Truck randomly dies on me, help?

Ok so my 03 just suddenly started dying on me right after start up, happened yesterday and then today. Has never happened before; also just got it maintenanced yesterday at the dealership and could not replicate it or figure out what it was.
Started it yesterday and put it in reverse and then my truck just shut off, it was still in drive and the battery and oil light both lit up. Then I started it again, no problems put it back in park and was able to drive off and the oil and battery light did not show again.
Happened again today going to work, put it in reverse out of my garage and just shut off even after yesterday's maintenance. They changed spark plugs and all those goodies. What I'm worried about is it shutting off as I'm driving on the highway especially...but seems to happen after putting it in reverse.
Any thoughts or insight about this problem?

 

Ok no help. Thanks

 

Dereck, as active as this forum is, you only posted 3 hours ago. depending on time zone, the 3 hours were most likely dinner time or time to put kids to bed.
Keep in mind people may view the thread to see the issue and then leave as they don't have an answer or troubleshoot idea for you.

good luck. here are threads involving truck dieing randomly.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/322851-engine-randomly-dies.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/47796-help-truck-dies-randomly.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/322846-engine-randomly-dies-while-driving.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/306431-engine-randomly-cuts-off.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/261107-engine-randomly-dies-help.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/159128-engine-stalled-randomly.html

 

Ok, well that's a start. Thanks

 

Ok so it doesn't do it everyday but seems to occur on hot startups, it will show the battery and oil pressure light and then die on me but easily starts back up and then runs fine. Anyone have any leads or thoughts? Could it be something electrical? A loose wire? I read the other links^ about fuel filter? But I don't think it has anything to do with the gas.

 

Is it an instant shutoff, or a sputter out? The engine is warm when it does it, not cold? What's the rpm? And the battery and oil light are showing before shutoff, or after? If before I would be worried about oil pressure and electrical problem. If after it dies that's normal for the engine when it's not running. The CEL should also be on if after it shuts off

 

The first thing I would try is a different key assuming you have a programmed one.

 

But it starts back up with the same key?

 

Like it's hot outside and then I'll start it, throw it in reverse so far no lights on start up and then it's a quiet shut off like I turned the key and shows the lights. It will still be in drive when it shuts off and then I'll throw it in park and turn it back on and no problems.

 

Also just got the 30000 mile maintenance couple of days ago but even then it did it

 

If you could give me the info I asked when it happens it would help me think of culprits. Is the engine cold when it happens, rpm at startup? 30000 miles, thing is just a baby

 

They do go bad, worth a try. Try your spare or valet key.

 

Haha nah the routine maintenance(I freaking wish I had that many) Sorry if I'm not being clear right now.
Ok so I'm at 172k miles, just got spark plugs and all that stuff replaced couple of days ago. I haven't checked the engine temp before I start it but I'm in Texas and it's hot outside therefore one would think that at start up the engine would already be kind of warm or hot. But that's the thing when I start it up it runs fine but after putting it in reverse for like 5 secs it will kill the engine and show the lights(this doesn't happen every single time nor everyday) just happened again today though. Could it be a sensor or something loose?
It runs fine after I start it back up so I don't think it's anything major

 

Outside air isn't hot enough for an engine. If the engine is still cold, it should rev to around 1250 rpm when you start it. It sounds like it may be a fuel problem and it's stalling out

 

Appreciate your insight man, if it's a fuel problem would it be the fuel filter? But why does it start back up again, no lights no problems and then runs just fine?

 

Sounds like it's getting fuel to idle but not enough fuel to put a load on it. Something is wrong, not sure if it's the fuel filter. If you are saying it's just a silent instant dead it may be a spark issue, usually a fuel problem sputters out and misfires a bit. You would definitely notice that. Try maybe letting it idle for a little bit before you shift, see if that helps till you fix it. This is one of those things that are hard to diagnose over the web

 

It wouldn't die instantly from a fuel problem. It's not cause it's hot out either. Only when you try driving it that it quits. That tells me engine immobilizer. If you don't try the key thing then not much I can help you with.
You have to back track and the key is the starting point, it's the first thing you need to start it. May not make sense to you but I've seen it happen with other vehicles. Good Luck

 

Try the key first. They do die, I've seen it as well. I make them at my Ace Hardare

 

Thanks guys. Alright I just ran into a another problem and think it might be the source. I live on a hill so I use my emergency brake constantly and when I push it all the way back in lots of times the brake light will stay on the dash and now the light is starting to dim and has never done that before. Could this be the case? Most times I have to repeatedly push the thing in until the light goes away I guess it gets stuck or something and now when I put it in park the light goes on and is a dim light

 

I'll try the key thing out too and see if that helps