Please help... truck died now wont start

[jarrod]

Hi. I was wondering if someone could help me out. My brother picked up a 1992 toyota 4x4 automatic for me and did a tune up on it, replaced pretty much everything small thing. Oil filter, oil, spark plugs, spark plug wires, fuel filter, fuel pump, and he put new fluids in the automatic tranny and radiator. He replaced the timing chain and put a new timing cover over the chain. The old chain wore a hole somewhere (cant remember where) that allowed coolant to leak into the oil. He had that piece welded, and changed the oil again, since then it hasnt leaked coolant into the oil.

So we thought everything was fine on the truck, and since he lives about 45 minutes away from me, i got the truck registered, brought the plates to his house and started to drive the truck home... about 15-20 minutes from my house, i was doing about 60 mph, and then the truck just died. Speed dropped and i coasted to a stop. I pulled it over, thinking something went wrong with the timing chain. I tried to start it again to see, but it started right back up. So i took off again and it died about 500 feet down the road again. It did this a few times, each time it started harder and died quicker. With the pedal to the floor, it would surge like i just stepped on the gas, then bog down like i let off, but i didnt. Eventually it died for the last time and would not start again. My brother came and got it for me with his trailer the next day.

We have no idea what could be wrong. Its getting power, and turns over, but wont start. A couple of times it acted like it wanted to fire, but didnt. The only thing we can think of is maybe the coil is bad, or we are losing MAJOR compression in the pistons. The truck has absolutely NO power. It is only the 4 cylinder, but thats besides the point... on a straight-away, with the pedal to the floor it barely gains any speed, and when i hit a hill it actually loses speed rapidly. It acts like it needs a tune up really bad, but he just gave it one. Thats why we think maybe just the coil or piston rings could be the only problems.

What do you guys think? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

[Ford4x4Chik27]

Hey,
The first thing that comes to my mind would be, since you mentioned coolant in the oil even though you fixed that, I'd say check the head. It could have been cracked, or even you head gasket blown. If it's losing major compression maybe you have bad piston rings. Run a compression check and find out what happens with that. I'd totally recommend tearing open that motor and takin a good look inside. Maybe your fuel pump was faulty....? Just an idea...let me know what you find out! Good luck!

[jarrod]

yeah, i went to my brothers place tonight while he was at work and took a look at it while there was still a bit of daylight left. I checked the dipstick and the oil is pretty clean. And when i was driving it home before it died i made it a point to keep my eye on the temp gauge and i didnt see it overheat.

My brother said he checked it out and said it isnt getting any fuel. I dont know what it could be thats restricing the fuel like that. The fuel filter and pump are brand new, but i suppose the pump could have been faulty. Is there more than 1 fuel filter?? Like, one on the pump and one in the engine bay or something? Because if there is, i wonder if only one filter was replaced and the other is very clogged up? He said he did something to it and had it running for like 5 minutes... but then it died again. I wish he had just towed the truck to my house, because i have the time and energy to look at it, and he doesnt. So i dont know when it might get fixed Oh well.

Thanks for the reply!

[Ford4x4Chik27]

Ok if it's the fuel:
#1: your fuel line could be clogged or too small

#2: You may have a clogged filter, (in line filter, in tank filter, firewall filter). I'm not sure how many you have but I'd assume 2.

#3: Your carb may be trippin (bad jets) Try getting a rebuild kit

Just a few more ideas....

[jarrod]

awesome! thanks. I was wondering if there was more than one fuel filter because my brother said he changed the fuel "filter", so i wondered if there was one he didnt change? That could be clogged up enough to stop the flow of fuel i bet.

i should probably change the fuel line too. Might as well, it cant cost too much or be too hard to replace. I can also run some fuel injector cleaner through there or take the injectors out and clean them off myself. Thanks for the ideas.

[Ford4x4Chik27]

No Prob keep me posted!!!

[jarrod]

Well, my brother called today to give me an update on the progress of the truck, and he says when he unhooks the line at the fuel rail and turns it over, the fuel flows out fine. So he thinks he has narrowed it down to either the fuel pressure regulator or the fuel injectors. So we will see. Someone else suggested that the new fuel filter might have been put on backwards, so if those two things dont work, i can always try that too.

[Ford4x4Chik27]

Sounds promising....Good luck!!

[Ford4x4Chik27]

Did ya get it fixed yet??