help me diagnos the problem...

hey guys...i haven't been in here in close to forever. been busy. haven't even had time to lurk. i hope all is well.

let me start by saying i am not the most car-tech savvy person...so, how do i diagnos this problem...?

last month, i was in my truck, an '09 Tacoma TRD Sport 4DLB, was driving on the high way when all of the sudden, it just stalled out. i was freaked because it's an automatic transmission and has never ever done that before. pulled to the side of the road, and tried to restart. nothing. the lights weren't dim, and all worked fine, so couldn't be an alternator or battery issue. also had a full tank of gas. anyhow, can't get it started after trying to turn it over every 5 minutes for 20 minutes, so i had the truck towed to my fiance's apartment.

it sat for 2 days as this happened on a friday night, and was gonna bring it to the dealership i've dealt with all the time on Monday. well, that day, i went out to it just to see if it would turn on, before i was gonna call a tow truck to bring it over to them, and wouldn't you know it, it fired right up. let it run for a few minutes. no weird idling or any other noises that shouldn't be there. also, no lights staying on the dash that would lead me towards an issue.

anyhow...i drive it to the dealership. they take the truck in and call me back later in the day saying they found nothing wrong with it. trued to say that the maybe it was the fuel i put in, or the fact that i have an aftermarket remote start/alarm installed on it and maybe that was causung the issue. that's been on there since i got the truck 3 years ago and was put in correctly. also, the fuel i use my fiance uses as well, and her car has had no issues with it ever. they only charge me for 1/2 the reg diag fee and send me on my way.

fast forward to yesterday: i was going to the watch Traveler's Championship golf tourney and on the giant field they were telling people where to park, while in traffic, i felt a weird, spaced out idle, and it shut off. pushed it to the side and waited. stewed with anger too. tried to turn it over...nothing. waited one more minute...tried it...and to my surprise, started. i cut across the field to a spot, parked it, and turned it off and said "let's go in, and hope for the best later" as i really didn't want to have to have a tow truck come out to a field/parking lot by a golf course during the biggest golf tournament in CT.

when i got back to the truck...i turned the key and it started right up...we pull into the lane of cars trying to leave the field, and again, a weird idle, and the truck dies. i was rolling with enough momentum to pull back into the filed out of the lane leaving and sat there for a few minutes, and tried to start it again. nothing. 3 minutes later tried again. nothing. finally, i called Toyota Care for a tow. as i'm on the phone with them, giving them my info, i said i'd try to start it for shits and giggles. it started. got back in line to leave, and hugged the shoulder as i did so incase the truck was gonna die on me again. also, NO lights on my dash came on once it was running and it drove normal. i'd also like to note that the truck had a 1/4 tank of gas left when all this happened this time.

so i drove it to my fiance's apartment, maybe 10 miles, and when i got to the parking lot i pulled past the parking spot to back in. when i put my brake on, to change from drive to reverse, it stalled again. i was able to start it right up again though and park it.

what the hell is the issue that is happeneing and why couldn't the people at Toyota figure it out? i want to bring it back to them and tellt hem it happened again, but at the same time i don't because i don't want to spend money on them checking it just to say that nothing is wrong.

i have a feeling it's a fuel line, fuel filter or fuel pump issue.

 

how many miles on it?

 

sounds like fuel issue. put a little more fuel in it and see if it still does it. replace the fuel filter as well. if it still does it with more fuel... it may be the pump acting up. could even be a vacuum leak as well

 

I had an S-10 that would just die as I was driving down the highway. It turned out to be the fuel pump. I diagnosed by having someone turn the key forward and listening for it to prime. I don't know if the Tacoma's fuel pump is loud enough to hear it, but It was on the S-10. After not hearing it come on, I did the same, but verified that it was getting power by connecting a jumper to the plug and checking for voltage with a multimeter.

 

64700

 

search ....09 tacoma Ignition shuts off while driving

 

the first time it happened i had only driven 23 miles on a full tank. (i always set my odo to zero when i fuel up to monitor fuel economy).

while i doubt a fuel filter would fire off a code when they flash the ECU, i would imagine a vacuum leak or a faulty pump would, no?

 

tried to listen for it too, and i couldn't hear a thing.

 

so it could be the alarm, huh? i didn't put it in, and i know the guy who did and the work is warrantied for life...should i have him reinstall?

 

Only thing I can think is that it's a fuel issue. Has it done this with 3/4-full tank? If it still does it then, your fuel pump might be messed up somehow- ever get any trash in there while pumping gas? Also, try checking/replacing the fuel filter. And who knows- you might just have a vacuum leak!

Edit: Well you posted before I did, so half of my post is no longer pertinent. xD

 

i would disconnect it and see what it does

 

the only issue i have with that is that this problem seems to be intermittent. like when it happened the first time i required a tow, and then nothing came of it for a month, month and a 1/2, unitl yesterday, you know?

yesterday was the first time it shut off more than once in one day.

 

well its not gonna cost anything to disconnect it,if that doesnt fix it you will at least know thats not the problem..sounds electrical to me though

 

very true. i just wish this issue was as evident as a flat tire.

 

heres you some music to listen to while your disconnecting it
http://youtu.be/X-2yuGgp_U8

 

A vacuum leak is not going to cause the condition you are experiencing. I would guess crankshaft position sensor or maybe fuel pump. you need to be able to check for ignition spark when it acts up, if you lose spark I would try crank sensor. If you still have spark then look at fuel pump or relay.

 

wouldn't a mechanic have found those issues?

 

like this one?
http://youtu.be/WLlGcNlseR0

 

the fuel pump doesnt do anything until the starter is engaged. so it doesnt prime like old vehicles do. so turnin the key to the acc position u wont hear the pump.

also, u cant just change the fuel filters on these trucks since they are in the fuel tank.

 

haha...well played.