Toilet running about 2 seconds every few minutes

hi Patricia.
Overview Toilets haven't changed much in the last 80 years. After a flush, water still fills a tank, lifting a float that shuts off the water when it reaches a certain level. A lever still opens a flapper to cause the flush, falling back into place when the water level drops. So it's no surprise (nor any consolation) that we face the same flush problems today that our grandparents did. Sometimes the flush is too wimpy, sometimes the toilet keeps running, and sometimes the bowl doesn't refill.
Our ace plumbing consultant has a simple four-step strategy to solve 95 percent of these problems. You can complete the first three steps in five minutes. That'll solve most problems. The fourth step is usually easy too, but not always. More on this later. These steps work for most toilets but not for pressure-assist models.
Check the fill tube

Overflow tube problem

Push the fill tube firmly onto the fill valve. Make sure the fill tube sends water into the overflow tube.Remove the tank lid and find the fill tube. It's a small flexible tube that runs from the fill valve to the overflow tube. While the tank refills, this tube squirts enough water down the overflow tube to refill the bowl after the completed flush. If this tube falls off or the water stream misses the overflow tube, the bowl won't fill and your next flush will be wimpy (that is, won't develop a strong siphon). Reattach the fill tube and make sure it perches about 1 in. above the rim of the overflow tube. Flush the toilet and watch the water stream to make sure it goes down the overflow tube.
Adjust the fill height

Check the float

Adjust the float to set the water level. Pinch the clip and slide the float up or down on the rod. Keep adjusting the float until the water shuts off at the proper level.The water level in the tank is controlled by an adjustable float. A float that's set too low produces a weak flush; if it's set too high, water spills into the overflow tube and the fill valve won't shut off. The toilet keeps running. Look for the fill level mark on the inside back of the tank and mark it on the overflow tube so you can see it more easily. If you can't find it, measure down about 1 in. on the overflow tube and make a mark. Then flush the toilet and see if the water reaches and stops at that mark. If not and the toilet keeps running, adjust the float up or down. If you have an old toilet, you'll have to bend the brass rod that connects to the float ball to make adjustments. But with newer toilets you usually turn a screw or slide a clip along a rod. Flush the toilet after each adjustment.
Also make sure that the water level is at least an inch below the C-L (critical level) marked on the fill valve. You can adjust the height of many valves to raise or lower the C-L.
Occasionally the fill valve simply won't shut off, which means that it's defective. If so, turn the water supply off at the shutoff under the tank. Buy a replacement valve (sold at hardware stores and home centers). You don't have to match the old one; many, like the one shown, fit most toilets. It's a 15-minute change-out.
Adjust the flush handle/flapper chain

Flapper chain fix

Adjust the chain to leave a little slack with the flapper closed. Then cut off the excess, leaving about an inch.A chain that's too short or tangled won't allow the flapper to close and water will continue to leak into the bowl. This causes the fill valve to cycle on and off to refill the tank. A chain that's too long, or a flush rod that hits the the tank lid, won't open the flapper wide enough to stay open for the full flush. You'll find yourself having to hold the lever to complete a good flush.
To avoid these problems, adjust the linkage in the chain to leave only a slight bit of slack when closed. Cut the chain at the rod to leave only about an inch extra to reduce the potential for tangles. Then put the tank lid back on and make sure the flush rod doesn't strike the lid when you press the lever. If it does, bend it down slightly and readjust the chain.
Replace the flapper

Change the flapper

Unsnap the old flapper and take it with you to the store to find an exact replacement. In addition to the closest replacement, pick up a "universal" type.If you've completed the first three steps and your toilet keeps running, chances are you have a worn-out flapper. Turn off the water, remove the old flapper and take it to the store to find an exact replacement. (Hardware stores often carry a wide variety.) Most flappers snap over ears on the overflow tube. Others have a ring that slips over the tube.
Now here's the catch. You may not find an exact match. The range of flapper styles has mushroomed over the last 15 years, and you may find 15 to 20 flapper options on the store shelf. Some packages include specific brand and model information (so note yours before you leave home). Others have a "universal" label. If you can't find an exact replacement, try the closest one and pick up a universal type as well. They're cheap, and the extra one just might save you a second trip to the store! (Avoid the "adjustable" types unless you're replacing an adjustable one.)
Install the new flapper and make sure it opens and closes freely. Then test it. If the toilet keeps running or runs intermittently, you're not getting a good seal. Try a different flapper if the toilet won't stop running.
If you just can't find a flapper that seals, consider replacing the entire overflow tube/flapper. On most toilets (two-piece), this means removing the tank. It's not difficult and you don't need special tools. It'll take you about an hour, and you'll avoid that expensive plumber service call.
if you go to this link it will show you step by step on how to fix it. How to Stop Running Toilet Family Handyman

Here is a link that may help Sloan Troubleshooting Guides

The toilet flapper valve is slowly leaking. When the water level drops sufficiently this opens the fill valve to bring the level back up. This is all controlled by the ball float. A simple solution is to buy a new toilet flapper valve for your brand of toilet.

