3.0 V-6 Problems

[Dinky]

Have a 94 4-Runner w/V6 that won't run. Timing belt looks good and is aligned w/marks and TDC. Distributor Rotor is tight and @ #1 spot on rotor @ TDC. Coil resistance checks out. Igniter good and checked out w/one off of a running 94 v-6. Took exhaust off to check for blockage and tried to crank and getting white smoke. Advance timing about 10-15 degrees estimated and can get to run but no power and cuts off. Got fuel, got fire, got appears to be correct timing. What am I missing? Could Air Mass Sensor be a problem. No restrictions in Air Flow. Also, just before the problem occured, my son (his vehicle) stated her heard a clunk and something sounded like it broke off. Coincidental I think. Help!

[alltrac165]

Check compression. That engine is notorious for popping head gaskets. White smoke could be coolant.

[americanjebus]

yea check your coolant for oil or get a carbon monoxide reader and see if its in ur radiator.

[Dinky]

Thanks for the help. Will check these out but no oil in coolant and no coolant in oil. Vehicle has 230K mi. and was running great. Could it be the engine computer? I just don't think the fire is getting there at the right time. Checked the pickup coil in the distributor and resistance is in spec. The fact that I advanced the timing and got it to limp home makes me think electrical. I still think the clunk was coincidental since it was not clunk and then it went dead, but was a clunk, maybe 3 minutes went by, and then died. The white smoke (unburned fuel best I can tell) is coming out of both banks of cylinders and the head gasket problem was mostly @ #6 piston I think. Thanks for the sympaties.

FYI, I have another 94 that my middle son ran the engine 3 quarts low and has spun a rod bearing it sounds like on #5 and #6. Am going to take that apart and see if the crank is okay. Have a mechanic friend who has taken those, if caught early enough, put in a new bearing on that one rod, new oil pump, and got 50-60K more miles out of the engine.

[Dinky]

Looks like an intermitent ECU, cold start temp sensor, relay, rotor button, etc. seems to be the problem. It got cold and now it is running good so... will let all know. Know it is now not the timing or the compression.