TOYOTA 4RUNNER 3.4 CRANKS BUT NO START DIAGNOSIS 

When a new problem happens after working on a vehicle, it is almost always because of something the mechanic did. So I usually retrace my steps, which might have led to the discovery of the damaged reluctor wheel. Even with inadequate history you found the issue, great story.

What I learned from your channel is I don’t know anything about cars anymore. But I still like it.

You are bad ass brother!! I wish you were in my neighborhood. You would be my go to guy. I love your attitude and the way you sort though problems. Thanks for all the videos and content to help other people.

I hasn’t check that part yet hopefully that’s the problem , I will do it ASAP, last time I took my car to the Toyota dealer Champion in South Houston they ripped me off big time for a simple job and keep my car for two weeks, thanks for the video I really appreciated very much 👍

You are the competent technician that found the solution to the problem. Somebody really screw up that crank timing gear.

1 in a 1000 of todays techs can do what this man did.

My t100 has been down for 6 years and during this virus lockdown I decided to give it another go and I found this video. I tore my truck down and sure enough I had 3 or 4 teeth broken off that gear. Thanks brother for the help!

Wish we had more honest mechanics like you man

This is exactly why i work on my own car. I can't imagine how much he paid before he got to you!

Good video. Lab scopes are very very important. They are the eyes in the industry. Great call

And that ladies and gentlemen is the reason why a visual inspection is so important!

Awesome job, I like the way you went straight for the Cam and Crank signals they wont lie, so the customer was right , the belt was timed properly but faulty Crank signal (due to missing teeth) was not allowing to start. Keep up the great work.

I am a DIY and work on my own vehicles . Right away , it sounded off when cranking . If you heard pops from intake and/or exhaust , that is saying that it is out of time or a valve is burnt or stuck open . I also noticed that the tach never moved at all when it was cranked . I don't know if it does on that Toyota . How do they charge for parts and labor , when it DOESN'T fix the car ? They need to SETTLE on NET cost on the parts ONLY , NO LABOR - or be sued in small claims court . How do they get away with it ? I did miss the gas guage on empty . That could have also been a possible issue . Great fix Eric . Right to the problem and proved with the scope BEFORE replacing the bad gear . There is a video of a Chevy VAN . The engine was rebuilt at a machine shop . They put a V6 reluctor wheel on a V8 crank ! Then the fun began - AFTER it was installed ! It was found with a lab scope . Imagine the engine swap - in a VAN !!!!!!

And THAT'S how you earn life time customers. Well Done!

You are amazing. Sorry to hear the owner went through two other mechanics and numerous replacement parts before coming to you.

Dude you’re a genius. You saved the life of that 4Runner.

Cool find 👍 That’s exactly what happened on my 97 Camry. I accidentally dropped it and didn’t noticed one of the gear teeth went missing. I replaced the oil pump o-ring, seal, and crankshaft seal, started the engine and only ran for 5 seconds and immediately shut off. After scratching my head and trying to figure out what I did wrong, it was the dam timing belt gear ⚙️ was damaged. Quick trip to the junkyard, had the Camry running next day with no further issues 😁

What a great video and I'm glad that you are in Houston. Very soon you will be hearing from me. You are great at diagnosing and explaining it to the viewers.

You rock! Must be a master technician or you handled it like a pro.

really good to see a methodical approach with no guess work. i've watched lots of your videos and i am impressed with your work.

Nice video.I enjoy the way you look at things. It's hard to fix stupid.

Diagnosis is an art. 👌

Another great diagnosis from Eric!!!. No taking guesses or shoting in the dark....great video.

Thanks for the explanation as to why that gear had teeth missing! Who would have guessed.

Great stuff , I'm a old fart still adjusting his carb on a old Land Cruiser , this new trouble shooting blows my mind.

Brilliant diagnosis 1 of my best car mechanics.

I am so happy I stumbled upon this vid. Been trying to figure out for days what is the problem with my truck., I noticed in the pics I took before closing up the covers that it is missing 2 teeth next to each other right below the crank timing circle up top. So thank you so much, i never would of came to that on my own.thanks for the knowledge you share with us. Gonna order the part now :)

Excellent true auto mechanic ! Great work !

My 4unner is doing the same thing you were explaining in the video

Just to get the info out there... My sequoia recently stopped running, seemed like it was a fuel starvation issue... bad fuel pump... but it was not... then things seemed to indicate an ECU issue, but it was not... Finally after hours and hours over a few weeks, of tracing down the problem, I found the wires to the crank sensor had been damaged by the serpentine belt! Fixed them, and Bingo it runs!