Watch this video for clues on how to clean and replace:

The Kohler Cimarron is one of the most popular and reliable toilets out there. (My Favorite). However, depending on the hardness of the water and if you use cleaner tabs in the tank, these factors can lead to a malfunction.
The first thing you should do is hold the flapper (rubber seal inside the tank that releases the water down to the bowl) down with your hands for a few seconds after a flush and see if the toilet stops running. Sometimes the flapper doesn't seal properly therefore the fill valve keeps working non stop. Stopping the fill while holding the flapper down will confirm that your flapper needs to be changed.
If this doesn't work then try this....
The other common problem with a running toilet is with the fill valve itself. There is an attached float on the fill valve that goes up and down depending on the water level. Once the water level rises, it rises the float, and the float tells the fill valve to stop filling the tank. While the toilet is running (hissing), try raising the float all the way up with your hand and see if it stops. If it stops but not consistently with every attempt, then you will need to change the fill valve. I believe the Fluidmaster 400A is the replacement model.

Some water saver toilets are very problematic about not having enough water to thoroughly flush. Here are 2 things to look for:

First, after toilet stops running completely, check the water level. Most tanks will have a "full" line marked inside. If the water level is low, your fill valve will need to be adjusted.

Second, if the water level is fine, your "flapper" valve (very bottom of tank) may not be opening all the way. Watch valve as you flush the toilet. It should come up far enough to allow total unobstructive flow of water. If it isn't, adjust chain length until it does. Make sure there is a little slack left.

If neither of these solves your problem, you may have a partial clog that will need to be gotten out with a drain snake that can be purchased at any hardeware store.

what happens is the float is not staying open for long enough, by shorting the chain that goes to the flapper might help but you can only shorten it so much or the flapper does not close all the way then the toilet is just running and running. No you don't want that so the other thing you can do that might work is when you go to flush the toilet just hold the handel down for 5 seconds this will keep the float up and open for the Right amount of time. Other wise the other way to fix it witch is a old school trick is that you need to find a nice small piece of foam, witch floats and is about the size of a old half dollar and as least half inch thick, you place that on the chain that goes to the flapper so when the toilet is flushed the flapper will float and stay open . IF you do this just make sure to use a good piece of foam and secure it properly where it wont come off the chain.

There's a lot of variety in the works in the toilet tank. Assuming this is not a pressure-assisted toilet-----First understand the three valves are: 1. The shutoff valve - on the supply line coming into the toilet tank. 2. The fill valve - inside the tank, opens with the float descends, closes when the tank fills up. 3. The flush valve - inside the tank on the bottom. Common old style is a flapper on a pivot. Yours may operate straight up and down rather than on a pivot.
Three very common problems are---- 1. The chain that connects the handle to lift the flush valve is getting caught, not allowing the flush valve to close. 2. There is problem with the flush valve being able to get a good seal when it closes - could be debris or misalignment. 3. The fill valve is not closing when the tank is full, could need adjustment or there is debris preventing the valve to seat. . Here's are some steps to diagnose---- close the shutoff valve. Wait a few minutes as you watch the level in the tank. If the water level decreases, you have problem with the flush valve. To confirm the fill valve as the problem, turn the shutoff valve back on. Lift up on the float that is supposed to turn off the fill valve. If it shuts off, you should be able to adjust it - most have a +/- plastic adjustment screw. But if raising the float by hand only slows it down, you have problem with the seating of the fill valve - which can sometimes be cleaned, but more often would need to be replaced.
I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using FixYa.

Yes, it will run up your bill! Sounds like the float is hanging up. Take tank lid off and flush, watch the float and if your tank fills quickly but does not stop, bend the float arm to angle the float down further, this should allow your water to stop coming in much quicker. The other possibility could be if the plug at the bottom does not seal correctly after flushing, if so, the water will leak until the plug sits down all the way.

I have a Kohler toilet and Ingenium fill valve 85297-AA. My toilet kept running, the fill valve black cylinder wouldn't pop up and when I added blue food coloring to the tank, the blue color seeped through to the toilet bowl. First I replaced the flapper and that allowed the fill valve piece on the cylinder to pop up correctly and blue dye no longer seeped through to the bowl. I still heard a hissing sound when the toilet tank had filled and no water was going into the overflow tube. I called the tech support number on the Kohler website 1-800-4KOHLER (1-800-456-4537) . Here's what solved the problem: Turn off the water to the toilet.Take off the white cap of the fill valve by pushing it down and turning it counterclockwise as you would open up a childproof pill container. Then unhook the metal hook. Hold a cup upside down (I used a strong plastic cup) over the part of the fill valve that is left in the tank and turn on the water. (You need the cup because otherwise the water will squirt up to the ceiling.) The water will flush out the fill valve. Replace the cap and the hook and flush.