Stuttering and Sputtering 'till it dies

Hello! I just got done setting up my account on here. I've been trying to find an answer all over the internet and have not found anyone experiencing the issue that I am. And if they are, they are describing it differently... I am no mechanic. But if you tell me where to put a wrench, I can do it. It's finding what is wrong that I have an issue with. haha!

So, here's my problem that I have with my 2006 Toyota Tacoma SR5 v6 Automatic Transmission:

Turn the key, starts up fine. As soon as it starts (Whether it's cold or warm) the throttle starts to choke. (At least that's what it sounds like) It will sit and sputter for a few seconds then just die. If I put in reverse, the light for "D" starts to flicker on and off intermittently. If I continue down to Neutral, It starts to have the same issue as in Park and starts to sputter until it dies. There aren't any warning lights on. If I put into Drive, It runs fine and doesn't sputter, but it does idle really hard if I'm stopped and still in drive.
This problem didn't start until a little after it started making this really loud whiny noise. Not a screech, squeak, or whistling noise. A whine. As if this truck was stabbed and was just crying. The best way I have to describe it is like the noise a car would make if the power stearing was low on fluid. Except it's all the time. All the fluids are fine, Just did an oil change 400 miles ago and this issue has only been going on for maybe 10 miles. It's always been well maintained, never abused, I hardly ever take it above 4000 RPM. Never overheated.

I'm at a loss here, guys! I need help!

Thanks!

-Fanman

 

I always recommend starting with the basics to rule out some stuff. You need Spark, fuel and Air. Try checking fuel pressure and make sure you don't have way worn spark plugs.

 

If it were a spark plug, wouldn't it throw a misfire code? Cause there are no warning lights on.

 

Not always, my truck had a slight miss at idle and upon startup and it went undetected by the computer because it hadn't started performing diagnostics (it was still in closed loop and running checks) at the time the miss was happening. I've had major misses as well that are caught and they were extreme, you could feel it right away without any doubt and know it was missing whereas the idle and startup misses were more subtle and really infrequent.

 

Yeah I see what you're saying. But.... It could be running for 10 minutes just idling and will randomly start to stutter. Once it's in Drive. No issue. Back into Park, same thing. I'd think that the computer would catch it as soon as I get back into park?