Simply AMAZING and thorough troubleshooting skills using the proper technological tools and methods along with good old common sense which is not so common anymore! Great Job! 👍

Excellent. Expierence shows on this mechanic.. Great Job. ;-)

I saw that on a Corolla from a loose bolt falling down, great find.

Wow good job troubleshooting! Previous mechanic probably knew it but hid the issue

Good ole scope. Good read of the information.

Thanks for sharing this video with us.

Great video!! Great diagnosis!! Thanks for sharing!! 👍👍👍👍👍

This level of detective work by mechanics is rare. question i have similar backfire/no start symptom on my 5vz-fe but if I unplug the Cam Position sensor(brand new) it starts & runs ok. Does this sound familiar? Did this 4 runner run with Cam pos sensor unplugged? Thanks in advance! My $35 Amazon diagnostic computer is not as good as yours lol, it doesn’t show wave forms it just say “P0340 cam pos sensor”

The timing belt idler pulley does not look like it was replaced because of the rust on it. Good work on finding the problem. Sir.

Awesome videos man. Love your style of diagnosing problems.

Excellent mechanic, thank you for video

hello i have a problem with my 4 runner 98 there's a water hole that goes from the block to the intake since it explde on me and got everything wet after i reapir it it won't start , i replace the crank sensor, coils and still won't start since then i can't figure out what can be.

Well done ,the power of an oscilloscope

great job,hope you keep posting more often.

Great information.super video

Very good diag. Thumbs up bro.

Glad he brought it to you!!!

awesome video nice diagnosis

Thanks 👍 for your lectures sir

My 2000 4runner had the same symptoms. But mine also had the red security light blinking as I cranked it. Turns out I had forgotten that I had dropped my replacement ignition key on the concrete earlier. It came apart in 3 pieces. I put it back together and thought nothing of it until an hour later when I Inserted that key and turned it to start. Again it cranked fine but wouldn't start. Now I'm thinking my issue is that key not the engine. I found an old original key, took it out to the 4runner and bingo...it started right up! I will now pay attention to the red security warning light.

Video was super helpful I would not have got mine fixed if it wasn't for this vid...

Two thumbs up

I have a 1999 Toyota 4Runner with a v6 automatic I got a p0335 and a p0340I know it's the crankshaft positioning sensor and the camshaft positioning sensor however this is what happened is battery grounded the positive terminal so it won't turn over anyting I put my OBD scanner on it I can turn it over and start it but as soon as I hit the brake it dies any help will do I think it's a wiring problem they got fried or something

Great Video! Excellent*

Great video small details

If one has a live stream obd2 reader you can pass a magnet across the crank or cam sencer, and it will be picked up on the scanner

Great video Thanks

A1 diagnosis

My 07 4Runner is doing the same exact thing when I try to start it, it cranks and cranks and cranks but never turns over and fires up the engine. In your opinion, what could be wrong that is causing this issue and how can I fix it!? Thank you

Nice find 👌

thanks for info i have same problem one of my teeth was bent good job

professor yu should name yu nuh play . i am a Mechanic also i learn a lotfrom yu great job bro

well done

Great information. Smart guy. Thank you.

Very good job bro ..very good approach 👍

I have a 97 toyota 4runner. Same engine, 3.4 I keep getting CEL p1300 runs fine for 20 minutes then check engine light comes on and it just shuts off. I've changed all kinds of parts. No luck.... any suggestions?

Nice find.

I wonder if this is what's wrong with my wife's 4runner it's doing the same thing already replaced fuel pump crank and cam sensor and still nothing

Good work !

Hi mine shows p0171 and it does have a starting issue the same like the one you have what do you think is the problem a Mechanic told me the Toyota always goes bad with the fuel regulator and he didn’t have a good scanner like yours

Sharp guy.

I shall call you the Car Whisperer

Hey bro, have a question for you. I dropped a jdm 5vzfe engine in a tacoma but wont run with correct firing order 1-4, 3-6, 5-2. But when i swap around the firing order up 1-6, 3-4, 5-2 will run but with misfire code with #1,#3#6 code. Anyone of y'all could help me please feel free to reply. Thanks for the help!

Thank you very much. You are a wizard.

Superb sir.well done.

