Jumping/hesitating Problem

[tired_boy]

I hope this makes any sense as i cant explain myself very well and i have next to no knowledge of cars.

I have a 1996 petrol 3 door RAV4. I have had it for about 4 months now and havent serviced it yet. I was given it by a friend who had it for 5 months or so and who didnt have the issue i am about to explain. It had stood for a couple of months before i got it from him. At first it was jumping around a bit when i accelerated, as if it was 'missing' as some have put it. I tried the Red-X petrol treatment to see if the injectors could be cleaned this way, if that was the problem. It didnt make any difference. However, the problem would come and go and there wasnt a obvious pattern, it was intermittent.

It gradually got worse. It got to the point where it wasnt just 'missing' but i would put my foot on the power and it wouldnt go faster, so i put it down further, then it felt almost as if it was holding the power back, then when i was nearly foot to the floor it would finally go.

I have taken it to the garage and there has been a suggestion that it may be the air flow meter.

Then it virtually went away for nearly 2 months (strange!), but this week it has come back with avengance! I used to be able to hold it at a set speed without it jumping/missing but now its all the time almost, when i put my foot down a little bit it can bring it on even worse, or the power is 'held back', the only time it is smooth is when my foot is fully down. Initially the problem was worse in 4th and 5th gear but it can do it in all the gears now. In 1st and 2nd it really makes the car bounce around. It can be quite on and off, one day i can keep it going relatively smoothly, the next day its like a kangaroo!

[jps71]

I would first check/replace the fuel filter.

Also pump the button on top of the fuel filter housing to clear any air out of the system.

I gounf this worked with mine.

Cheers Jim

[anchorman]

(This is one of the old petrols Jim)

Start with the obvious and change the plugs. After that, pay particular attention to the distributor and leads. Sometimes if you lift the bonnet and run the engine in the dark you will see the offending part arcing.

[tired_boy]

Thanks for your replies - i have new plugs and will be changing them Wednesday morning. I forgot to mention something else - the revs will idle just under 1000 but sometimes (when the problem seems to be quite bad) i can put my foot down on the clutch and the rev counter will be bouncing up and down between about 750 and 110 continually.

Any thoughts on the air flow meter suggestion made by the mechanic?

[igormus]

I hope this makes any sense as i cant explain myself very well and i have next to no knowledge of cars.

I have a 1996 petrol 3 door RAV4. I have had it for about 4 months now and havent serviced it yet. I was given it by a friend who had it for 5 months or so and who didnt have the issue i am about to explain. It had stood for a couple of months before i got it from him. At first it was jumping around a bit when i accelerated, as if it was 'missing' as some have put it. I tried the Red-X petrol treatment to see if the injectors could be cleaned this way, if that was the problem. It didnt make any difference. However, the problem would come and go and there wasnt a obvious pattern, it was intermittent.

It gradually got worse. It got to the point where it wasnt just 'missing' but i would put my foot on the power and it wouldnt go faster, so i put it down further, then it felt almost as if it was holding the power back, then when i was nearly foot to the floor it would finally go.

I have taken it to the garage and there has been a suggestion that it may be the air flow meter.

Then it virtually went away for nearly 2 months (strange!), but this week it has come back with avengance! I used to be able to hold it at a set speed without it jumping/missing but now its all the time almost, when i put my foot down a little bit it can bring it on even worse, or the power is 'held back', the only time it is smooth is when my foot is fully down. Initially the problem was worse in 4th and 5th gear but it can do it in all the gears now. In 1st and 2nd it really makes the car bounce around. It can be quite on and off, one day i can keep it going relatively smoothly, the next day its like a kangaroo!

hello mate

- injectors must be ultrasonically cleaned;

- spark plugs must be checked/changed

- engine air filter must be inspected/changed

- MAF sensor must be cleaned/degreased

- throttle must be checked/cleaned

try this and revert

Chers/Igor

[tired_boy]

Hello Igor. The MAF sensor - is this what sticks into the side of the air filter box? If so, that has been cleaned. Air filter has been inspected and appears to be fine. Plugs will be changed when i use the car again on Wedensday.

Thanks for your suggestions

[igormus]

Hello Igor. The MAF sensor - is this what sticks into the side of the air filter box? If so, that has been cleaned. Air filter has been inspected and appears to be fine. Plugs will be changed when i use the car again on Wedensday.

Thanks for your suggestions

hello again

check with the pinned section with good tips made by our moderators -- i presume you'll locate position of this MAF sensor.

sorry mate i have no diagram in my hands to point you.

Cheers/Igor

[tired_boy]

Hello, changed the plugs today and added a petrol additive like Red-X. Car running exactly same as before. Fuel filter is £20-00. Not sure whether or not to plug away with these cheaper options when they are going to end up costing as much as this air flow meter suggested by the mechanic........

[jps71]

Have a look at the ht leads in the dark see if you can see them aecing anywhere.

Also check the connections on the leads.

[tired_boy]

Thanks for the suggestions - all leads seem fine and just been outside while its dark and no probs there.

Just to add to the saga - today i did a 10 mile journey and it was absolutely fine (i took it steady mind you), then it just started doing it for no apparent reason. It then had a better than normal day, a good 6 mile ride home, but then it started doing it again when i nipped out just now for 5 minutes. There seems to be no rhyme or reason.........

Fuel filter next? Any idea how long that might take a mechanic? Wish i could do it myself but i am quite hopeless!

[anchorman]

I'm doubtful about the fuel filter on a petrol. Injector cleaner is the best additive.

Is it the early one with a distributor or has it got induction coil packs?

[bothwell_buyer]

From the symptoms it could well be the earth lead from the Battery to the engine block. his corrodes and causes misfiring etc. I have just had the same problem and have a temp fix - a heavy jump lead from the Battery earth to the lifting hook on the engine. Problem sorted until it goes to the garage today to get the lead replaced.

If nothing else, you could try it and it won't cost you anything unless you need to borrow a jump lead.

[tired_boy]

Thanks for the last suggestion, i will look into that.

In the meantime can anyone point me to a picture of an air flow meter for my 1996 rav 4? If i had to order one (mechanic had already ordered 2 that were wrong) i am not 100% sure what i am looking at. I found one online but he asked me to check his number with one on that part

[igormus]

Thanks for the last suggestion, i will look into that.

In the meantime can anyone point me to a picture of an air flow meter for my 1996 rav 4? If i had to order one (mechanic had already ordered 2 that were wrong) i am not 100% sure what i am looking at. I found one online but he asked me to check his number with one on that part

Mr Parts King is your life boat

Cheers/Igor

[tired_boy]

I have just found this link -

http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24176&sid=139098ed4405477492ec865dd197575d

Could this part (MAP sensor) be causing problems i am having?

[bothwell_buyer]

See other post. Check the contacts for corrosion as well.