My old man has a 1989 pickup with the 3.0. It barely hit 100k miles and is the definition of being babied. Today it started flooding out like crazy. When starting, it will crank and crank for about 20 seconds before starting. When it does start it runs terrible and is blowing black smoke extremely bad. I can only think of it being a bad 02 sensor or bad orings around the injectors. The check engine light does not come on. He is going to bring it into the chevy dealership tomorrow because there is a guy that knows toyotas pretty well there but I don't want him to get screwed. I know I can fix it if I knew what the problem was.
Fuel issue with 3.0
- Thread starter ajfriz
- Start date
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My 1993 4runner 3.0 did the same thing. What was happening was that the cold start fuel injector was bad. It was constantly pouring fuel into the intake, making it run really rich. The car would start OK when the engine was cold, but very hard to start when warm. I think the pressurized fuel system poured gas into the intake through the injector after the engine was shut off. If you took the rubber boot off of the throttle body, you could evrn smell or see the gas in the intake, as I recall. The CSI is supposed to shut off after a few seconds, but it must freeze open when it goes bad.
I got a new one for about $100 and it fixed things right up.
I got a new one for about $100 and it fixed things right up.
The fuel pressure regulator is difficult to access.; I think it is on the fuel line behind the engine or under the plenum. You would want to have the fuel pressure checked first. I'd defer this for now and focus on the cold start injector.
It is easy to see and access. Look at the top of the engine on the passenger side. On the left side of the top of the intake is a fuel line going in with a banjo fitting. There is also a wire going into the injector from the rear of the engine. There is a sensor at the other end of the wire. Try first unplugging the wire at the injector. I think this will turn it off, if it's operating normally. If the truck runs rich as before, the injector is probably stuck open and needs replacing. If unplugging the wire fixes your problem, then it would be that sensor.
It is hard to access, though.
Try these suggestions and let us know if you fix it.
It is easy to see and access. Look at the top of the engine on the passenger side. On the left side of the top of the intake is a fuel line going in with a banjo fitting. There is also a wire going into the injector from the rear of the engine. There is a sensor at the other end of the wire. Try first unplugging the wire at the injector. I think this will turn it off, if it's operating normally. If the truck runs rich as before, the injector is probably stuck open and needs replacing. If unplugging the wire fixes your problem, then it would be that sensor.
It is hard to access, though.
Try these suggestions and let us know if you fix it.