Not running! Varsity level issue

You betcha.

As much fuel as the OP is talking about moving/losing here the cylinders have to be washed down and the crankcase greatly diluted with fuel.

I'm actually surprised the compression numbers were as good as they were.

 

Alright guys! I've got a new DATA POINT on my issue. So I pulled out all of the crap and put the new gaskets on the valve covers, slapped them on and...no change but no oil leaking now.

However, I had the great idea of eliminating the fuel being bad (just in case). So my bright idea was to open up the fuel line by taking off the in-line filter and just let the fuel pump dump it into a container on the ground. After I got it all ready, I put the key in and thought the fuel pump would work with the key to on. It did not. So I figured maybe it was an on demand thing, I decided I would crank the truck to see if that would start the fuel pump to empty out the tank. And wouldn't you know it, the truck started right up and purred like she is supposed to, she ran beautifully for a whole six seconds(until the fuel ran out). So then I got excited and hooked the line back up and sure enough it flooded out again.

So experts, I'm asking, is anyone intimate with this fuel pump system? Is there something attached to the pump that tells it NOT to shoot out so much fuel? I have already changed the fuel pressure regulator. Any other suggestions?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks to those who have suggestion for chemicals for my gunk problem.

 

I was thinking FPR (regulator).

Was this changed as part of trying to solve your issue, or for some thing else?

When you pull the vaccum line, does it drip fuel? Any chance the return line is pinched/obstructed? Do you have a way to test the fuel pressure?

 

I changed it for this very reason, it was the first thing that I changed during this whole process. I'm not sure about the vaccum and return lines, I'll have to check on those, I have not done a fuel press check with a gauge, but I'm obviously getting plenty, thanks for the ideas.

 

Could I have gotten a bad fpr? Or does everyone thing this is still an ECU problem? As stated before, she ran perfectly for about six seconds until the fuel ran out of the system.

 

Could still be ECU. But if the fuel pressure is too high (as it appears maybe?) you want to make sure its not mechanical around the FPR

 

The vaccum line has no fuel coming out (meaning the top line of the fpr). Additionally, the return line has plenty of fuel coming out(meaning the bottom line of the fpr).

I believe the fpr is doing its job because when a set amount of fuel supply is given as when I disconnected the fuel line from the filter, the fpr keeps pressure regulated for the vehicle to idle until it runs out(about six seconds)

Is there any "restrictor valve" in the pump assembly that could have come off?

 

Keep in mind there will be zero pressure at the injectors with the fuel line open at the filter. Normal running pressure is in the neighborhood of 42 psi. The "6 seconds of running" was likely residual excess fuel with air from the cranking engine reaching a good enough air/fuel ratio to burn.

The fuel pump does have a check valve that bleeds off excess fuel flow/pressure and "could" be stuck shut causing higher than normal fuel pressure in the fuel lines. This is only in the realm of "possible" with next to no degree of "likely". I only mention it because you asked. Toyota claims max pump pressure (against a closed/blocked line/no FPR) is 57 lbs. The engine will run seemingly normal on 60 psi as the ECU can compensate for it.

I would first be looking at correcting the known malfunction of the ECU/connection so OBD data can be seen. Better troubleshooting can then proceed, if needed.

 

@ecknavy any updates? It's been 11 days. We have short attention spans around here.

 

Ha! Thanks guys. Well I am waiting for my NEW ECU to arrive, I ordered it a week and a half ago but it still has not arrived yet to Hawaii. Guess they are programming/updating it or something particular for my truck(ordered through "all computer resources") . In the meantime I dropped the fuel tank and emptied out all of the fuel, put in a NEW fuel pump/strainer while it was out and inspected things. Slapped it all back together with fresh fuel and to no avail, no changes.

Long story short I'm waiting on ECU to arrive and unfortunately I'm traveling for the next two weeks, should be there by the time I get home.

Regardless, I'll post the results good/bad to provide some closure and continuity on anyone else having similar problems in the future. Thanks again for all of the help thus far.

 

Sounds like an injector issue to me. Can't open with good pressure behind it, but when you unhook the fuel, pressure drops and allows them to open ??

 

Or maybe some are stuck open, and as it runs out of fuel it hits the point where the mixture is good enough to run??

 

FIXED!!!!

Finally got back from my multi week travel last night and my new ECU was just waiting there for me to open. I popped that sucker in this morning and wouldn't you know it, she cranked right up and now runs like a dream! What a relief!!! Thanks to everyone who replied, and all who begrudgingly convinced me to order the damn expensive ECU. It was 100% the culprit and I admit my previous hesitation and disbelief that it would just go out like that...as far as the rest of the crap I changed, I'll just chalk up to a deep tune-up.

Glad to be a part of such a great resource and hopefully I can pay it forward.

FWIW: I ordered my ECU for $387 from "All Computer Resources" out of Florida. They took my VIN/mileage and programmed a new(refurbished) one for me. It took a couple of weeks to receive and they require I send them my old one for a core charge. (Couldn't find a comparable one in the junk yard here in Hawaii)

 

Did you hook up a scan tool to see if it would communicate with the new ecm

 

Yes I did and it communicates instantly.

 

I bet the ecu was partially fried where certain functions worked such as injector pulse but other functions didn’t such as spark/ignition (hence flooded cyclinders) and no OBD comm.

 

Haven't heard of Honda ecus frying, but this is the 2nd time I've heard a toyota ecu frying. Do you have any wires that are toasted or something?

 

Thank you for closing loop on this one, and glad you are up and running again.

So many folks cry for help, then vanish. It's nice to have resolution for the 'good of the order' and all that.

 

So now that I have read this thread, hats off to all the folks and OP for the work . But I am curious what did you with all clunk/sludge in the engine, if anything at all?