasionally I'm out on the side of a mountain with it...
Or flying down the interstates at 3am.
Or , when we get the once every 5 year snow storm here in DC.... I'm sure as hell going joy riding in it...
Would hate to have wrench or call AAA in either circumstance

You won't need to call AAA if a coil dies. The car will still run/drive fine, just minor misfires. I've driven 300 miles on a bad coil with no problem. You might get worse gas mileage but it's not a big deal.

 

[mitchjohnson000]

I also doubt it has no compression... 2UZ-FE's rarely have catastrophic failures like that. It's difficult to bend a valve on these engines. Assuming they checked for fuel pressure, the fact that it refuses to start it leads me to believe the timing belt snapped or hopped a few teeth. Hopefully the sr mechanic can give some better info, not enough to go off of right now.

 

[vilasman]

I'm actually thinking what your thinking... but both Iron Pig and land cruiser heaven are a really long tow away. Although I was thinking of taking it to a dealership yesterday.
Timing belt was done... roughly 20k or less miles ago... engine had oil...
I drove it sunday and I heard a little bit of a rumble... I actually thought it was in the differential...
Then monday on the way to work...
I've knocked a hole in a crank case before... actually I think I've done it 3 times.. 2 twice for no oil the third time was a water leak... 2 accords and a corrolla. I know what that sounds like... but that happens quick and the car becomes undriveable... quick.
With this I think I could have nudged onward for the last mile to work... if I had tried...
But I stopped trying to avoid catastrophic failure.

 

[vilasman]

I know the reputation of this engine and I could almost see loss of compression in 1 cylinder. To say loss of compression on a whole side... says to me you dont understand this engine.
Having said that... I'm an electrician and occasionally I run into something that makes no sense... so....