Check Engine Light on, Truck Feels Lurchy

Hi everyone,

I have a 2003 Tacoma with a 4 cylinder engine and I'm having some mechanical problems. The check engine light came on last week, and the truck has begun to drive quite poorly. It has no oomph when accelerating, especially at highway speeds, and feels lurchy and shudders, especially in the lower gears. I feel like my mileage has also gone downhill. It is a standard with 225km's on it (about 140 miles). A couple of days after the light came on I also began to experience some bad acoustics from the back end. It sounds a little bit like a really bad license plate vibration, but it's coming from the muffler. It is very loud. It had a new clutch put in the other week too, but I don't believe they're related. I'm thinking it could be an issue with the fuel pump, but I'd appreciate others peoples thoughts as I really don't have a clue.

Cheers,
Tristan

 

Pull the codes.

 

Your truck is trying to get your attention and let you know something is wrong and you ignore it.

Then wonder what might be wrong.

OBII vehicles no excuse not to have a simple code reader or even a top of the line scanner.

My MIL if it trips I pull over the first safe place to see just what is wrong

 

It's giving me a "02 sensor heater circuit fault B1S1" reading. The part is a little bit pricey, but seems easy to replace. Any suggestions on wether replacing it would be the right thing to do, or if I should be looking to see if something else is causing the problem first. If the latter, what else might be causing the fault? I'm also wondering if I need to reset anything after replacing the sensor, or if I can just start driving it again.

Thanks,
Tristan

 

If that is the only code, it will not cause a running issue. The heater circuit only functions until operating temps are reached.

If you chose to correct that problem too (and eventually you should) you can clear the computer with the scanner it was read with. Or disconnect the battery for a few minutes.

There are either more codes you are not pulling, or something wrong that is not computer controlled.

Some of your description sounds like a classic restricted exhaust stream. Usually caused by a failed cat, a crushed pipe or a muffler that has collapsed internally.

 

Also remember it is that whole circuit not just the O2 sensor.

 

Yep, a code usually says "Here's a symptom" NOT "Here's the problem." If that's your only code, it's unrelated to the running problem.


I'm pretty sure rabbits ate my O2 sensor wiring in my mustang, still runs strong but throws a code every time I drive. Irritating but it only takes a few seconds to clear it until I get off my butt and put the car in the air. MPG etc is unaffected by the 'missing' sensor.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I had my muffler replaced today which fixed all my acoustic problems, but the engine light is still on. The 02 sensor is still the only code that I'm getting. I also noticed today that my transfer case is leaking quite badly. I'm fairly confident that it was not leaking before I had the clutch replaced. What are the odds that the shop did something when they had the transmission down?

 

Just where is the transfer case leaking??

 

I believe it's leaking from the top of the transfer case, but everything under there is covered in oil. It's leaking a lot, and definitely wasn't leaking before the clutch job. Pretty concerned about it as I can't get it back into the shop until Wednesday. Is there anyway that I can top it back up? I'm worried about it running low and stripping everything. The oil pool by my hand happened over the course of about 2.5 hours. It's leaking a lot.

 

You can check at the fill plug .Although with out a pump it is a pain getting it in.

It is possible they either over filled it and it is pushing out the breather

Forget to tighten the bolts when the shifter was put back on.

Not really hard to remove the console and the shifter boots and take a look .

in any case hot gear oil a 1/2 a pint looks like a gallon!!

 

most likely they didn't reapply the RTV on your transfer case shifter or they messed up the gasket under it. It's been a while since I pulled my T-case shifter when I put my clutch in. I think it might be a fiber gasket and in that case they most likely tore it when pulling your shifter. If you just had the clutch replaced look at the age on the RTV and condition of the gasket when you pull it off, or just take it back to them and be like,WTF Mate?

 

what's the actual code that your getting? p0135?

 

if so check here