New 2nd gen T4R lots of questions

[Crawdad]

I am pretty much a newbie in the 80's and yesterday I traded my old Chev truck for a 2nd gen T4R for my daughter to drive and park more successfully. This rig is in pretty good shape for the year, but there are probs. I read all about some of them last night but wanted to start a thread with a list of questions to get a kick start on this thing.
1. 1990 T4R 155k, 3.0, 31x10.5 tires.
2. Had headgasket done by unk mechanic friend of PO in past 3kmiles
3. had full tune up at garage by PO in last 1k miles
4. new tires and shocks by PO in past 3kmiles
5. new front CV's in past 3k miles.

Problems:
1. Runs like *&^$# at idle. dies while sitting at a light. TPS was replaced at tune up, tried adjusting throttle linkage to raise idle, no-go.

2. no speedo, no odo, no tripmeter. All dead. PO describes cold morning drive, clicking sound then dead speedo and all else. O/D off light flashing in the dash. PO says started when speedo died
- cable? speed sensor? gear? cluster? i don't know which

3. loud exhaust but don't see a leak/cant find it if there is

4. loud valve tapping sound from DS head area, improper adjust? oil? dunno.

5. Loud Clunk from front axle on hard left turn.

6. Stereo was a botched install, bezel all cut up and deck sliding around in the sleeve cause they didn't re-use the toyota bracket. need new blue dash bezel and start over.

7. otherwise clean with a little body damage, clean interior, and great tires and shocks. I am optimistic with the recent work done that she is salvageable and be a DD for the daughter at school

All help is appreciated. photos attached.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

First things first, check the trouble codes: Troublcodes.net Trouble Codes OBD & OBD2 Trouble Codes and Technical info & Tool Store. By BAT Auto Technical

That may tell you where your idle problem is, because a lot of things could mess with the idle.

Sounds like the speedometer cable is broken.... The OD light flashing means the trans is holding a code of it's own, Check the FAQ thread for a FSM and check the Auto Trans section to find out how to check those codes.

Valve noise... You could try some thicker oil, but in the long run it sounds like you'll need to check the valve clearance... (Not the most fun job on a 3.0)

Exhaust leak, get yourself a length of rubber hose and poke one end around while listening to the other end.

Front axle clunk: Try this first, https://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyo...erd-noises-when-tires-turned.html#post2015795

Good luck! It looks like a nice clean rig, I'm sure you can work the bugs out of it!

 

[Crawdad]

Thanks Jerod, good jumping off points for me..... I got work to do.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

No problem. My guess on the trans code is no vehicle speed sensor input, which is on the back of the dash and run by the speedo cable, which if broken would explain the OD light...

 

[Crawdad]

Reading some T4r and yotatech posts, I am confused if the 3.0 has a speedo cable, or an electronic speedo run from the speed sensor on the xfre case. Any idea which it is?

Looking on Rockauto for parts, there is a speedo cable for the 2.4 engine, but only speed sensor for a 3.0

 

[Crawdad]

Just ran seafoam through tb and master vacuum. Helped, but still running rough on idle. Not dying but rough.

Changed oil and filter, engine is a little quieter. went with Mobil 10-30.

Lots of local parts trucks in classified's, sent a bunch of emails for stereo bezel's, speed sensor's, and speedo cable/clusters. We'll see if we can create as big a pile of parts to hang onto as the FJ80.... my wife is gonna kill me.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I'm pretty sure 4Runners had cables until 92, when they switched to the electronic speed sensors... I have 2 91 V6 5 Speeds that both have cables... Plus the noise behind the dash, then no noise and no more speedometer is pretty telling...

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Easy way to tell is to look under the truck. On the pass side of the rear of the transfercase there will either be a speedo cable or a sensor with wire coming off the sideor the rear output...

 

[KLF]

PM HJ-45CrewCab here on MUD, he has a '95 4Runner that is slightly built, he recently decided to part it out. Dunno if he can help you with the speedo issue.

 

[toy4xfun]

my 90 automatic had a sensor, no cable.

 

[Crawdad]

UPDATE:

Took the truck to a buddy who is very Toyota smart. In 5 seconds he pointed out several vacuum lines that were cracked.
2.09 for a couple feet of vacuum hoses, a little air pressure to blow out the EGR system, and locate a couple of other bad lines, voila!!!!! running like a kitten, no more black smoke on acceleration, great idle, quieter etc......

Any thoughts on adjusting valves/lifters. The tapping in the valve cover is a little annoying.

Thanks all... esp blarsen the man the myth the legend.

 

[Crawdad]

Also found out that there is a cable, not a sensor coming out near the prop shaft. The cable comes freely from thespeedo end out the trans end.... gotta be broken on the top.

 

[Crawdad]

Another Update:
After replacing the vacuum lines yesterday, took it in for Utah Inspection and Emissions... passed. Emissions were on the low range and quite good for the year. Inspection was no problem, braking a little heavy on the front, could use a back-up adjustment on the rears.

Dropped it off for an R-12 to R134 conversion and charge, just a few oil leaks and bingo...DD

 

[Crawdad]

235 bucks later, A/C blows cold, valve cover gaskets replaced, and DS cam end seal replaced, no major oil leaks and DD is cold on a hot day while cruising Gen 2 style... great rig, running great and was easy to fix... waiting for a Speedo cable and perfection has been achieved.. Thanks for the help.

 

[KLF]

Nicely done. Enjoy.