Engine Acting bad HELP!

01 v6 prerunner tacoma double cab automatic. everytime i pick up speed, the entire engine acts like it about to fall out. i feels like the engine is misfiring. but i know its not. it acts fine if i put the tranny in park. and rev it. i replaced the spark plugs and it ran great for a trip a hour away and on my way back about 20 minutes from my house it started it again, and does it everytime now. the truck its self has 175000 miles. if you have anything i should try let me know! knightriderbrandon-spam@hotmail.com or on here

 

First, welcome to TW.

Second, you have an 01..that's a first gen, need to move your post.

Third, I'd look at a clogged fuel filter. My antique 84 Toy pickup with the 2.2 did the exact same thing, and that's what the problem was.

 

Well no check engine light signifies internal mechanical problems or a drastically leaned fuel mixture.

 

drastically lean fuel mixture would be picked up by the O2 sensor and should throw a code.

 

Engine or Transmission mount? Fuel filter is not a bad thing to check, but that usually just causes the engine to bog down or die altogether. If it is vibrating a lot, check the mounts.

 

If the fuel filter stops up the mixture will drastically lean out and cause engine shudder. If the fuel cuts back in at the right time no code will be thrown.

Have the engine cleaned out. When I worked for NTB we did a 3 step. In fuel system cleaner, engine oil system cleaner and lastly a engine carbon clean out. You may be having detonation.

 

Think some Seafoam down the brake vac hose would help? With 175K miles he should have enough carbon in there to smoke out his entire county.

 

Most of the usual suspects will throw a code but sometimes you get an ECU that is finicky about codes. I've got a 96 Kia Sportage that generally runs well but will have issues and not throw a code.

I suspect a misfire of some sort. This could be many different things. Clogged injectors, bad coils, air flow sensors, plugs and more.

I don't have very good knowledge of the Taco engine yet, but looking at a recent thread on doing your own plugs leads me to this:

Where you replaced plugs, I'm thinking a coil or more is bad. You probably made the coil temporarily happy when you handled it during the spark plug changes.

 

x2