1997 Toyota 4Runner Fron "D" to Neutral and back

GABE G.

MEMBER
1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
170,118 MILES

While driving I thought the car was in 3rd instead of Drive gear, I put it it Neutral thinking it was going down to "D", I put it back to "D" and got a loud scraping noise, probably gearing? I lost power, car shakes very badly. I smells like it's burning oil. Ck eng lite on, oil lite on. Toyota dealer said codes were for misfiring, there's no compression in any holes, and they want to remove the top end and review the valves. I said just stop right there. They don't really have a clue until they remove the top and it's got allot of mileage for that. What is your opinion of what it might be, it's like the engine spun in reverse or something. I just need a clue instead of fishing, in order to make a good descision about the car myself.

5 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi Gabe G,

Thank you for the donation.

Seems the timing belt has given way.

Is this a 5VZ-FE engine?

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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 AT 1:34 PM

GABE G.

MEMBER
6 POSTS

The timing belt is on and not snapped. I took apart the front eng brackets and assy, checked the timing on the cams, they line up. The crank sprocket lines up as well, all three components line up together. I'm sure that the belt wouldn't have to line up a certain way right, a belt is just a belt right?

So with everything lining up, what's next, the valves. I have compression at the crank, but the dealer said there is barley any at all. It feeels like the timming is really off, but everything lines up. I don't understand all the shaking and no power. Valves?

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Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 AT 3:14 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

With the belt intact and marks lined up, it should not be any fault with the timing belt and valve timings.

Get t compression test done to find out what the readings are.

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Thursday, May 7th, 2009 AT 9:51 AM

GABE G.

MEMBER
6 POSTS

From the original invoice. The invoice says
compression #1) cyl 0 psi #2) 130 #3) 120
#4) 135 #5) 150 #6) 130.

Thank you.

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Thursday, May 7th, 2009 AT 11:28 AM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Minimum compression pressure is 145 psi.
Standard compression is 174 psi.
A maximum variation of 15 psi is allowed between cylinders.

0 psi for cylinder # 1 means something has given way. It could be the valves are bent or the piston or head gasket has given way.

Except for cylinder # 5, all others are lower than the mnimum requirements.

Checking the valve clearances might provide some insight into the problem. If the valves clearances are out of specs, it could mean bent valves but if they are not, it could mean piston or head gasket fault.

Piston or head gasket problem would require removing the head to check.