96 vs 2002 3.4 differences.

I am trying to pick up a used motor to replace the one in my truck rather than rebuilding it due to budget constraints. I have come across a 2002 with around 120k on it and have the chance to pick up the motor fairly cheap.

My truck is a 96 3.4 with a 5 speed and the truck it is coming out of is a 2002 3.4l prerunner.


AFAIK the 2002 is drive by wire whereas my 96 is drive by cable. Are there any differences that would prevent me from swapping the throttle bodies?

Are all of the other sensors/accessories interchangeable?

Thanks

 

My '02 is not drive by wire. It has a cable and I think all '02s are that way. I'm pretty sure that Toyota made that change late in the '03 model. For sure, the '04 v6 models no longer had the throttle cable.

There were definitely differences in ECUs between the '96 and '02. Also, there were no prerunners in '96. Some one else more knowledgeable than me can speak to what differences there may be, if any, in the transmissions.

@Blackdawg

 

Emissions was different too. The 96s used a vacuum box up front on the drivers side. The later 01-04s had it moved to above the gas tank.

Catalytic converters changed too. Only one on 95-00 and there are two on 01-04s.

Should be able to just drop the motor in though and wire it up. Nothing else was a drastic change.

 

I purchased a 02 3.4 for my 96 4runner and i read that the lower intake & injectors are different. Just use your intake & injectors/fuel rail assembly. Ex. manifolds & rear ex crossover pipe are different also but the 96 parts will bolt onto the 02 with no issues.

 

I think the older engines still used a cap and rotor distributor system for the ignition before they switched to a coil ignition on the newer models, but don't quote me on that, I may be thinking of the T100.

 

This is not correct. No 3.4L ever came with a distributor. All of them are coil pack ignition.

 

yea the 3.4l 5vzfe was also coil packs.

Its the 2/3rz 4 cylinder that changes. The 2rz is distributor, the 3rz is coilpacks.

 

injectors never changed. Intake only had a reservoir type thing added to it. ITs the same otherwise.

OP, basically, as long as you just swap the motor itself(the block) and run your 96 ecu and everything else, you'll be totally fine.

 

I'm just quoting what my local Toyota dealer parts guy told me and what i've read here. A member here said he did the same swap and was getting a CEL and it ended up being the injectors.

 

Not exactly. The 3rz and 2rz were distributor until some time in '97, then I believe both switched to coil packs. My Taco is a '96 3rz with a dizzy.

 

I went to see the donor today and ended up buying the motor. Only had 131k on it and it sounded super healthy. Oil looked good, coolant was perfect.

Didn't realize how poorly mine runs until I heard it.

 

Injectors changed, there are the blues and the browns with different part #'s and prices.

 

Yep. That's what i mentioned earlier. I read that here and my local Toyota dealer parts guy confirmed it for me. I had a 96 4runner with a seized 3.4, i purchased a used 02 3.4 for the swap.

 

Yep, just backing you up. Old Catonsville man here.

 

Thanks. I knew they were different, i was waiting for some back up!

 

I've know the injectors are different but they should be interchangeable. I talked to someone who put a 2004 motor in his 97 and he said there was no issue

 

Yea, my post I mentioned that they have to be changed. I used the 96 intake, fuel rail & injectors. Everything bolted from the 96 engine to the 02 engine.

 

There is definitely an issue somewhere, be it with the manifold and/or forward vs backward compatibility, not sure.

 

Well, I guess I'll figure it out along the way ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Not really, the 2/3rz both were dizzy until mid 97, then they switched to coil pack, then again in 01 they switched to coil on plug.