Potential Gas Tank Sabotage - 2002 Prerunner Turns Over but Won't Start

Stuck the scope back in the hole and there are no broken bits and pieces of plastic/fuel injector. So, I'm ready to resume my fuel injector replacement job. What a relief! Looks like the preventive replacement of the timing belt is gonna have to wait.

 

(and no stainless screws next time)

 

Or do the dental floss safety net trick. The square head in the screw saved me, as I don't know if the skewer would have stuck to the screw good enough, as it took a little fenagling to get the head through the hole. I was video taping it, but had to stop so I could grab the screw with my other hand, before I dropped it back in the hole. This is my first win so far on the adventure... granted it's one I created, but still a win! Let's hoe the reassembly goes smoothly, and she starts! That may be a day or two down the road, as I've blown off enough work today.

 

The square head is called a Robertson by the way. For general purpose they beat the heck out of the Phillips head. Man, would I like to get my hands on that Phillips guy...

 

Thanks! I didn't know they were call Robertson.

 

I'm bummed! I replaced the fuel injectors, and all and all things went smoothly, but the truck still won't start. When I pulled the fuel rails the didn't look too bad, but I still soaked the in isopropyl alcohol, used a straw/pipe brush to clean out the insides, and the blew them with compressed air. The old fuel injectors do seem to be clogged, but everything looked great when I put it back together,

So far I've replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel injectors, fuel injector pressure regulator, spark plugs, wires, and air filter. I had a neighbor come over and he's thinking that the problem might be between the fuel filter and where the lines go under the hood, that that line and whatever gizmos it's plugged into before it gets to the intake, are plugged up. I previously checked for spark, and had it, but will try again. Now I know what line to isolate and blow out. Not throwing in the towel yet, but man, I'm bummed! Replaced the starter contacts successfully on the 3rd Gen 4Runner today, though. So a minor victory.

 

Don't quite want to like that but I will just because you are still at it -- this is kind of like a suspenseful book, I really want to know how it turns out.

Keep at it! Sometimes these jobs get personal...

Full disclosure: I have barely seen these engines in pictures so I'm just throwing out stuff here.

Can you verify that fuel is actually getting to the fuel rails?
I seem to remember somewhere in the thread it was stated that there isn't a conventional fuel pressure test port?
There has to be some way to check the fuel pressure.
Safety concerns aside (for the moment) can you disconnect something up front and crank the engine over briefly and see if fuel is available?

 

Grest minds think alike! I found some info on someone that rigged up a way to use a pressure gauge on this engine. See post #79.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3-4l-fuel-issue.452218/page-2#post-13319753

 

I'm with the guy who said it's like a suspenseful book that we're all really into at this point.

I offer this ChrisFix video. https://youtu.be/PNhuDCVIydw
You've already done a bunch of the things so far, but having a handy checklist might help, especially seeing if fuel is making it all the way through to the rails, and maybe possibly checking that timing belt. These things are non-interference so it would still crank over with a broken timing belt. Good luck man.

 

My next step is to disconnect the fuel filter again, for the 3rd time, and disconnect the corresponding line in the engine compartment. I'll blow some air throw that to see if there is an obstruction. If not, I will go from there and check anything that's in that line, and go all the way to the fuel rails. I know the fuel rails and the intake plenums are golden. Probably won't get back to it until next week, but I'll let you guys know what I find. Thanks!

 

We will be waiting, good luck!

 

Have you run a compression test yet?

 

I have not, but probably should. I have put this on the backburner, and haven't done anything in a couple of weeks. That does sound like a good test to perform. When I had the scope in there the rods looked all rusty, which I don't think is normal. I do have a couple things I want to try, like make sure there is no obstruction in the fuel line between the fuel filter and the fuel rails. So, I'm going to check for fuel and spark again, as while doubtful, maybe I didn't reconnect everything properly when I replaced the plugs and wires.

 

The photo is from when you had the scope in the intake I believe -- that would be the intake valve we see.

While not the best thing to see it probably won't prevent the engine from running.

I believe you have cranked this over enough to know if the valves were actually stuck.

 

Yes, It has turned over lots, and lots, of times.

 

That's a lot of foreign debris on the valves. It's possible they aren't sealing. A compression test will determine that.

 

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Maybe I'll get back at it later this week, or the weekend, so let's see.

 

Hope you've made some progress.