Tacoma Jerking

All, looking for advice.

My tacoma is not my daily vehicle. I drive it 1-2 times every 2 weeks. Was driving yesterday and I noticed when I’m between 40-50 mph in 4th gear I feel what I would describe a sudden loss of power momentarily (less than a second) and will continue to jerk until I slow down or accelerate fast. This jerk only happens when I’m at low rpm. No Check Engine.

18 months ago I replaced the plugs with OEM, cleaned MAF, cleaned throttle body.

Transmission fluid was changed (not sure if drained of flushed) and filter replaced 30k ago.

I’ve had the same problem I’m experiencing on my Honda accord that ended up being bad spark plugs but I did not figure it out until 5 months after the problem started started because it was so intermittent and didn’t throw a code.

Not sure where to start since it could be electrical, fuel, air, or transmission related.

 

Coil packs????

 

How would I check them if it’s intermittent without just replacing them all? I’m not really trying to just throw parts at it.

 

I will let some other people chime in on this one, but since this is only happening under load on the highway I think it would be hard to see which coil pack if that was the problem was acting up basically if I knew I had a coil pat going bad at an idol I would unplug a coil pack one at a time to see if you hear any difference in the idol such as a drop, boggy for to speak something like that if you want to plug one and it doesn’t do anything that’s the guilty culprit but again since yours only does it under a load on the highway I’m not sure

 

Yea this is hard to diagnose. Thanks for response. My accord was pissing me off for months I thought it was the transmission going then it finally threw the code.

 

Could be Torque Converter shudder. People have had issues with this in the Tacoma and 4Runner.

 

Converter locking and unlocking.

 

What should I do? Trans Flush?

 

How many miles?

 

Misfire - bad coil - should throw a code.

 

150xxx. It was changed 120xxx but I’m not sure if their was a flush.

 

Does it idle okay, or does it have issues maintaining rpm there?

 

Idle seems fine only really when I have a load and I’m in low rpm.

 

I’d always recommend do a drive with a local mechanic if you can. Doesn’t seem like it would be an air leak. Do you notice rpm fluctuating when you lose power or other symptoms?

 

What engine do you have?

 

Calling @TnShooter he's the Tacoma jerking master

 

4.0L Automatic

 

Would you describe it as a fishbite or rumble strip?
From what you said so far it sounds like a secondary ignition (plug, coil boot, or coil) miss. I would want to look at misfire counters while it's occuring to see which cylinder its on, it may not be bad enough to have set a code yet.
Spark plug tube seals are fairly common to leak oil and cause misfires.

 

I was told once that everyone should master a skill in life.

I really don’t know what it would be. OP says it only happens in 4th gear.
The torque converter usually “jerks” or shutters in 5th.

I suppose it could be plugs. But I wouldn’t suspect that is the issue just yet.
IIRC the tolerance is 2% misfire rate before it throws a code.
I’d brake torque the engine (truck stopped) a bit in gear and see if I can replicate the issue.

I can’t say I’ve ever been in 4th at a low RPM for long under load.
If I’m in 4th, I’m at 2k+ RPM.