Heres the skinny, a couple years ago I picked up this 85 Runner, 22RE 5spd (some may recall from other posts on other forums as another id but thats not important, lol) Runner had some fuel issues (amoung others)... Pump, Filter and a couple lines. Well I have only heard the ole' gal (no offense) run for a few minutes when I first grabbed her. I was told there maybe a possible blown headgasket..???... for the past year - year and a half I've been tinkerin. I was able to get her to run, with shots of ether or a screw driver proping open the MAF (air box) she ran, would throttle up if done slowly, quickly she would die. This took place last year (spring). I finished up a few iffy lines (that still need some love hhmmm) I went to try to fire... Only using short cranks to get things moving, heard a few pops and sputters, the occasional puff of smoke (smelt like exhaust figured no biggie)Then after a good crank session BANG, it looked / sounded as if she back fired BUT out the intake, the intake hose popped off the MAF (air box housing)with a lound bang.

My wheeling runner the 84 is a 22R, the extra E gets me a scratchin anyway, then this... should I call a priest?

Hmmm...trying to decipher your question....gimme a minute ok-




So you got this 4Runner with an engine that was running but poorly? Since acquiring you have done some this and that for repairs and when you went to start it up again the thing backfired and blew the airtube off of the AirFlowMeter?

WOW. How well did it run when acquiring it? Have you had the distributor out of the head by chance? Done anything on the engine itself? Was the clamp on the air intake tube tight so that it couldnt be removed by just pulling on it? The only way for a 22R-E to backfire really is if an intake valve wasnt shutting properly, or not opening properly...and fuel was puddling in the runner. Guess if the timing were grossly off then of course it would backfire if the plug sparked as the intake/injector shot its 1/2 load. Need more info! When starting it with screwdriver wedging AFM open...was the air tube connected at both ends?

Gotta ponder this more, maybe decode some more of your message.

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

I am thinking some kinda timing issue as well. Have you checked the chain? See if the cam and crank marks line up. Where you using ether when this happened?

Sorry - worked all night / up all day <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" />.
trying to recall all I have done.

"So you got this 4Runner with an engine that was running but poorly? .....to start it up again the thing backfired and blew the airtube off of the AirFlowMeter?" Yes

I havent done anything to motor, except lil stuff oil change, checked plugs / wires. Pump Fuel Filter....

Was the clamp on the air intake tube tight so that it couldnt be removed by just pulling on it? Not sure - but it was loud!!!

"When starting it with screwdriver wedging AFM open...was the air tube connected at both ends?" YES

I never messed with Timing since it was running very stable to begin. I did check the TPS but it seemed ok (OHMS??).

"and fuel was puddling in the runner" I pumped the throttle pretty good to get fuel flowing

No ether today... just her on her own....

I'll peep some marks - might be tomorrow thou....

But I'll keep peekin in for more clues or answers to questions.

Thanks to you and Darin and all others!!!!

So are we thinking too much fuel.. the ghost in my machine....?????....

It sounds on the surface timing related to me. But the fact that it ran ok and you haven't messed with it gives pause to that line of thought.

Thief was saying that if your fuel pump is running and the Pressure regulator is working right you will have proper fuel pressure.
Also, pumping the throttle on an EFI engine doesn't do anything directly related to fuel delivery, other than allow more air in, fuel metering is the MAF, FPR and ECU's job.

Stupid question maybe, but have you had the head off to check the gasket or done a compresion/leakdown test?

"Stupid question maybe, but have you had the head off to check the gasket or done a compresion/leakdown test?" Not yet but lookin like a rebuild