Mystery Diagnosis: Can You Tell Me Why It's Doing This?

When I start out in first gear, it rumbles and stutters and shakes and shimmies unless I rev it up to 3K RPM.

I think it's the distributor cap and rotor. It's got about 165,000 miles on it and I know these haven't been replaced in about ten years.

But could it be the fuel filter?

Your opinion greatly appreciated!

It's a 2.7 liter 4 banger, if that helps.

 

Since you mentioned a distributor, may we assume this is a 1995.5 - 1997 Tacoma?

 

My experience with fuel filters is that when they start to restrict the flow, higher RPM's only make the sputtering worse. It might not be a bad idea to just do a tune up, fuel filter included.

 

Thanks for the responses, both.

It's a 1997.

 

I have an 06 reg cab that does the same thing. I thought it might be the low gear ratio. I too have to increase the rpm to help. I just lived with it not knowing if something is wrong.

 

Check plugs too man. Had a similar problem on my 99. plugs and wires fixed it quick.

 

If the engine is actually misfiring I would go with a thorough tune up, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, filters, etc.
Could be a shaking caused by hot spots or warpage in the the clutch or flywheel with that many miles too. Also check the trans and motor mounts, they can cause a truck to shudder when starting at low rpm's.