1998 Tacoma: getting different amounts of acceleration response when I hit the pedal HELP!

My 1998 Tacoma runs fine and idles but if I try to gun it a little to get up to speed it to get up to speed it will sometimes be powerful and responsive(like it always has) and accelerate fast but other times(recently) it will be slow and sluggish. It's not that it always accelerates slow now but I can't get it to accelerate at a constant rate twice in a row. Please looking for remedies and ideas on what's wrong. Thanks!

 

I am guessing that the MIL is not on so no codes to pull

Check the throttle cable that every thing is moving free

When my fire wall cracked where the throttle cable attached it did something like what yours is doing

 

Yeah the mil isn't on and you honestly couldn't tell anything was wrong unless you'd driven it before the problem started. But thank you I will check it out and I'm hoping you're right! And yours was having inconsistent acceleration too?

 

How's the ignition system? Spark plugs, wires, coil(s)?

 

The ignition is good it seems the truck has always taken a little longer than most vehicles to turn over but I thought it was just the normal for 98 tacomas. Like I said you couldn't tell anything was wrong with it unless you gunned it! But I do think it needs new plugs and wires just bc the vehicles 19 years old and they've only been changed once if even that!

 

^^ new to this site forgot to tag you in my reply

 

You've never changed plugs and you're wondering why your engine is hesitating at WOT?

Clean your MAF and give your throttle body a thorough scrubbing as well

 

once, if even that???

give that girl a tune up, and I mean a thorough tune up. Plugs alone should be changed every 30k according to the manual, if I remember correctly. Definitely not just 'maybe' once in 19 years lol

 

One needs to treat your truck good so it treats you good.

I keep after those things.

Mine just got real strange in the throttle response .

The OP problem sounds different then just a lack of maintenance.

Does prolonged driving always result in poor response if so you might want to think of changing the fuel filter

It can`t hurt as well as some new plugs and wires maybe some new belts.

Speaking of belts if the plugs were not changed just how many miles maybe you want to think about a timing belt??

 

Yeah I know it was my dads truck before mine and a cousins before his and I didn't really know these things at the time but they basically used it as a work truck but now that I got it I baby the crap outta it but I definitely want to put new plugs and wires in but I'm a little short on money at the moment

 

Yeah I think it needs a bunch of new parts but I already installed and new air and fuel filter and it was a little better but still had the issue and yeah I don't think the belts have been changed either and the truck is at 185k miles!

 

Okay I'll try that too probably needs a good cleaning! And would the plugs themselves set off the check engine light?

 

Clean your mass air flow sensor first, I had that problem a while back. Like Clay said, it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and clean the throttle body and at least beat the dirt out of your filter if not change it. And if you're engine light is on use a code reader and see what it says. It will probably say p0171 system too lean. In your case it probably means it's just the MAF. Now my truck is doing almost the same thing again except it's the catalytic converter causing problems.

 

Yeah I don't have a check engine light on so could it still be the maf?

 

Yeah. Just pick up some maf cleaner or throttle body cleaner or both at the store and clean them. It only takes a minute to unplug the wire going to the maf, loosen the clamps (10mm or screwdriver) on the intake tube and the two 10mm bolts where the sensor is. After you spray the maf turn it upside down and let it sit for a while. Make sure it isn't wet when you put it back in.

 

Ok I will pick some up after work today thank you!

 

Let me know if it fixes your problem.