Pulled engine from wrecked '89 w/58,000 miles, installed in '90. Intended to get back on here before now! Did get the truck going July 4th weedend. Started first crank, which it should have. I knew it was good but was hoping all wiring and install worked. The guy I got the truck from had a new header he was going to install if he had built the motor. So I put it on since I had it. It's a Pace Setter which from what I've read probably isn't the best, but maybe not the worse. Hey, it came with the truck and was new! Bolted it back to the cat. converter and ran great for about 225 miles. I had a new exhaust installed from front of the converter back, removed converter but kept the O2 sensor in place. That was around 165 miles. By the 225 mark, it would hardly run. Felt like it wasn't getting fuel and tail pipe was sucking back like a burned valve, and idled rough. Well, I had told my son as we were wiring the engine that since the truck had been sitting in a garage for 2 plus years, I was going to drop the gas tank and make sure it didn't have crap in it. Too anxious and skipped that step. May have been the beginning of the problem, maybe not. Dropped tank, removed fuel pump and it was rusted along with the inside of the tank. Had already removed the tank from the wrecked '89 so checked it and was clean as could be. Put it on, replaced fuel line from same truck, replaced fuel filter. Filter was full of rust. Still idles rough, hard to pull out in first gear but runs some better once it gets rolling with some rpm's. Did removing cat. converter screw up the O2 sensor? Could rust have made it past the fuel filter and plug an injector? Have been reading A LOT on this forum. Great information. Someone mentioned about the same thing I've done and about same problem I'm having and a suggestion was made to install an O2 Simulator in place of the Sensor. Also, check engine light came on and haven't had much luck reading codes. Screwed up and removed neg. post and cleared code last night. Need to drive some more till it comes on again and try for the codes. Sorry to have written a freakin book here but I figure from what I've read, someone out there has run into the same deal. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

 

Check the injectors, run some injector cleaner, give her some new gas. removing the cat shouldn't really affect the truck. Checked all your ground wires? I wonder if timing has been messed with.

Good luck, we'll be here!

oh, and provide us a photo of the engine bay?

make sure the intake pipe from the VAFM to the TB has no leaks what so ever. Hope you're running NGK spark plugs.

buy an o ring set. Remove upper intake manifold to get to injectors. *could possibly spray fuel* when removing injectors. they have a tiny little filter on the in side of the injector, not the spray side. give that a look. If the cold start injector is clogged and stuck open, it'll add too much fuel.

 

Thanks for the reply. New NGK's, toyota wires cap, button. Timing has not been changed. I'm guessing with the rust I dumped from the fuel filter, some may have gotten by and into an injector or two. Was running too good and just dropped off. Hope to get time to check them by the weekend. I'll try and get a photo tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

no problem, no rush at all. How'd you dump the filter?

 

It sounds like it should be easy enough for you to diagnose because you say it was "running good" then "it wasn't running good". And you know what you changed to make that happen. So good luck and I hope you get it all sorted out.

 

Thanks planemos. Seems like nothing I do is "easy". I've just not had much experience with fuel injection and was trying to check everything else that it might could be before getting back to the injectors. I had them out when I put the motor in. Only way, that I could see, to get the wiring harness out was remove the top half of the intake. I replaced the o-rings and grommets on the injectors at that time. I agree, sounds like crap may have got to injectors.

cinNAMmon, I removed the filter and dumped it on a white rag...nasty crap! Put on new filter.

 

Is it possible the lines from the old fuel tank going to the new filter has picked up some extra "stuff" to clog the new filter?

 

Replaced line from tank to fuel filter. I know its good to outlet side of filter. I'll break down and pull injectors when I get time. Dealing with teenagers if you get my drift.

 

Nice talking to you today TSJ, will get with ya soon on those parts.

 

very understandable. What's your teenager doing? If you need some punishment, have them help you on the truck and learn fast or you'll ground them from their electronics or something.

Let us know how it goes TSJ. Oh yeah, what's the condition of the truck's timing chain and guides? easiest thing to check is to open the valve cover and check the timing chain and driver's guide. I'm sure you're aware of the fact that if the guide is broke, the chain could eat into the water pump housing.. which means oil + coolant = destroyed motor. if that's good, you can also check the valve lash too, and adjust if necessary.

 

Removed injectors today. I don't see how the poor thing was running as good as it was. All 4 injectors had rust in them but 2 were packed full. Fuel rail had quite a lot in it also. Flushed everything out, pulled the fuel hose from the filter to the fuel rail and cleaned it too. I actually called the Toyota service dept. and told them what I had and if they thought any rust could have gotten past the coned screens in the injectors. He said if I had already cleaned everything out, to put it back together. Cleaning the screens would take care of it...and the fuel rail of course. Runs like a champ!!
The truck in my avatar is the one my son wrecked and the engine I'm running in the '90.
Thanks for all the info and help. This is a really good forum. A lot of knowledge floating around.

 

I would assume that's what happened. all that unsettled rust just got to it. Well I'm glad we found the problem! maybe a few more fillups with injector cleaner to help her out.

And owch! what's the story to the '89? My '94 xcab had bald tires in the rear one summer thunderstorm and i took out a firehydrant like an NFL linebacker sacking a quarterback. at least I got her home and fixed her up.

 

Well glad to hear you cleared her up. Shoot some pics of the truck for us. So your kids dont like to help you work on the truck? Mine do but there only 1 1/2 and 3. They seem to loose everything. HAHAHA, but do what CIN said and throw in some injector cleaner the next couple times you feel up. It does help alot.

 

After reading this I think I might have to take a look in my fuel rail and injectors. Good job

 

Story on the wrecked '89? Had it for about 4 months, tuned it up good and was to be my 16 yr. old (at the time) sons truck. Under 57,000 original miles, no rust, no dents! Father's Day last year he was coming home from his girlfriends and running late of course. About a quarter mile from home, must've been screwing with his tunes and was coming around a curve just a little fast maybe?? Must've looked up and saw a mail box coming at him on the left side of the road because from there, skid marks for about 50', slammed three trees on the right side of the road. Went about another 30' and hit a parked car, knocking it back about six feet. Good news, he wasn't hurt, just a little sore. He didn't even want to drive again for about a month and half and wouldn't go that way for a long time. God had him by the short hairs that night and gave him another chance at life. Can't say much, I totaled two before I was 19 and should have died from a motorcycle accident at 20. My sister says history repeats itself. Hope not or he'll have a hard road.

 

Wow that sucks, Sorry to hear man. All i can say is i hope it never happens again.