1998 Toyta Tacoma not sure what's up...

I have a 5-speed 3.4L 98 Toyota Tacoma and was just seeing if anyone out there had any ideas on what's wrong with it. So today after work I hop in and everything was fine with it before work. But I get in and it feels like it's spuddering the idle keeps going up and down and no check engine light is comming on. I live in a colder climate in Oregon and added fuel injector cleaner in it and put good fuel in it. Still having problems. Checked my vacuum lines and just got new spark plugs and wires about 6 months ago.

 

Could be the idle air control under the throttle body. Have you ever cleaned your throttle body? Could be some water in the fuel. Check to see all of your plug wires are making a good connection. Maybe try adding a can of Heet, I think that's what it's called, will dry your fuel or emulsify the water.

 

I added a container of Heet to it and haven't cleaned my throttle body on it. I'll give that a try just started happening.

 

Double check your vacuum lines, I just had the same problem on my civic and it was a broken vacuum fitting.

 

I was having wierd rpm drops while driving a few months ago. Ended up being the fuel filter. Have you changed it recently?

 

Just how many miles It seems fuel related issues like pressure will not trip the MIL

Just about anything else will

 

I have the same setup as you 1998Nolan. I changed fuel filter, plugs, wires, cleaned TB and MAF. Put stock airbox on (bought it with CAI). Checked all vaccuum lines to make sure they were all sorted out (One was un-hooked).

I had the same idle sputter and inconsistency. After doing all that it cleared it up. Sometimes though - you could have a coil pack that's not functioning as it should but that would throw a CEL so you should be good on those. Could just be dirty. Cold weather is hell on these older pickups to.

 

What's the skinny on the truck's maintenance/repair history? Mileage on taco?

 

clean the maf sensor

 

1998 Tacoma TRD Pre Runner V6: A few days ago I replaced plugs, plug wires, and cyl-3 coil pack to fix a misfire P0303. Cyl-3 plug was loose and cracked. CEL cleared. New oil/filter, fuel and oil Zmax. Drove for a couple days no issue, no misfires, excellent (about a 150miles). Yesterday coming home from a 220mile round trip (freeways, accident avoidance, Idiot avoidance), I get 2 blocks from home and leaving a traffic light it sputters, battery light and oil light flashing, it dies right as I get her to the curb. Crud! WTF! Let it sit while I call friends for advice. Go to start her up, she starts then dies. Try again she starts and stays started (noticed a low idle RPM of like 400...) Get home, contemplate new battery/alternator "no can't be that, it starts fine, battery 4years old, but fine." Toyota Tacoma Forums to the Rescue! You people are awesome! Checked gas cap for vacuum "woosh". Checked my battery terminals (I had cleaned them during the plug maint). Checked vacuum hoses and connections. Then cleaned the Throttle Body real well, fired her up for a couple mins and the revs went up to 1100 or so, then settled down to 900, then in gear during test drive it idled at around 700+. Sound like it's fixed?? Time for a new battery I'm sure, maybe get a fuel filter just in case (don't remember when the stealer replaced it). Thanks for the advice and keep it up!