1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Rough Idle, vibration at low RPMs, struggling with speed in 5th gear.

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by fire_yota_01, Jul 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM.

  1. Jul 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM
    #1
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
    I have a 2RZ 5 speed. It's the first manual I ever owned, so I'm not sure if those issues are normal: When the truck is in idle, it has minor vibrations and sounds like boosted bass. Sits at 750-900 RPMs. When I'm in any gear, and I slow down, the RPMs drop with speed. As soon as the RPM drops below 1500 the truck sounds like there's subwoofers in it, like heavy bass beating. I also noticed that when I'm on the highway in 5th gear, and I go full throttle, the RPMs rises extremely slowly with speed.
    For the rough idle, I took apart the throttle body, cleaned it and cleaned the MAF. Checked the plugs, they're just worn but not burnt or anything, the coils are also not burnt or super dirty. I don't think there's a clutch slip either. I wonder if there is a fuel delivery issue, like fuel pump of filter, maybe injectors... perhaps vacuum leak, which I don't know how to check properly.
    The truck has 221k miles, so I know a lot needs to be inspected and replaced.

    Does anyone have experience with these symptoms? Any more questions or suggestion is welcome, thank you so much.
     
  2. Jul 9, 2025 at 10:48 AM
    #2
    ztwatson

    ztwatson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2021
    Member:
    #383995
    Messages:
    993
    Gender:
    Male
    Milwaukee, WI
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma TRD Xtra Cab
    This video does a pretty great job of breaking down the components of the throttle body for a 2RZ and how to make adjustments. At least helpful for further diagnosis. My initial thought was that your IAC valve is clogged up but that’s only because you didn’t mention touching it. I’d play around with the throttle body, make sure everything is cleaned out well, adjusted appropriately and also test the electronic components (IAC, TPS).

    https://youtu.be/GVWCCjZBfGM?si=P5Psui6FfWK-qxPt
     
    ControlCar and fire_yota_01[OP] like this.
  3. Jul 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
    #3
    fxntime

    fxntime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2015
    Member:
    #167977
    Messages:
    2,390
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma off road TRD and 2014 FJC
    It's missing on a cylinder or two, that pretty much explains all your symptoms and lack of power.

    Now you need to find out if it's due to mechanical issues or electrical issues.
     
    fire_yota_01[OP] likes this.
  4. Jul 9, 2025 at 10:56 AM
    #4
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
    Thanks man, yeah I came across this video earlier actually and the TPS is the only thing I have not messed with. I'm gonna test it with a multimeter and clean it ...
     
    ztwatson likes this.
  5. Jul 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
    #5
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
    Thank you for the insight, could you elaborate on what kind of elec and mech issues it could be? like electric issues as in sensors, and mechanical as in plugs?
     
  6. Jul 9, 2025 at 11:01 AM
    #6
    fxntime

    fxntime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2015
    Member:
    #167977
    Messages:
    2,390
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma off road TRD and 2014 FJC
    Plugs, [cheapest and easiest, always start there] coils, fuel injector/s, all the way to a cracked head or burnt valves.
     
    fire_yota_01[OP] likes this.
  7. Jul 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
    #7
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
  8. Jul 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
    #8
    ControlCar

    ControlCar My Moto: Help & Learn…period.

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2023
    Member:
    #429578
    Messages:
    3,376
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steven
    Sugar Land TX
    Vehicle:
    1996 Taco 2.4L 2wd Automatic
    Clock Volt meter/LSPV Delete/Hyundai 16’s/FP gauge/after 9months of wrenching ZERO oil leaks
    Thanks for vid ztwatson
    After my TB/IAC cleaning I was wondering about same plunger and if needed to be adjusted
     
  9. Jul 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
    #9
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
    Well boys, I changed the plugs and now I have a check engine light lol I put everything back how it was, I’m very confused
     
  10. Jul 10, 2025 at 4:33 AM
    #10
    noodles93

    noodles93 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2021
    Member:
    #384203
    Messages:
    625
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    1999 Tacoma Prerunner 2.7
    What code are you getting? Could be as simple as a connector left out
     
  11. Jul 10, 2025 at 4:39 AM
    #11
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
  12. Jul 10, 2025 at 4:50 AM
    #12
    noodles93

    noodles93 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2021
    Member:
    #384203
    Messages:
    625
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Charleston, SC
    Vehicle:
    1999 Tacoma Prerunner 2.7
    I'd check your MAF. Did you pull it and maybe get some debris on it when you did the plugs?
     
  13. Jul 10, 2025 at 6:26 AM
    #13
    fire_yota_01

    fire_yota_01 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    Member:
    #473932
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Red 2001 SR5 2RZ RWD
    NA
    I didn’t take the MAF out only unplugged it, only took the snorkel and filter out so I could get to the plugs… don’t remember disconnecting anything else tho
     

Products Discussed in

To Top