3RZ Running Poorly

I have a 1995 3rz with 108,000 miles.

Today the engine started shaking as if I was lugging it and its running very poorly. I shifted into 2nd normally and it felt like I went into 5th. It idles rough like that now. The check engine light came on and the truck has a bad smell while running now. I disconnected the battery for 15 minutes and the light went out but it still runs poor. What could the issue be? Could it be a sensor like the MAF that has gone bad? Would the computer try to adjust the air fuel mixture and be flooding itself?

Last week the transmission started popping out of 3rd gear while driving 30 mph several times a day. It also feels like the shifter isn't traveling into 4th gear as far as it should. The synchro bearings are worn out. The dealership doesn't rebuild transmissions. They want $3400 to replace the transmission. A local shop will rebuild it for $2000.

Any help or advise would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Hey JT,
I'm kinda running into the same thing on my 99 Taco as far as the running issue ( See my Post or thread ). I have replaced the air & fule filters cleaned the throttle body & had the sensor checked at Autozone cleaned the MAF sensor still I have had no luck my plugs and wires have about 25K miles on them. I have a intermitton hissing or a Psssst ! sound coming from exhauset manifold. Im finding that I guess these 1st gen Taco have a history of cracking the manifold. Im still searching for my answers and you can try all of the above to see if any of these helps you as alot of these have been recommended on here. Im new to this site but Im finding a lot of helpfull info. & People on here. Good luck ! Im interested in finding out what your running issue is ?? Sorry about your tranny ! Good luck on that !

Thanks Dave

 

Thanks for the suggestions Dave. All of those sound like they would help the situation and I will give them a try. I spoke with a local mechanic today and described the problem. He said that the catalytic converter could be causing the problem. There could be higher back pressure making the engine run poorly and the bad smell would also make sense. You may want to check into yours as well since you mentioned hearing an exhaust sound. I don't know if a catalytic converter could cause that in your case. Good luck to you as well. I will update this post when I find out more.

 

if the check engine light is on you could probably take it somewheres and have it scanned and get a better idea of where to start looking. maybe check the plugs, wires, cap and rotor(if equipped, not sure when they switched to coil packs). not sure when you last did it, but if its been a while maybe she just needs a good ol tune up, ignition, fuel system etc.

as for the manifold cracking, i can confirm that. the 97 2.7l i picked up 2 months ago was almost cracked completely in half between the two center ports, only about an inch and a half of non-cracked section left. as the trucks just gonna be a beater/hunting rig i just through a cheap header on.

 

WOW ! Thanks Vern ! Ya I have been skimmy thru some other post and have had a few of them mention their exhaust manifolds cracked ! It sounds like this maybe the case for mine ? I have done just about everything i can do an think of so, I had to bite the bullet an I made an appt. to have a full Diagnostic check friday morning. Gonna be a spendy month cuz I have a 10 day Elk hunt in bout 2 weeks then home for 5 days then a 10 day Deer hunt here in UT.

 

I have an appointment for a diagnostic check tomorrow since the check engine light is on. We'll see how that turns out.

 

i know how that goes, that reminds me i still need ta sight my new scope before the general deer hunt next month. well good luck on the hunts.

and just to get a little bit back on topic hopefully the tests won't come back with anything to serious for either of your guys trucks.

 

You can get a rebuilt W59 from marlin crawler for $1100.

http://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/rebuilt-complete/w59

 

Thanks! That is good to know. I may have to look into that.

 

I had it diagnosed and it was a cylinder 3 misfire. They replaced the plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, and fuel filter. They also performed a compression check and it was good. It is running the way it should now.

 

Well I had my tech look at it and he said he didn't have a lot of time to look at it in detail so he asked me 2 bring it back ! He did confirm that my exhaust mainfold was cracked and that something was wrong with the idle. he wanted me to come back for a compression test on friday ! I explained my sittuation with hunts and the timing i was up against ! Even if he did get all the right answers an found a major issue an could have got it fixed i will never know ! Sorry guy's But I got frustraighted and traded it in and bought an 04 Superduty ! It was only a matter of time anyway ! I haul to many toy's a boat, wheelers, & a trailer. Sorry Guys ! I really would like to have kept the truck for running but, I just got tired of working pon it !

 

Bummer, I was going to recommend the exact same. Ran into the same problem with my 95. Coulda saved you some bucks.

Keep a close eye on the D-cap and rotor, I ended up replacing mine every 50k or so for cheap insurance. It seemed as if they liked to corrode, and I wanted to get the best spark I could down to the plug. The exhaust manifold was also mentioned above. They can crack, as mine did.

Truck looks great! Keep up with all the small maintenance and it'll run another 150k.