1998 2.7l Tacoma Cutting Out

[Zzlorp]

My '98 short box, 4x4, 2.7l 4cylinder Tacoma just started cutting out intermittently....It just loses power for a second then comes right back. It isn't doing it at any specific time, and it doesn't matter if it I am accelerating or cruising. It does seem worse when I am in a lower gear (turning higher rpm's). The truck has 101,000 miles, and has been trouble free until now. No check engine light.

A couple of people have suggested changing the fuel filter, where is it and how big of a pain is it to change?

Also, what is the recommended time to change the plugs and wires on these engines?


Thanks!

 

[Duane]

Sort of a personal choice I suppose on the mileage or time that one changes plugs, leads, fuel filter, air filter etc.

Filters tend to need more attention in dirtier conditions.
Plugs tend to need more attention in bad conditions such as poorer engine condition for example.
Plug leads vary on time due to such things as oil leaks, and heat damage due to routing for example especially typical if headers are installed.

Personally I shoot for 50 to 60,000 miles between tuneups, being fuel filter, plugs and leads, check timing, advance etc.
Air filter depends on how dirty it is getting, thus I check and replace it when needed. Dusty trails then I check it often!
Not certain where your fuel filter is but I was lazy and had a local shop change mine and the mechanic was not so happy getting at it. I usually take the hit and get both diffs, transmission, xfer case fluids and check the coolant/or flush at the same time I get a tuneup done.
My opinion is to do some preventative up front and it should pay back in better fuel economy and reliabilty down the road.
just my 2 cents

 

[97taco]

i dont know if it helps since its newer and differnt motor but my 86 use to do that it was the ignitor

 

[briansc33]

I would go through and give it a full tune-up, fuel filter included.
The fuel filter on your rig is under the intake manifold, which makes it a pain to get to. You will need to use an 8" extension, or a 6" and 3" in order to get to all the bolts. Take your time and have some patience, you'll get it.
While you're at it go ahead and get some CRC QD electronic cleaner and clean your MAF sensor, and some CRC air intake cleaner and clean out your throttle body and 'butterfly'. I'm sure you will be very happy with the results of a thorough tune-up.

 

[Zzlorp]

I would go through and give it a full tune-up, fuel filter included.
The fuel filter on your rig is under the intake manifold, which makes it a pain to get to. You will need to use an 8" extension, or a 6" and 3" in order to get to all the bolts. Take your time and have some patience, you'll get it.
While you're at it go ahead and get some CRC QD electronic cleaner and clean your MAF sensor, and some CRC air intake cleaner and clean out your throttle body and 'butterfly'. I'm sure you will be very happy with the results of a thorough tune-up.

Well it just went through a total tune-up at the local dealership yesterday, and it didn't fix the problem. They told me that fuel filter issues are really rare on the 4cyls.

So what are the symptoms of a dying fuel pump on these trucks?

 

[WristPin]

go to the junkyard and get a MAP sensor. then swap it out

 

[Zzlorp]

Still nothing solved...

Well we put it on the computer and there were no trouble codes, and the service tech test drove the hell out of it...of course it wouldn't cut out for him....

The running theory is that it is one of my coils is going bad and intermittently shorting out...this makes sense for me as far as ignition coils are concerned, but this is the first vehicle I have owned that has distributer-less ignition...

 

[SteveH]

You would think that a bad coil would trigger a misfire code on that cylinder. Also, if it's a big power loss during this cut-out, it may be more than one cylinder. I'd do a compression test just as a baseline for any future diagnostic work - you should be sure that there's no internal issues that are complicating the diagnosis.

 

[Zzlorp]

I have no concerns about the internal health of the engine, it has 100,000 miles on it, a has no power issues except when the "problem" hits....gas mileage is great, zero blow-by, no smoke, etc...

As for a misfire code, the Toyota service techs told me that it wouldn't give a code unless the coil totally failed. Also all the computer gets from the coil is signal that it is firing, not that it is firing at the proper voltage.