Hey guys, any help here would be great. I have a 1994 Toyota 4x4 ext. cab with a 3.0 V6 with about 150k miles on it.

Here recently it seems that the engine stutters or misses under normal acceleration in the 2000 to 3000 RPM range. I replaced the spark plugs and wires about 10,000 miles ago, replaced the fuel filter about 4000 miles ago and the cap and rotor about 2000 miles ago. What could be wrong? Is it possible that the ignition module/coil that is located on the drivers side wheelwell is going bad? Do they go bad? I'm kind of at a loss here. I try to frequenty run injector cleaner through it.

Can someone please help me. I have searched but found nothing, but I really don't know what I'm seaching for.

Thanks.

Tex.

have you tried pulling the codes?

No, I haven't. Is there a way to do that without buying a code reader? I used to have a Dodge that you could read by turning the key off and on several times and it would flash the codes. The check engine light has never come on. I forgot to mention that above.

Try this:

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/codes/index.html

You might have a code that isn't throwing the CEL.

Well I think I found part of the problem. I started the truck, turned off all the lights in the garage, waited for my eyes to adjust and started looking. I don't suppose blue flashes of light are SUPPOSED to be dancing around under the hood? It appeared that at least four of the six plug wires and the coil wire itself had some sort of leakage and arcing over to something grounded even though I have all my wires routed cleanly and away from anything metal. As I touched the wires I could see the electricity following my fingers along the wire even though I could not feel it. Correct me if I wrong but I don't think this is right.

I purchased these plug wires at O'Reilley's for about $70 and they had a lifetime warranty. I will definately take them back, unless you guys know of a far better plug wire that I should be using.

Any feedback on this whole arcing thing from the wires even though they don't appear to be cracked or the covering breeched would be highly appriciated.

Rauch, that link is for a 22RE; Tex has a 3.0

Tex, you might also check the coil; there's an FSM sticky'd in this section, which should give you the values. Inspect the distributor cap as well.

Yea it doesn't matter they work for both. They are OBD1 codes.

>>>*Congrats! You have discovered a test I have used for decades.

Those nice blue lights under the hood really aren't there to help you find the keys to the house in the dark....*LOL**..

*The price of a set of wires doesn't reflect the quality but sometimes the fault lies not completely in the wires themselves.

Simple ground faults can cause one heck of a lot of drivability troubles with modern engine systems. Be sure to check all the plugs to be sure they are properly gapped and correctly torqued down, use a spot of heat sink grease at the connections, also go over all of the engine ground straps.

I remember finding one of those blue lights on a mid 60's Ford at the throttle linkage right where it connected to the carb throttle arm. That turned out to be the cause of a pesky hesitation and mild backfire I had been chasing for a few days.

The grommet was worn enough that with a bad engine ground strap the voltage simply found it's own path.

Even with brand new wires, voltage will follow the path of least resistance. The only reason a spark plug fires is because it is forced to if the voltage has no place else to go. Therefore the spark jumps the gap, against the resistance of the plug gap. If it can find another easier gap, it will jump at that point, or perhaps "leak" would be a better term....*EB

Wish me luck.

I stopped at the Toyota Dealership and picked up some Toyota plug wires and Toyota plugs. Lets hope it works.

OK, I think we have success. New wires and plugs are in. Truck runs smooth again. Lets hope it stays that way. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I was really impressed with the quality of the wires and plugs they gave me. You could see and feel the difference in the quality as opposed to the ones I had on there that were from O'Rielly's. They had protective sheilds where needed and had all the clips to route them already installed in the right places. They weren't cheap, but I guess that's the stupid tax I have to pay for skimping last time, right? All the plugs were pre-gapped and they were right on the money. I used my Dial calipers and they all measured exactly .031. Let this be a lesson to me. You get what you pay for.