Vibration and check engine light is on

Hello, I'm new here and I'm having a problem with my 97 Tacoma v6 4wd 92k miles. Yesterday I was out driving and began to feel a vibration while driving and while in park. Then I noticed the engine light was on so I took it to my local autozone and ran a diagnostic test and got back the code P0302. I don't really know much about cars/trucks so I began researching and found that it could either be spark plug, plug wires, coil, or the fuel injector. It's my first vehicle and just got this truck about a month and a half ago and so far have done a valve cover gasket replacement. When I got that done the mechanic said it also had a small exhaust leak and wanted to know if that could be causing the new issues since I know nothing. Is there anyway to narrow down what the issue is? Any help will be appreciated. And I don't know if this has anything to do with it but sometimes the truck takes a bit to start, it's happened twice where it didn't but did start on the second try.

 

sounds like a coil pack#2 is going out or gone out.

 

Your truck with 92k may be due for a tune up.
Your mechanic should be able to find the problem.
If u want try yourself, maybe you should try removing spark plugs and checking them(post pics here if you want).
If money isn't the problem change the plugs and wires(from napa or ngk online).
Run a good fuel injectors cleaner , change fuel filter and see what happens.

Maybe someone here will help you with better ideas

 

This is the best idea to start with. You may still have a coil starting to fail or that has failed but that'll typically cause a pretty heavy vibration (youd only be running on 4/6 cylinders), a large lack of power, and more than one code (typically a p0300 would be one code present). If you have the means and moneys tight, swap your #2 spark plug with another hole and see if the misfire travels to another cylinder. While its out, swap your coil to a different cylinder than you put the suspected spark plug in. If the code moves to a different hole, you know whether it's the plug or coil and can repair from there. If it stays at #2, you know it's an injector or base engine issue

let us know what you find and if you have any more questions!

 

Ok so, I replaced all six spark plugs with

$50 denso 3289 lexus GS300 SC300 spark plug set of 6 denso NEW 90919 01196 / PK16TR11 / 3289

denso 3289 and the plug wires with

$45 ngk 4412 tailor magnetic core wires

ngk 4412. The truck still has the same issue though. I think I'm gonna try replacing the coil next and see if that fixes it. Do you guys recommend a certain coil or brand?

 

Denso. Rock auto has them at a great price. Are you near L.A? I have a few that we could check to see if that is the problem before you spend money.

 

Denso brand coil pack. Amazon or Rock Auto for best price.

 

This one looks just like the ones in my truck and they're denso

$57 Denso- 6731201 DIRECT IGNITION COIL

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Y39NF...TF8&colid=1PK9K5O04HV9Z&coliid=I3JGNXFLVRGNZ9

 

If you wanna be sure before buying the part, swap the first and second coil packs and see if the MIL code changes and follows to whichever cylinders you swapped with.

 

Ok so I swapped the coils today, and tomorrow I'm going to check the codes. I also want to get a good tool set for my truck and wanted to know if I need metric or sae or both? I don't want to buy tools I don't need.

 

Metric tools for sure.

Think about getting a code reader. You can do your own diagnosis in your own driveway.

If you have an Android phone, the Torque app is very useful. You just need to buy the blue tooth adapter. Its around $20 on Amazon.

 

Thanks, I'm going tool shopping later mainly for a ratchet set and a screw driver with changeable points. Any brands I should look for? I'm looking for a durable brand, want them to last.

 

For a good basic kit Craftsman is always a solid choice, warranty is still solid for hand tools. Also if you have a Costco membership they sell a toolkit with three ratchets, lots of sockets, some box wrenches, nut drivers, and a screwdriver set for like $99. While it isn't Snap-On or Matco quality it is more than enough for a home DIY guy.

 

Ok, so I got the codes and it still says cylinder 2 is misfiring. So it's not the spark plugs, wires, or the coils. What is there left to fix this? I know fuel injector can be the cause, anything else?

 

Anyone got anymore ideas? Any help is appreciated..... would like to do anything possible before taking it to a mechanic because it's so expensive.

 

Probably best to do a a compression test. This can tell you if you have a bad valve.

 

Have you double checked your plugs after replacement? Might try that as well. See what they look like. I had the same issues and turned out to be a bad oem plug. Had 2 bad coil packs to.

 

clogged injector?