Rough/erratic idle with engine dieing at times

[junkxj]

Thank you everyone for the thoughts, ideas, and info. I will definitely reread them tomorrow , and try several of the ideas mentioned. I am way too tired right now to process all the different ideas purposed . But again I do sincerely all the input that has been offered!

 

[2001LC]

Fuel smell while warming-up is normal, once operating temp is reach it's not.

Make sure engine hot, throttle open & keep battery charged to get good cranking speed during compression test.

With good air filter, while cleaning throttle body & MAF, make sure to disconnect battery (clean & grease post) for 30 minutes to resets ECM.

After all your test:
Poor a can of 44k in the gas tank and drive hard, cleans fuel system end to end.

Take up to 4,800 RPM while driving (I use lower gear on HWY) and hold for five or more minutes repeat. This cooks off carbon from cylinder heads, o2 & CATS.

Biggest clue you've stated to date is change in idle when spraying near injectors. This indicates vacuum leak. I mentioned lower injector seals, but also indicated this is not normally seen. Fact this started after plugs changed. Makes me think a vacuum hoses or line was left off or cracked while working on engine. Air box may not be seating or could have a crack, possible where it T's, it's known to happen.

 

[junkxj]

After trying a maf and tb clean I ran out of ideas. I took it to the dealership ( I have never let anyone else ever work on one of my cars), and they think it's the intake manifold gasket. It will be $260 to replace, so I told them to try it. I will report back tomorrow and let everyone know if that was the fix.

 

[2001LC]

Interesting, did you every re torque intake manifold as suggested? Were they loose?

 

[junkxj]

Interesting, did you every re torque intake manifold as suggested? Were they loose?

I did. Surprisingly they were all tight.

 

[2001LC]

Be interesting to see that gasket.

 

[04UZJ100]

Bad idea running Bosch anything in a JDM car. Get oe in there.

 

[junkxj]

Be interesting to see that gasket.

I asked them to save the old gasket. I am curious also to see how it could have failed

Bad idea running Bosch anything in a JDM car. Get oe in there.

I replaced the bosch plugs with the oem Denso, it didn't seem to help but figured it would be worth a try

 

[2001LC]

I asked them to save the old gasket. I am curious also to see how it could have failed



I replaced the bosch plugs with the oem Denso, it didn't seem to help but figured it would be worth a try

Gasket often not replaced when starter services, was yours serviced?

 

[junkxj]

Gasket often not replaced when starter services, was yours serviced?

It has not since I have owned it, which has only been a couple months.

 

[2001LC]

It has not since I have owned it, which has only been a couple months.

Yeah I saw you've not had long. Thought you may have learned if done while doing your DD. Some none dealer & dealer records on car fax, Dealer only on MyLexus or myToyota free.

 

[junkxj]

Picked up the 100 at the dealership yesterday afternoon. It ended up being a split intake manifold gasket, like I suspected. I have no Idea what caused it to fail. I have to say I was very impressed how quickly the dealership took care of the problem, and the total bill was $280. Glad to have the cruiser back in perfect running condituon.

 

[2001LC]

Picked up the 100 at the dealership yesterday afternoon. It ended up being a split intake manifold gasket, like I suspected. I have no Idea what caused it to fail. I have to say I was very impressed how quickly the dealership took care of the problem, and the total bill was $280. Glad to have the cruiser back in perfect running condituon.

Did you torque those bolts as well? Edited: Oh you mean intake to head gasket split...
Do you have pictures?

That's just a thin metal gasket.
Split Intake Manifold take a look & Gaskets & Seals Poll

 

[junkxj]

I didn't take a picture of the gasket, but it was clearly split through one of the curved parts that sits at the back of the manifold

 

[thegreatgazoo]

I took it to the dealership ( I have never let anyone else ever work on one of my cars), and they think it's the intake manifold gasket.

I wonder what led them to suspect the gasket. You can't see the split without removing the manifold right?

 

[junkxj]

I wonder what led them to suspect the gasket. You can't see the split without removing the manifold right?

I figured out there was some type of vacuum leak around the back of the intake manifold by spraying starting fluid around it. The tech at the Toyota place also did this to confirm what I had found.

 

[2001LC]

Picked up the 100 at the dealership yesterday afternoon. It ended up being a split intake manifold gasket, like I suspected. I have no Idea what caused it to fail. I have to say I was very impressed how quickly the dealership took care of the problem, and the total bill was $280. Glad to have the cruiser back in perfect running condituon.

I just want to be clear when you say "split".

You mean a break or split in gasket something like this:

Not a separation in halves of the gasket like this:

 

[junkxj]

It was an actual split, like in the first picture

 

[2001LC]

It was an actual split, like in the first picture

That's a bad one. I'll bet your starters been done, and they didn't replace gasket at that time.

 

[junkxj]

That's a bad one. I'll bet your starters been done, and they didn't replace gasket at that time.

That's what I am thinking also.