2005 V6 Tacoma Acceleration + Shuddering + Starting Issues =(

Hello everyone,

I have a 2005 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner 2WD w/ a V6, Automatic Transmission and about 188K miles on it. I got the truck from a family member with about 130K on it. Im not sure about the maintenance that has been done on it over the years but it’s been running great up until a few months ago.

One day I floored it going about 50 and it revved up to downshift and then it just died… It would not start any longer. I had it towed to a mechanic that told me the fuel pump was bad. I bought a genuine OEM Toyota Fuel Pump and he installed it. The car started up like normal and then about 2 days later the BIG ISSUE with it started. I could no longer accelerate at a quick pace. In other words, if i gave it too much gas then it would just bog down and make this hollow sound as the car buckled forward from the loss of power. ZERO power at all, not even idling power, just coasting until I let off and gentle reapplied my foot to the gas. It’s kinda like driving our Prius and actually very dangerous on the freeway when I need to accelerate out of a bad situation.

Also, it’s developed a intermittent issue with starting up after this whole thing. Sometimes it will start and sometimes it won’t. It cranks strong but won’t turn on. Its completely random (as far as my knowledge is concerned) and sometimes I’d call with a tow truck but before they got there it would end up turning on so I’d call to cancel the tow.

Another issue also began (I’m serious this all started after I got it back from that mechanic) at around 25-35 mph or 35-45 mph the truck would shake and shutter but level off back to a smooth ride after it has surpassed that speed bracket. Having said that, this shake and shuttering is pretty consistent and I’ve never experienced it before. I’m hoping all these symptoms come from the same issue. =P

I took it back to the mechanic and he hooked up his code reader to it and nothing. ( I had access to a reader as well and the one I borrowed also didn’t show anything when I independently checked it.) He pulled the MAF Sensor and cleaned it as well as changed all the spark plugs since he said they didn’t look to good. Fine, I took the car back after he changed them and on the way home same thing. I couldn't give it too much gas without it completely losing power and bogging down. Shuttering and shaking persisted as well as the intermittent starting issue. I’ver decided I WILL NOT be taking it back to that mechanic.

So here I am now, I don’t know what to do or check before I bite the bullet and take it to the stealership for at least a diagnosis. I’m looking to everyone’s knowledge, expertise and guidance. Again, I’m not sure if there are separate issues for each of these 3 main symptoms or this is one issue attributing to all of them. I’d like to think it’s not a coincidence. Any follow up questions would be great and I will be as clear as possible. Thanks in advance for any help and guidance you all can provide. =)

***Potential variables to note:
1.) I have a condition where the AC/Heater fan won’t work on anything other than high. I know this is a more common issue. I looked at the plug below the glove box and it had burn marks on it like most of the trucks plagued with this problem. I cleaned up the contacts inside the plug and bend it back a little. The variable speed started working but the fan won’t always turn on. The ghetto fix at the moment is slamming there glove box when the knob for the AC/Heater is in any high position. Slapping the fan housing under that glove box also yields the same “fix.”
2.) I installed some HID lights AFTER all these issues already existed (aka after I got the car from the mechanic and the new fuel pump was installed)

 

Bump

 

Thanks for the bump Drivesector!

 

bump.

 

last bump. hopefully someone sees this and is able to suggest some things. either way, thanks