1990 Toyota 4runner

[Hillarie]

Hi all, I'm new here!
I have somequestions that I am hoping someone in here can help me with. I am BRAND new to playing with cars/trucks.
Recently 2 months ago my husband and I purchased a 1990 toyota 4runner. It has 200,000 miles on it but ony 10,000 on a rebuilt engine. Or so we were told... I am not so sure anymore.
Anyways, we have recently begun having problems with the new toy!

1) A few weeks ago the check engine light came on. I disconnected the battery for 20 minutes and it went out.

2) It came back on about a week ago did the battery trick and it went off again. And been off ever since.

3) The next day the truck wouldn't start. It just clicked... Ok so we need the starter worked on... Will be getting that done or doing it myself perhaps...

4) This brings us to today. My hubby was driving and pulled up into a drive through. He was sitting there and the truck stalled out. Put it in park it took three tries but it started again. He put it in Drive and it stalled out again. So he put it in park and it took 5-6 tries but it started again. He put it in reverse and backed it into a parking spot. It's there as I write this. We are going to try and get it home tonight without towing it...

It tries to start... it cranks and tries not just a click. Could this also be the starter? And if so can the starter make the truck stall out like that??
Does anyone know what this could be?? I would like to try and fix it myself, but I don't even know where to start!!

Thank you in advance to anyone who can assist me!!

Hill

[Hillarie]

What... NOONE!! I can't belive that... Come on guys, someone take a stab...!!!

[Brian R.]

There is no obvious thing to look at. You need to bring it to a mechanic to test fuel flow and pressure, and ignition function. My best guess would be a distributor problem, but there are many ignition possibilities besides that. It could be a fuel problem with the cause being any one of 5 or 6 different malfunctions. I could type for half an hour and never get it all on paper. Next time your CEL comes on, get the codes from the ECM before you pull the battery cable.

Sorry. Bring it to my house for an afternoon and we might figure it out.

(I doubt it's your starter - the starter cannot make your engine stall)

[91 funrunner]

maybe a vacuum leak,check all your hoses for cracks or being loose.....just a guess. good luck keep us posted

[Hillarie]

Thanks you guys!! We are going to take it to a mechanic as soon as I replace the starter! I know it needs doing because of the clicking instead of starting!!

Then I'm gonna check all the hoses just to make sure!

So what should I ask the mechanic to check? This would be so much better if I could actually diagnose the problem myself! I know I could fix it if I knew what was wrong!!

I just don't want to get ripped off!!

Again thanks for responding!!

[Brian R.]

Keep youself from getting ripped off by getting some recommendations for a mechanic before you bring it in.

[VTISC007]

A clicking sound usually tells me the battery is low. Not enough juice to turn the starter.
I wouldn't replace the starter until I have it tested first. Still that doesn't explain the stalling.

[VTISC007]

Oh yeah, next time your check engine light comes on, do yourself a favor, get the service manual, it has the codes for the diagnosis and it tell you how to do it. Check and see what the truck is telling you. It is damn near talking to you in english. You need the book. If you erase the check engine light, you are not letting your truck talk to you.