Tim's Taco Tales Part Two

Well, the Toyota electrical guru guy for the Southwest region came out and looked at the truck yesterday from about 2 pm to 8 pm. He found that there is a possible ground issue with the wiring harness that goes to the injectors, which seems to be causing a dip in fuel flow which triggers the CEL. New harness arrived today and is in the process of being installed. Fingers crossed this is the final fix.

 

Apparently air is getting into the fuel system somehow, so Toyota has taken my injectors and the fuel rails to test. They have no idea how this is happening. Apparently they are going to write a TSB based on my truck once they finally figure this shit out. I am unhappy that I have to be the test for that, I just want my truck back.

 

Oh, man I’m sorry. This is like living in the twilight zone.

 

Leave it in neutral at the boat ramp next time.

 

I'm gonna lose it, I got this truck because I figured a newer year would be better, and I had heard only quality of life gripes about the 3.5L, nothing major reliability wise. I can't believe that my headgasket went at 125,000 miles and sent me down this wonderful path.

 

Dude that sucks

 

Apparently one of the fuel rails has a hairline crack that was allowing air in but not fuel out. A new one is on its way, so hopefully that fixes everything

 

So, the fuel rail did indeed not fix everything. They ended up pulling the head off to inspect it, as well as the injector seals going into the cylinders. Head passed, but the seals were messed up. All the parts should be in and everything should hopefully be back together by next Tuesday, the day that I commission into the Air Force. Hopefully I can get a good commissioning present!

 

Well, I am officially a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, but I remain truck-less. All the parts came in, but the mechanic at the shop that has been working on the truck since day one quit today. I am not sure if the shop manager/owner was pressuring him, or what the deal was, but the manager told me that he quit as a direct result of the problems with my truck. As of now, nothing will happen until tomorrow when a former mechanic for the engine shop who now works for Toyota comes over and takes a look at it tomorrow afternoon

 

Congrats! Dump the turd gen and buy a new one.

 

I have to have the truck first to dump it

Also, coming from a Ford family who has varying ranges of trucks (01 F-350, 04 F-150, 12 F-150) all with 160,000 plus miles and no issues, I think that an F-150 is the next move for me if I do get a new truck. I know American has a bad rap for reliability, but Toyota lost my confidence with this truck.

 

Just got a call from the engine shop. The Toyota dude came in early, and identified the problem quickly. The direct injector (injectors only used for startup, inject fuel directly into the cylinder instead of the intake) in the cylinder that the CEL comes on from is dripping the tiniest amount of fuel (he said like two almost microscopic drops), and causes the CEL to pop. He thinks that the injector is being told to do this by a virus in the ECU, but he took both the ECU and all six injectors back to Toyota for testing, just to be certain the injectors are functioning properly. Hopefully I hear back by the end of the day and they can start putting everything back together tomorrow.

 

Fingers crossed for ya bud!

 

Thanks, I'm gonna lose my mind if I don't have a truck soon. As it is, I am gonna be passenger princess for my bachelor party camping/wheeling trip to the Overland Expo this weekend