Grinding between 2250 and 3250 RPM, P0171 System too Lean (bank 1) and some knocking

I think my truck hates me. Likewise, I suspect these things are all related.

2000 Tacoma SR5, V6 4x4 etc.

1) I have a P0171 System too Lean (Bank 1) error code which, when cleared, will re-appear without any consistency in driving conditions or habits between an hour and a month later. I've cleaned the mass air meter and tested it and its resistance is within specs so I didn't replace it.

2) I get a hard to describe griding-type noise under load (That is only when moving, it can't be replicated when in neutral) between roughly 2250 and 3250 RPM in second, third and overdrive. I am almost positive that it's coming from the left side of the engine.

3) I have about a half second of lag in the throttle response. If I manually open it I get the normal sucking noise the plenum makes and then about a half-second to a second lag before the engine revs. About half the time when I do this the front left (from the driver's seat) will knock. Forgive me, I forgot my Haynes in the truck so I don't know the cylinder number. Video here (mostly for the audio).

4) My mileage is down roughly 2-3 mpg since this started. The drop was progressive.

I have so far:

0) Sworn a lot about having to buy a leaf spring, new tires, master cylinder resevoir, pads, shoes and a light bulb just to pass a NYS inspection when I have more pressing concerns to be spending my money on. All in about a month's time, too. Thankfully the check engine light stayed off long enough to reset and pass the inspection.

1) Cleaned and tested the mass air meter, resistance within specs so it was replaced.

2) Tested just about all of the air lines I can get to easily with ether (Did Toyota cram enough under that hood? Damn!) to no effect. Next I'm going to check the valves in the same manner, but I've been busy lately.

Hopefully someone has experience with this, or at least ideas, because having to pay for diagnostic work is not my idea of a good time.

 

do some sort of injector cleaning im not sure that will fix it but if you have a dirty injector it will cause a lean condition just get a bottle of that fuel stuff from auto zone its prob not a vacuum leak because that would be in both banks not just the left one it could also be your 02 sonsor but im not sure

 

Injector cleaner was the first thing I tried, several different varieties, to no avail. You did remind me, however, that using an octane booster (Castle's +10, whatever they call it) cleared the code temporarily but didn't clear the grinding.

 

Take it in man! It's too serious sounding and rare to just throw stuff at and speculate on. I watched as you first posted and nobody bit..and their are really smart tech people here so that shows ya this is 1 for the dealer

 

I think it's a moot point now. I got rear ended today while stopped by a bigger truck going about 40 mph and had the box driven into the cab, the frame bent and my receiver trashed. Hit me hard enough to push me about five feet worth of skidmark forward into the car in front of me.

That doesn't even cover how my knees feel since it broke the driver's seat free and drove my knees into the dash.

Or how my laptop, camera or desktop PC feel now that they've been bounced off of truck parts, too. Thank God for having too many PCs and too bad both my best were riding with me today.

Sounds like a total loss, eh?

 

sounds like you are looking at a new truck alltogether. sorry about the wreck.....glad you are ok!!

 

Hey are you OK?? I'm sorry you gotta go through this shit now. I hope everything comes out good and you recover the loss man!

 

I'm okay, except for a stiff neck and not being able to put weight on my knee. All I want at this point is my rental direct-billed to insurance so I can get to and from work. They won't do that until they hear from the girl I got shoved into to make sure that I was actually stopped and didn't hit her before I was hit.

I don't want a new truck. I'll get, maybe, 8 thousand for this one and I'll, of course, want a second-gen Taco but probably won't be able to justify it based on gas prices until I remember that I need to tow boats and then I'll just get depressed about having to make the decision to spend $80/week on gas or selling my boats (Not gonna happen). Maybe a nice '03-'04 4runner?

 

Hey I'm happy to hear you're ok..no cops? You gotta involve the cops to at least document the chain of events so insurance doesn't have to rely on 'the girl's' word. What about this retard who hit you-what, was he dialing his cellphone??? Why didn't he see you guys? Oh and get an '05 4-runner as they are the highest rated in Consumer Reports of the last 7 yrs

 

We had three fire trucks, 2 police cars and three ambulances. It was a huge mess on a busy street. And all I wanted was to drive a few miles further, buy some grill cloth for my speakers and a stacked dado set so I can finish a project. Teach me to recover my speaker grilles, eh?

The only thing left is the girl telling the insurance investigator, "Yes, I only felt one impact," and then I get my rental. I took almost all of it so her brand new Civic only needs a tail light, bumper over and trunk lid. She should thank my poor truck.