From: mcdonaldjc@verizon.net   
      
   Feels like I can confidently confirm the Crankshaft Positioning Sensor was   
   the source of this problem.  A little more obscure than I expected, but at   
   203k miles, just about anything could be wearing out.  This was not cheap,   
   hope to get another 50k miles now.   
      
   Jere   
      
   "JMc"  wrote in message   
   news:hhtb8o$4jp$1@news.eternal-september.org...   
   > There are no codes logged or pending.  As an intermittent, it has been   
   > very difficult to diagnose, but my brother on holiday visit is convinced   
   > it is a crankshaft position sensor.  He tells me it is a perfect symptom   
   > match on the interruption of ignition, and very easily can explain trouble   
   > starting. We (ok he) is not exactly sure of the high-pitch bearing noise,   
   > and unfortunately that has not exhibited itself this week.  I'll run a   
   > tank of gas through after replacement and report back if anyone is   
   > interested.   
   >   
   > Jere   
   >   
   > "JMc"  wrote in message   
   > news:hh3m07$7cl$1@news.eternal-september.org...   
   >> My 1997 4Runner with 203,000 miles has begun exhibiting a strange problem   
   >> that seems to be electrical.  While driving the engine stumbles, the   
   >> brake light on the dash comes on, then in most cases the engine catches   
   >> again, the brake light goes out and I drive on.  So far it has never   
   >> actually stalled the engine entirely, but I've lost power to a dangerous   
   >> extent. Often this happens two, three, as many as six times in succession   
   >> before it seems to clear.  I've noticed a high-pitched small motor   
   >> bearing noise from under the hood at about the same time, as though a   
   >> bearing in perhaps an alternator or other similar sized unit is wearing   
   >> out.  Ok, I understand it is an old enough truck that any of these things   
   >> could be normal wear and tear, but it is Christmas, and a long weekend   
   >> till I might get a chance to have diag codes read.  I'm not even sure   
   >> anything will have registered.  I am most puzzled by the clear connection   
   >> between the brake light and the apparent electrical problem.   
   >>   
   >> Any ideas I might look at tomorrow, any hope that the brake light   
   >> indicator is just an indicator that some code is being logged?   
   >>   
   >> Thanks,   
   >> Jere   
   >   
      
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