Several Issues: shifting, rain, etc. Opinions wanted

[AggieLC]

Ok several problems with the 2003 100 happening in different situations. I have some ideas but i am not sure yet, im not as savvy with these land cruisers as i am with my basic old samurais.
Problems:
1. Rain sucks
Symptoms: Car goes into 'limp mode.' it constantly searches for gears and slows down every time i get on the gas. If i pull over, put it in park, turn the car off, turn it back on and everything is fine till for a little while till it happens again within the next few miles.
Occurs: every time it rains.
Possible problem: Leaky windshield??? i hear a whistle going down the road sometimes, if that is a sign...
2. RPM madness
Symptoms: The car starts shifting hard and erratically, must baby the throttle to get it to go anywhere. When i try to come to complete stop it lurches hard as rpm jumps over and over, if i kick the car into neutral the car dies completely, I can turn it off and back on and it fixes the problem...
Occurs: When i feather the throttle, moving at say 50-55 mph, let completely off the throttle, then tap the throttle down quickly then back off, it then begins the madness till i turn it off and back on.
Possible Problem: TPS or APPS, based on research thats where im at, dont know how to check but i plan on digging into this thing over christmas.
3. CAT
Symptoms: CEL, VSC trac, VSC off lights all on. Stay on few days, off a few days. Codes (according to the shop I go to) is the other catalytic converter, they replaced one already and my O2 sensors a month ago. Hope they just arent screwing me. Im tired of spending money

Anyways, any help diagnosing the problems or anyone done any of this and has advice send it my way. The car normally runs great but the top two issues happen once every few days and it gets old.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and any help is greatly appreciated.
And here's a few pics of Hidden Falls here in Tx.

 

[2001LC]

Darn seeing more and more water related issues, which yours "IMHO" is.

To find where leaking, try running cabin fan on high set air source from exterior (fresh air). This will build high pressure in cabin. Watch for bubbles while giving exterior bubble bath, spraying with dishes soap or anything that will easily bubble from air leaks. Smoke machine can be used in place of soap bubbles.

I'd also determine if windshield is leaking on electronics. Try pulling inside "A" pillar molding, glove compartment box & side foot kick moldings. Drench windshield, continue drenching as you watch for leaks inside the areas you've exposed.

Also look under hood during your drive in the rain when this issue happens. Look for any areas that have gotten wet. With factory seal, shields & covers in place and all in good serviceable condition not much moisture will be under hood.

Using a good camera with flash & flash light can be valuable tools during & after inspection. Concentrate your investigation where you find water!

 

[Julian Stead]

Have a look at the windscreen side trims and see if the rivets are in place and look good, someone must of done a windscreen repair on mine and used black sealant to reattach these trims and not the rivets, it stuck the trim good but it didn't cover the existing holes. I didn't notice a leak just wind noise. I just added more sealant for now as its going in the body shop soon for a refresh. The trims around the screen totaled £600, what a rip off.

Give your throttle body a clean and reset ECM. Lots of recent threads on it. You need to get all the fault codes, may be buy a cheap code reader.

 

[AggieLC]

This is it in drive



This is it in park

 

[AggieLC]

 

[Hugga99]

I agree with cleaning throttle body. I had a 99' that had a similar issue, while not as funky as yours seems to be, it would go into limp mode. Start/restart worked for fixing it, but when issue arose, throttle was unresponsive. After a few months, RPM's starting jumping all over the place, and it seemed to run rough.

I had my mechanic do a fuel system cleaning. Car ran perfectly, afterward. He said it was really dirty.

Everyone here seems to do the work themselves, but my shop charged around $150, and it didn't take long. It was well worth it, took care of all the issues.

Hope that is your issue, as it isn't a big deal, at all.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Get a code reader, ScanGauge, UltraGauge, something to pull codes when it limps or you throw a CEL light

 

[planomateo]

I remember you having issues a few months ago and several recommended you scan for codes, did you ever get a reader?

 

[AggieLC]

Will get it in the mail any day now, and I also ordered a full factory repair manual and electrical wiring diagram, when they come in I'll dig into it.

 

[AggieLC]

Ok so I have a P0101 MAF code and a P0430 CAT which is bank 2 correct? Could a dirty MAF sensor cause faulty readings or have correlation? And I have no codes related to the TPS or APPS.....