Truck advice

[emiller]

If it's the 3.0l V-6 it might be the timing belt, has it been changed before. should be replaced about every 60.000 miles. I also agree a compression check should reveal any problems and also a back presure test on the exhaust system. Try a different mechanic.

[asianflava]

Was Doug anywhere near it? If so, it could be a tranny problem .

Seriously though, that isn't that old of a truck, a Toyota truck should be OK for 300K. I just came back from FL with my 94 Mazda, it has 194K on it now. I towed a u-haul trailer there (with the bed full of wicker furniture) and brought back my mom's china cabinet.

In addition to the above mentioned items, you may want to check the ignition coil and wires. The plugs were changed so they should be OK. I'm guessing that since your injectors were cleaned, it's a 22RE?

Edit: Duh I didn't read that it was a V-6 22-Rs are 4cyl.

[goldcoop]

Amy-

I vote for defective fuel filter as well!

Maybe we should start a poll/contest: "Guess what's wrong with Amy's truck"!

Cheers,

Coop

[critter]

hey amy,
finnaly a question i know something about ,i wuz one of first toyota master tecs in this state so i know where your comming from.first of all i cant diagnoss it over the phone or internet,no one can but most likely were talking a stopped up cat converter.the best thing to do is take it to a local dealer and give them a shot,dont remember if you allready have.your truck is not worn out.if they cant fix it have them talk to the factory rep.he can help you. i have seen those with 4or500,000 miles on and still going strong if the oil has been changed regularly.i own 3 of the myself.they can fix this.tell them you want a master tec to work on it!

[AmyH]

Thanks Critter, that sounds like a great plan. I did have it at the dealership recently, and I asked them if they could figure out what the problem is. They came up with nothing. My mechanic should be calling me back sometime today. He is a really good guy, so I may give him a shot at fixing this, based on all the suggestions you guys have given me.

Coop, a poll sounds like it could be pretty funny. I'll tell my mechanic to work on the highest rated item per the poll! As funny as that is, I have a running list now of all the things you guys have suggested, so I am getting ready to bombard my mechanic as soon as he calls back. You all are incredible!!

Amy

[Chris C]

I bet your mechanic is going to hate all of us before this is over!

[angib]

Looking at pictures of SR5s, it looks rather like the Toyota that's called a Hilux in most of the world - the choice of insurgents and freedom fighters everywhere!

Any of you that have a fondness for Toyotas, and a strong stomach, might like to see this 15 minute extract from a British motoring programme Top Gear, where they set out to find how tough a Hilux really was - it's a bit silly, but very impressive: Top Gear's Hilux

And just to show how relevant this is, dropping a 'caravan' (travel trailer) on the Hilux was one test:


Destroying caravans is one of the favourite subjects of this programme - as it's pretty popular with the viewers too. Our roads are small and congested, and so being stuck behind a caravan is a pet hate of many drivers!

Andrew

[anonymous2]

Hi all,

Ok 1 more know it all. Check the converter first. Some gasolines in some states require certain additives for the clean air act of your state. Those additives can & will over time break down,or clog your converter. It may not have the flow of a new unit. A clogged converter will cause excess back pressure,and cause your exaust valves to burn,and not properly seal,both cause loss of power. 150,000 mile this very well may be the case. A compression check will also revel worn rings,bad valves. Of course all the suggestions about filters,both air & fuel are correct. There are a host of other things like timing, timing belts,fuel/air injection sensors,O2 sensors that all "speak" to the engine management systems,and can cause problems. Even stuck,or slow brake calipers,or brake lining can slow performance,and with a vehicle with that milage ,anything is possible. I am not sure your truck has a engine management computer port that can be hooked up to determine the problems in the engine management systems. Your dealer should know. Our local Toyota dealer has a coupon for an engine evaluation check for around $40. It may be worth the money if your dealer has the same program. Just my 2 cents.

pateardropper

[Kevin A]

I'm gonna throw one more suggestion into the ring, I brought the problem up with some people at work today. Someone suggested the possibility of the knock sensor and/or the wiring harness connected to it being the cause of your problem, they are both located under the intake manifold.
Amy, you may want to add this to your list for the mechanic to check.

[Chuck Craven]

One more thing is the oxygen sensors in the manifolds should have two of them for a V6.
When they go bad the computer will change the fuel to air mixture makes it richer.
When you go up the mountains it will be so rich you can’t get any power from the engine. Gas mileage goes way down also.
Chuck

[DrJerry]

The two main items I was going to bring up are head gaskets, which were a big recall issue, and timing belt, which I replace regularly. I also replace CAT converter every 100,000 miles. (For better gas mileage) My '94 currently has 300,000 on it. I replaced rings and bearings just because it had a lot of miles on it, probably didn't need to. I pile a lot of miles on mine, typically 1000 miles a week. Your Toyota is nowhere near worn out, I bet it doesn't even use much oil yet. If you keep a Toyota up it should run forever, I regularly travel between 3 (western) states so you know they are dependable. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, TAKE IT IN FOR A COMPUTER ANALYSIS (about $75.00) You may have one of those rare things like excessive camshaft wear, clogged/ leaky smog stuff, etc.

[asianflava]

Looking at pictures of SR5s, it looks rather like the Toyota that's called a Hilux in most of the world - the choice of insurgents and freedom fighters everywhere!

Any of you that have a fondness for Toyotas, and a strong stomach, might like to see this 15 minute extract from a British motoring programme Top Gear, where they set out to find how tough a Hilux really was - it's a bit silly, but very impressive: Top Gear's Hilux

And just to show how relevant this is, dropping a 'caravan' (travel trailer) on the Hilux was one test:


Destroying caravans is one of the favourite subjects of this programme - as it's pretty popular with the viewers too. Our roads are small and congested, and so being stuck behind a caravan is a pet hate of many drivers!

Andrew

I saw the episode where they put that Hilux on top of a building and imploded the building. After getting it out of the debris, they were able to get it going again.

On the destroying caravans thing, funny you mention that. Today I watched an episode of Top Gear where they played a giant game of "Conkers" with caravans.

[goldcoop]

Amy-

Any update news? Inquiring minds want to know

Cheers,

Coop

[Q]

I'm a fellow 93 Toyota Pickup owner, but the 4 cylinder version. I bought it new and now have 211,000 miles on it.

I assume you have no trouble codes in the computer? If not I would change the fuel filter first.

A couple weeks ago I went through my truck and checked all the sensors and vacuum operated valves etc.. I cleaned the throttle body and adjusted the TPS (throttle position sensor). It made a noticable difference in fuel mileage and performance.

BTW, I have a shop service manual for the truck on CD and would be glad to burn you a copy.

Q

[AmyH]

Okay guys, here's the scoop....on Wednesday next week I am taking my baby (the truck, aka "Cricket", yes I did name her) in to get the work done. After talking extensively with my mechanic (a really good honest guy, I must add), we have decided to try replacing the Catalytic Converter, amongst other things that need to be done (passenger side idler arm and front brakes). The cat converter (boy that sounds weird, it sounds like I am going to convert a cat into something else, like a dog) has not ever been replaced, and we are feeling that is the most likely culprit at this point. Hopefully that will be the "thing" that solves my high altitude power issues! The fuel injectors and filter have already been replaced during the last big "tune-up". I plan on taking "Cricket" up to the mountains to do some more snowshoeing shortly after my mechanic does the work. So I'll let everyone know if that solved the issue. I was seriously on the brink of calling the guys from "Car Talk", but I am very glad I asked all of you. Thanks again guys, I wouldn't know what to tell my mechanic otherwise. I'll let everyone know how it goes when I get "her" back on Thursday next week.
Amy