I've had my 62 since last May, and have been slowly working my way through all the issues that have accrued over the years--everything from minor rust issues to cooling system issues, to charging system failure, etc. Before I found MUD, and before the realization finally sank in that I was going to need to maintain this thing myself, I took it to an independent mechanic and then a Toyota dealer, to try to get a nagging rough idle fixed. A few hundred dollars later, it wasn't any better than before. The idle sat around 900 rpm (I thought maybe the tach was reading a little high) and was not smooth. Every 3 or 4 seconds it would cut out for a split second, and then come back.
Searching MUD eventually led me to the thread in the FAQ section about the Fuel Pulsation Dampener. I checked mine, and sure enough, the screw was out. I thought HaHa this must be it! I screwed it in, but no help. I noticed fuel stains around the dampener and so decided to just replace it. After I replaced the dampener, the idle cut out went away, but it still did not idle smooth and the idle sat around 900 rpm even after it was warmed up.
Today, I decided to just start going through all the EFI system checks. To begin with, I figured I'd put the ECU in diagnostic mode just to say I had done it. The Check Engine light had not been coming on (other than when the key was first turned on), so I hadn't felt the need to do this previously. I stuck the paper clip in the holes and went around to take a peak at the blinking light. Low and behold, I had an error! An error 51. The FSM pointed to several things that could cause this problem, but I was pretty sure they were all OK--except for the throttle position sensor. I wasn't sure about that. So I popped the connector off and did the resistance check as detailed on page FI 69. I had a problem! the IDL-E2 check with the throttle closed was infinite ohms. By loosening the screws, I turned the Throttle Position Sensor until I got a IDL-E2 reading with the throttle closed. Opened the throttle a little and the reading went to infinite like it is supposed to. Connected everything back up and started it up. Idled smooth as silk at about 800 rpm. After it warmed up for a few minutes, the idle dropped right down to about 650, just like the book says. And it was just purring along. I couldn't believe it!
So I learned my lesson. Number one: I am my own mechanic for this rig. Number 2: My first step in trouble shooting anything engine related is to check ECU diagnostics.
And yes I cleared the error, and then rechecked again after I ran the engine for awhile, and the error is all gone. Yippee!!!
Searching MUD eventually led me to the thread in the FAQ section about the Fuel Pulsation Dampener. I checked mine, and sure enough, the screw was out. I thought HaHa this must be it! I screwed it in, but no help. I noticed fuel stains around the dampener and so decided to just replace it. After I replaced the dampener, the idle cut out went away, but it still did not idle smooth and the idle sat around 900 rpm even after it was warmed up.
Today, I decided to just start going through all the EFI system checks. To begin with, I figured I'd put the ECU in diagnostic mode just to say I had done it. The Check Engine light had not been coming on (other than when the key was first turned on), so I hadn't felt the need to do this previously. I stuck the paper clip in the holes and went around to take a peak at the blinking light. Low and behold, I had an error! An error 51. The FSM pointed to several things that could cause this problem, but I was pretty sure they were all OK--except for the throttle position sensor. I wasn't sure about that. So I popped the connector off and did the resistance check as detailed on page FI 69. I had a problem! the IDL-E2 check with the throttle closed was infinite ohms. By loosening the screws, I turned the Throttle Position Sensor until I got a IDL-E2 reading with the throttle closed. Opened the throttle a little and the reading went to infinite like it is supposed to. Connected everything back up and started it up. Idled smooth as silk at about 800 rpm. After it warmed up for a few minutes, the idle dropped right down to about 650, just like the book says. And it was just purring along. I couldn't believe it!
So I learned my lesson. Number one: I am my own mechanic for this rig. Number 2: My first step in trouble shooting anything engine related is to check ECU diagnostics.
And yes I cleared the error, and then rechecked again after I ran the engine for awhile, and the error is all gone. Yippee!!!