Automatic V6 Acceleration is more sluggish and struggling to go above 2000 RPM

Had a issue two days ago where my 2011 Tacoma TRD Sport with a 4.0L V6 auto started acting sluggish while accelerating and struggles to go past 2000 RPM. I was doing research and heard things like how the fuel filter needs to be changed, the transmission fluid also needs to be changed, and the worst case scenario being the catalytic converters have gone bad. I have also installed a K&N cold air intake. Has anybody ran across an issue like this? Thank you in advance and I am open to answer more questions.

 

no fuel filter on the 4.0, dump a bottle of seafoam in the tank & clean the MAF. when was the last time the plugs were changed?

 

There is a fuel filter. Its in the pump assembly. Its non replaceable, so often people upgrade to a different pump as well as an external fuel filter.

 

Did this start after you installed the cold air intake?...

 

I installed the intake a few months back way before the issues started

 

I changed all the spark plugs back in the late summer of last year. So far I have put 10-20 thousand miles. So it was fairly recently.

 

Do you have a check engine light on?
Do you have access to a scan tool?
Even if you don’t have a CEL on, scan tool data can sometimes tell you a lot.

 

My check engine light did not go off and I could go to a local autozone and use their scan tool. However, would anything pop up even without the check engine light turning on?

 

Yes, pending codes.
But that isn’t really what we are looking for.

If your CEL in on now. We need those codes.
You may be in Fail safe mode, which limits you to about 2,500 rpm.
And cuts timing way back. = SLUGGISH

 

Ill be sure to check and get back to you. Thank you

 

Just used the scanner and no pending codes showed up. I remember the transmission fluid has not been changed in a while. You think that might be the issue?

 

Nope.

 

Make sure your brake light switch is working properly, if the PCM sees a brake input it will reduce engine power.

 

yes the sock filter, but I was referring to an external, maintenance item.