2000 Tacoma K&N intake Problem

I just installed a new K&N intake on my truck and while doing so I replaced the Bosh platniaum spark plug with cheaper NGK split fires. Once I had everything installed I turned the key to start the engine but before I cranked it over there was a buzzing sound coming from the EFI relay switch in the engine compartment. At this point the engine would crank over but wouldn't start or run. After about five minutes of scratching my head on what I might have missed I tried to start the engine one more time and it started???? I let it run for about 2 minutes then took off for a test run on the road then the Engine light came on. I reset the ECU by discontectin the batter for 15 minutes but the engine light came back after another test run.

Any ideas??? I'll take it to Auto Zone tomorrow and see what they find.

230500 miles on my TRD toy.

Non-related: first owner, only replaced two batteries, CV boots (due to 2.5 in. coil over kit lift), three timing belts, recently replaced water pump, 5 sets of front brake pads and thats it! Damn I love these trucks.

 

Only thing I can think of would be something did not go back together the way it was taken apart. Make double sure you plug wires are pushed all the way down on your spark plugs.

Also, did you check the spark plug gap. If not it might be too big and a plug might not be firing.

 

I bet you a penny it is the POS K&N it is giving you problems. See if putting back the stock intake will solve your problem. I have a feeling your K&N filter might have been over oiled and gunked up your MAF sensor. Go ahead and clean that up, DIY link below, and see if that works. Remember to clear the codes again.

http://4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/tacoma_4runner_30k/maintenancep5.html#maf

BTW, go find an Autozone or someplace else that will read your codes for free. Post them up here and we can help you out better, but my money is on the crappy filter/air intake.

edit: One more thing, what are NGK split fires? Are you talking about the dual pronged electrodes on the OEM NGK's?

 

From what I understand about K&N oil is that it is not compatible with Toyota sensors. Having a 2001 Tacoma just like yours, with a Cold air intake K&N. I had just the engine light come and go on its own. I switched to AFE oil. YOu can find it at most auto parts stores. AFE oil is compatible with the intake sensors and may solve your engine light problem. Its a cheap trouble shoot.

Good Luck.

 

i once fell victim to the whole K&N hype... then after a year or so in the late 90's went back to Toyota brand paper filters and never looked back..

 

Okay, I think that I solved the mistery about the K&N cold ait duct/box and check enging light problem. K&N oil-bad. clean,re-oil with AFE oil. The way that K&N designed their duct was the MAF was to sit on top of the duct instead of inside like the OEM intake .so they include a foam seal to stick around the MAF whole in the duct for the sensor to seal. The problem that I just noticed was that air was leaking around the seal allowing dirt and excess air to slip down stream the MAF. What I did was I took a vacuum hose extender and cut it down untill I found the exact ID of what the OEM intake MAF sensor port was. I cut a piece of the vacuum pipe 3/8" long, and enlarged the existing MAF hole in the K&N duct and epoxied the vacuum pipe in. Now the MAF sits in the K&N duct properly, just like the OEM intake. Ensuring an air tight seal for the MAF. allowing no excess air to slip by the MAF. On the drive home the check engine light cleared its self and has not came back.

 

I doubt its the K&N intake i have the 77 series and i have oiled it twice with regular K&N oil and it runs awesome, its so much better than the pos stock one.

 

i am having this exact problem like three days after installing the k+n cold air intake. i emailed k+n this is my reply. i like the end part
also i did not inform the k+n service that my truck is randomly stalling when i hit my clutch

air filter
Inbox
x


xxxxxxx<xxxxxxx@gmail.com>
Dec 29 (2 days ago)

to tech
hello my name is brad and i have intstalled a k&n high flow air filter kit (the black pvc one)
part no 57-9015-1. it is installed on a 2001 toyota tacoma 3.4l. i am very happy with the fit and finish of the kit. it went on easy and gave a pretty good difference preformance wise. i am emailing because i have just now (after 300kms) had the engine light come on on the dash. i have a code reader and when i read the code, it gives me a p0171-system too lean (bank 1).
my questions are:
-is the air filter oiled from the factory? i have heard that if any oil comes off of the filter and gets on the mass air flow sensor it can cause it to misread and lean out the engine.
-has this problem been reported to you before, and if it has, is there any other causes?
-it has gotten pretty cold up here in ontario (-15'C or lower) would this have an effect?
i have erased the code about 25 kms ago and it has not come back yet. i really like the product and appreciate your help in trying to fix the problem. thanks.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <xxxxxxxx@knfilters.com>
12:34 PM (8 hours ago)

to me
Dear K&N Customer,

Thank you for contacting K&N regarding your experiences with the K&N intake system for your Tacoma. The intake system that you have listed is the correct kit for your vehicle, and practically all K&N air filters come oiled from our facility. However, the oil used on your air filter is not the cause for check engine lights per our testing and investigation into these claims of oil fouling a MAF sensor. If you are experiencing a check engine light and you believe that the problem is due to the K&N intake system, please double check the installation to ensure that the kit has no air leaks and that it is properly installed. If the problem persists, please contact our customer service line 1-800-858-3333 to speak with one of our dedicated agents for further assistance.

Thank you for writing,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-Product Specialist-
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@KNFilters.com
K&N Engineering Inc.
www.knfilters.com
(800) 858- 3333
*When replying please include this entire e-mail*

The statement above is intended solely for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and is not to be publicized, republished, forwarded, copied or repeated without expressed permission from K&N Engineering Inc., and only when done so in its entirety. If you are not a named recipient, you are also on notice of its status. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message from your system. You must not disclose it to any other person, copy or distribute it or use it for any purpose

 

all though the KN guys have tested their product, they can not account for all anomlies within every system. I personally have experenced a change in oil on the filter element causing a check engine light to clear. Also the design flaw I described in the earlier post presented a problem. I can not say other members have or will encounter similar issues or resolutions based on my experences. The content documented within my threads are based on one subject/tacoma.
Finally,
After several years of inconsistant check engine lights and P0420 codes while the use of the K&N cold air duct & box, was in place. My catalysist system totaly failed. The cause of this very expensive failure was determined by profesionals at dealers and URD.com's tech support. The duct's larger diameter around the MAF slowed the velocity of the air. The MAF senced the reduction in air speed which adjusted the fuel-air mixture. How ever the amount of air injested by the engine was more than the OEM ECU was programed for. This leanes out the engine and increases the exhaust gas temp's much higher than engineers of this engine would account for. So this high EGT caused the O2 and cataylic converters to fail.
The resolution for this was new converters and new O2 sensors. This was thousands of dollars. Much more to fix a problem caused by something that may have been advertised to save money on gas and increase performance.
This K&N system was installed in 2004. I hope the engeneering has improved by then, but this has convinced me that little bolt on accessories arent worth the damage they may cause over years of use. Toyota's engineers had degrees and spent thousands developing their product's to perform to a high standard. Im sure if their design team saw that an improvement was needed by bolting on a canaster filter with a duct was necessary they would have already sold the truck with one on it.