I have crank but no start, did the diagnostic test on my 95 4runner 3.0 & it says that the vehicle is flawless as far as codes go... Hard to believe considering my vehicle still won't start. I found a blown efi fuse so I replaced that. What would cause that to pop ? I'm getting fuel, i have weak spark, starter is good, it's grounded correctly. I'm thinking it's either the timing, igniter, ignition module, or distributor. And yes, I've replaced the battery. Any help would be nice.. I'm having a hard time with this vehicle

Similar thing happened to me with a miata, low, uneven compression on all cylinders, checked timing marks were off, however on that very same crank gear the channel that the keyway slips into and on the crank it was badly distorted to the point that when cylinder one was at top dead center the mark on the cover was off, which led me to checking marks and belt alignment, good thing was that a new gear and keyway is all it took to fix it, crank itself was OK, still showed it to the owner and let him decide what he wanted to do, car ran great for a couple of days before giving it back to him, he never brought it back so assumed all is well

Good video

I’m having the same problem with my 2002 Toyota 4Runner. Will crank but won’t start. My car sounds exactly like the one in the video.

Why did no one check the crank and cam sensors first? A shop had it for weeks and didn't look at this, that blows me away.

That's pretty neat how you interpret those wave forms and figure out something isn't right, great video, and also I seen you and Oz diagnosing a Lincom a while back that was a cool video, anyway a fan from Michigan here, im thinking some of those techs not to familiar with wave fomrs or to lazy to master them, anyways good video.

Hi. I have a 2001 Lexus ls430 with throttle response issues. It’s acting like it’s in lips mode. You have to slowly push the pedal to be able to drive it. If you revert it sputter almost want to die. Any idea of what to look for or diagnose? Would appreciate if you have any recommendations.

I have a 99 4runner that sat for 4yrs and have replaced the pump and sock in tank. I have fuel and spark it acts like it wants to crank for a split second and then nothing so pulled plugs changed them same so pulled all the plugs and they are wet rolled engine over and seems like getting too much fuel. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated not much out there on this topic Thanks

Your dam good mercnick buddy

Having a similar issue on my 97 4runner, just that it happens every now and then. Engine starts idling high around 2k rpm at idle when in PARK and if I turn it off It'll crank but no start and smells like gas. But If I put it back into drive, idle drops, then I turn it off. Turns on more often. Any advise as to what to check?

Got a 4runner 1996 by 3.4L I changed spark plug and coil pack but still shakes

I had this same thing happen to mine but mine still turn on cause I had only broken one tooth off by trying to pry that gear off with a pry bar when I did my head gaskets , took me so long to find what was wrong but once I found it and replaced it in about an hour it started up first try

Can anyone please tell me where the crank sensor is on this engine I have a 1995 t100 with a 3.4 I can't find the sensor to change it

Hello! Nice video, thank you! I have a v6 88 Toyota 4Runner. There is no work on the engine recently. Checked the compression and is between 160-180, not sure if it’s good or bad….my complaint is that my truck starts only with starting fluid. If I turn it off it will only crank but no start unless I apply starting fluid. It straggles to start and when it does, engine is unstable, no strength to move forward, fumes smell toxic…I don’t think I have issues with the timing….any suggestion? Please advice. Thanks much!

Man I need a mechanic like him around.... I was jump starting my 4runner. The cables got crossed. Burnt the main relay. Replaced but still won't start. Turns over now but not firing. Was firing before hand.. idk what it might be

Well done my friend. Sam

I've got a 2000 model 4runner and it got hot and shut off on me BC apparently my temperature hand isn't working and when it cooled all the way down I went to crank it so I could put water in it and it's doing the exact same thing the vehicle in this video is doing what do you recommend it might be

I have the problem with same vehicle and it cranks without starting. It also make a little loud notice occassionally when trying to start the vehicle. The issue started upon fixing a new engine as it's old engine knocked. Please what do I do?

Sweet logic.

goood job !

Really need help... I have toyota surf 1kz 3.0 inline engine with the exact symptom... now how can i check the reluctor teeth considering the location... The crankshaft position sensor is almost in the engine block

just installed new ignition switch on my 2001 4 runner limited edition it'll turn over but still won't start has new battery getting plenty of fuel just need to find out why it'll turn over but won't crank

Would have been nice to see the confirmed fix.

I’m having the same exact same problem 3.4 6v Tacoma but my reluctor wheel is fine any suggestions?

People never take your car to the dealer , they will rip u off, that nice fancy dealer has bills to pay and selling cars doesn't cover , get u a personal mechanic u can trust