2003 Tacoma hesitates while driving

So I've read that others have had the same problem as I'm having. My truck hesitates to accelerate while I'm driving. I thought it might be my fuel filter or pump but others have said they've replaced theirs and it doesn't help. I don't want to spend money on something if it's not going to fix the problem. My check engine light is not on but the problem is there and it's dangerous. Please help! Any suggestions ??

 

Ugh.... . I'm going through the same. I have replaced the spark plugs and wires, and I'm getting ready to replace fuel filter. The truck runs better with the new spark plugs, but it still hesitates every once in awhile (no cel yet). After fuel filter, I'm going to look at pcv and vacuum lines. I've got around 99,000 miles on my '04. I'm really leaning towards the pcv and vacuum hose (from the pcv), but I already bought the fuel filter.

Jason

UPDATE: After the fuel filter change the throttle is more responsive, but the hesitation is still there. It's better and less 'hesitaty' but I can still feel it. I never felt my hesitation was dangerous (maybe I just didn't let it go that far), but annoying none the less (and it seemed to be getting worse). I did read that someone else had the hesitation and cleaned their MAF and it got rid of it. I'm still suspicious of the PCV (especially the vacuum line from it - looked very suspicious when I changed spark plugs), so that's the next step for me. BTW, the gas that came out of the old fuel filter was very discolored, so I don't feel this was money wasted.

Here's a 'how to' on the fuel filter: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IBlM-pXyklc

 

Update: Right after my update above I did have an incident that I thought was dangerous; I was making a left u-turn (ac was on) and I stepped on the accelerator to go and nothing went. No sputter, no stutter, the engine just didn't go. It was like there was a disconnect in the accelerator, and when it finally kicked in it just gradually revved up to accelerate. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic and everything worked out okay.

I replaced the suspicious vacuum hoses and I still had the hesitation.

I finally replaced the PCV and the grommet and this seems to have done the trick. Still sometimes I think there is a little hesitation, but it's definitely not like it was doing. Other than the grommet being a pain in the neck (it broke apart and I had to retrieve it using needle nose pliers), it was an easy replacement.

Everything I did to get it to this point has not a waste of time or money, IMHO. The truck runs so much better! Now on to the timing belt, new radiator hoses and whatever else needs to be replaced - it's a 12 year old vehicle after all!

Good luck and hope this helps someone else!
Jason

 

Okay, I have officially highjacked this thread (sorry OP)! I have not been driving the truck on a daily basis and the last couple of times I have taken it out the dreaded hesitation is back. So the last thing that I hadn't done is clean the MAF sensor; still hesitating. It was so often that I could replicate while the hood was up. Push the accelerator and the throttle body would just make a clicking sound and not rev the engine. So I jumped on the Google and low and behold found this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cant-figure-this-hick-up-out.168680/

Summary: While truck is not running (key out), step on the gas pedal 100 times. Yep, that's it. I have only driven it today, but so far no hesitation. Crazy that something so simple would fix something that was driving me crazy.

 

I can't believe this actually fixed the hesitation issues on my 03. Thank you Tacomaworld for the wealth of information!

 

Welcome to TW!