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YACT: problems with truck (fix?) & advice on a new one **UPDATED & FIXED**

R

randal

Golden Member
My daily driver is a real beater - a 1982 toyota 4x4 pickup (4cyl/5spd manual). I was driving to my cybercafe tonight and while doing about 45 in 5th gear and I noticed that it was doing some stuttering - the truck would kinda shimmy or shake like it had just hit a small bump in the road. It did this for the last 1/2 mile or so to the store. In the parking lot, I could rev the engine up to ~4k (redlines at 5.2k) and leave it and it ran smoothly, as usual. From what I observed in my short drive, it only happens while moving, and only while not moving fast (is fine below 20mph/3rd gear). Any idea as to the cause? I'm thinking tranny, unfortunately.

With that being said, anybody have a good suggestion on a $4-5,000 car that is basically for commuting? I was thinking a honda accord, but the new ones are awfully expensive. I'm looking for something that is comfortable (my truck is definitely not) and can commute ~20 miles a day and is -reliable reliable reliable-.

Thanks!

Randal

Update - Well, yesterday morning I replaced my fuel filter & air filter with no luck - still stuttering and bucking. Didn't get a chance to work on it last night, but this morning I picked up a fuel filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap & rotor. I installed the fuel pump first and it helped a LOT - it would only semi-buck once every minute or so, and it wasn't as bad as before ... so I replaced all the other parts and it looks like she's running well again. For some reason, though, it's running super super rich, so I'll have to tune out my carb when I get a chance.

Thanks again!
 
From your description, it sounds more like a suspension issue.

Is it a constant thing? Maybe you just knocked a tooth or something off of one of the gears.

If it happens during acceleration, it could be the clutch beginning to slip.
 
Not during acceleration or acceleration in particular - does it at constant velocity, and did it the whole way to the store - not on and off. Kinda like the whole thing just shimmies. I've blown a headgasket before so I know what it's like to lose a cylinder, and it does not feel like that at all. Power is still 100%, minus when it kinda skip/bounce/shudder/shimmy/hitsawall
 
Might be as simple as needing the fuel system cleaned. If the fuel filter has never been changed, you might want to replace it and have the carb cleaned. I'll bet that fixes it. Sounds like when the engine is just past lugging, it's having trouble getting enough fuel.

ZV
 
Would it still do the shimmy while parked, or would it being under load change things? I'll swing by autozone in the morning and swap that out , just to be safe. Any other ideas out there?
 
Being under load would change it. The engine needs much less fuel to run at high RPM if it's in neutral. For example, you can redline with only about 1/3 throttle in neutral, but most vehicles can't redline in 5th gear even at full throttle. Heavy load requires more fuel. So a marginal fuel delivery system would show up first under load.

ZV
 
You should be able to get a 2000 Ford Focus for about that price. Mine has been super reliable. I've had it since april 2001. It gets 30 mpg everywhere. I have a wagon, so it'll hold a bunch of stuff.

hth
 
Zenmervolt - thanks a bunch, you may have saved me from buying a new car - we'll know tomorrow. As for the brakes, it could be. They're maybe 3 years old, but I'll take a look at 'em tomorrow tomorrow morning (when it's not dark).
 
The truck is carb'd, and as far as I know it's never been rebuilt - engine has been really reliable since I've had it (7 years). Vacum leak makes sense, but I was thinking that would make it run really badly across the board.
 
Well, yesterday morning I replaced my fuel filter & air filter with no luck - still stuttering and bucking. Didn't get a chance to work on it last night, but this morning I picked up a fuel filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap & rotor. I installed the fuel pump first and it helped a LOT - it would only semi-buck once every minute or so, and it wasn't as bad as before ... so I replaced all the other parts and it looks like she's running well again. For some reason, though, it's running super super rich, so I'll have to tune out my carb when I get a chance.

Thanks a bunch for your help, guys!
 
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