Only when it rains and is wet out, my 96 Runner spits and sputters when accelerating. In neutral it revs fine no issues, but put it in gear and accelerate and it hesitates and shudders. Then it smoothes out for a few seconds then repeats. When cruising at a constant speed, say 40mph, it will run smooth, then shudder, then smooth, shudder, smooth. You get the idea. While it was doing it I pulled over and looked under the hood to see if anything was wet around the intake, air filter, plugs/packs etc... All was dry. This only happens when it rains.

Any suggestions on what to look at?

 

anyone?

 

ok... well today I noticed that it is definatly increased when under load. Like I said, when cruising it is on/ off. Some times it does it and sometimes it doesn't. But today, whenever I whent up a hill or accelerated it really started to sputter. Like maybe a bad injector or the spark in a cylinder keeps going out. I just don't get what being wet has to do with it. Finally today my check engine light came on so I am going to go pull the codes and see where that points me.

 

Newbie Section--But i will help you out--Plugs, Wires, Coil Packs.....basics. Miles on the truck....Do your basic tests first then post back....You have to start ruling out problems......

 

ha... So only professional mechanics can post in here? And I am trying to rule out problems. I just thought I'd ask for a good place to start looking and if anyone had a similar problem, what they did to fix it just as everyone does on here.

Code 0303 is what I'm getting. Cyl #3 misfire. I have new plugs and wires on order, but I'm wondering about the coil pack. I'm about to search for ways to test it. I don't know anyone with a Runner to do a quick swap test so I need to find another way.

I also noticed if I'm idling in 'N' it is smooth. But when I put it in 'D' and sit there it runs crappy. Obviously putting a load on the engine makes the difference, but I'm wondering why while idling the small load from putting it in 'D' makes it loose spark. If that is the cause.

 

check the plugs before you get too worried. i had a sputtering problem only when accelerating last week and new plugs fixed it

 

definitely check your plugs first. make sure they are either denso or NGK (IMO, the best plugs for toyota, always bad luck with bosch). look carefully for a cracked insulator.

if you replaced the plugs/wires and you still have an issue then swap your coils and if the misfire jumps cylinders, then you know its a bad coil

 

I am not saying only professional mechanics can post here....but what you are posting about are the basics and it has been covered alot. You also didnt provide any real information. Mileage plays a big part in what is happening in a truck because parts wear out...period. i.e... O2 sensors start going at 80-100K, Plugs @80K....etc...The more posts we have like this the harder it is to find things in a search. J-Money$$$$ just had this problem--you could have piggy backed off his thread.....

See where i am coming from?

Henry

 

there seriously are 20 different thigs that can cause this.

so seachrching around and messing with the search feature for a few hours led me to my right answer. pull the plugs and check em. if they are good move on to the next thing. it could be tps, plugs, plug wires ect. good luck my freind

 

distributor cap

 

mine did the same thing. it was the plug wires

 

Mine also. The problem ended up being a cracked plug wire. I replaced the wires, coil packs and plugs and no problems since.

In the future, it would be helpful to have more information, like miles on the vehicle. Guessing on the problem presents more problems than it solves.