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Might have dropped a cylinder.

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by badone, Dec 19, 2019.

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  1. Dec 19, 2019 at 2:59 PM
    #1
    badone

    #1
    badone [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Stopped at the store on the way home no issue. Came out and started the truck, right away running on lees than 6 cylinders. Got it home will take a look over the weekend when it warms up. 7 out now. Any ideas where I should start. No check engine light. Have only had the Taco for a little over 2 months. Gone thru a lot so far. It`s 2003 with the 3.4.Thanks for any help.And Merry Christmas to everyone.
     
    badone, Dec 19, 2019
    #1
  2. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:01 PM
    #2
    wilcam47

    #2
    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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    Knocking sound?
     
    wilcam47, Dec 19, 2019
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  3. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:12 PM
    #3
    badone

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    badone [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nope, just very rough running. Hope its a plug or coil. Did not know that the 3,4 had issues with these parts. I know of the MAS that fails alot.
     
    badone, Dec 19, 2019
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  4. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:14 PM
    #4
    rnish

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    rnish Well-Known Member

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    You need fuel, spark, and air. Spark is the simplest to check.
     
    rnish, Dec 19, 2019
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  5. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:16 PM
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    rnish

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    rnish Well-Known Member

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    OK so you don’t know you dropped a cyl. Its just running rough. Any codes?
     
    rnish, Dec 19, 2019
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  6. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:25 PM
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    wilcam47

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    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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    Dropping a cylinder is quite obvious. Rough running can be dirty injectors, dirty maf etc among other things
     
    wilcam47, Dec 19, 2019
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  7. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:29 PM
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    US Marine

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    US Marine Semper Fi

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    Bad coil pack

    Faulty injector
     
    US Marine, Dec 19, 2019
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  8. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:33 PM
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    badone

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    badone [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just being flip about dropping a cylinder, dirty injectors could be, I ran 2 tanks with Sea foam about 2 weeks ago just because. would the maf cause this issue. Just kind of funny as to when this happened. Will clean the maf this weekend and see what happens . I`ll check to see if there is any codes. No check engine light. Guess I will be using the wifes car for work tomorrow.
     
    badone, Dec 19, 2019
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  9. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:34 PM
    #9
    badone

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    badone [OP] Well-Known Member

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    How do you check a injector?
     
    badone, Dec 19, 2019
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  10. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:37 PM
    #10
    badone

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    badone [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks to everyone for your help.
     
    badone, Dec 19, 2019
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  11. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:40 PM
    #11
    jbrandt

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    jbrandt Made you look

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    You're probably due for new plugs/wires anyway...

    you can test the injectors' resistance across the plugs. However, I'm pretty sure the ECU would detect a misfire and throw a code.
     
    jbrandt, Dec 19, 2019
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  12. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:41 PM
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    wilcam47

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    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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    How many miles
     
    wilcam47, Dec 19, 2019
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  13. Dec 19, 2019 at 3:46 PM
    #13
    LoveableWerewolf

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    LoveableWerewolf Well-Known Member

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    Dude it's 20 ish years old. Rubber stuff and wires break. 3.4 is great, but like any engine gets old. Everything becomes a project car at some point
     
    LoveableWerewolf, Dec 19, 2019
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  14. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:02 PM
    #14
    badone

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    badone [OP] Well-Known Member

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    badone, Dec 19, 2019
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  15. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:04 PM
    #15
    LoveableWerewolf

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    LoveableWerewolf Well-Known Member

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    I think you'll have a reletivlly easy time, plugs and wires probably the best bet like people said. Good luck fixing it! Hopefully not driving the wife's car too long
     
    LoveableWerewolf, Dec 19, 2019
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  16. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:04 PM
    #16
    CouchlessPotato

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    CouchlessPotato Handcuffed to steering wheels still won firefights

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    You dropped a cylinder? Better pick it up...
    :rimshot:
     
    CouchlessPotato, Dec 19, 2019
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  17. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:05 PM
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    frenchee

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    frenchee Favorite Member

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    Is there a good thread on plugs?
    I looked a while back and couldn't come to a conclusion on what I should order
     
    frenchee, Dec 19, 2019
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  18. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:10 PM
    #18
    jbrandt

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    jbrandt Made you look

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    I'm sure a lot people have some sort of magic plug with "diamondfire technology" (lol) that supposedly gives them like 40 more hp or whatever, but just get whatever your manual says to get.

    This is a sticky on the first gen main page:

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-replacing-spark-plugs-and-wires-on-5vz-fe-3-4-v6.261034/

    I think Denso or NGK
     
    jbrandt, Dec 19, 2019
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  19. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:13 PM
    #19
    El Taco Diablo

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    El Taco Diablo Professional Pinstriper

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    I HIGHLY doubt the issue goes beyond what others have suggested.

    As other ms have said, spark plugs, plug wires, cleaning MAF, cleaning throttle body are all things I would check this weekend. The plugs and wires can be replaced for around a hundred bucks. The cleaning can be done for a few dollars (cost of the cleaners).

    If the problem continues, fuel filter is next I'd replace... should probably be done at this point anyway. Then I'd look at injectors and coil packs.

    It's way more likely to be one of those issues than an internal engine failure.
     
    El Taco Diablo, Dec 19, 2019
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  20. Dec 19, 2019 at 4:17 PM
    #20
    El Taco Diablo

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    El Taco Diablo Professional Pinstriper

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    20190115_123052.jpg

    I did these... and NGK wires, around 30,000 miles ago. I've been happy with them. Seemed to make a difference.

    I wouldn't say they are magic... but they seem to work well for me.
     
    El Taco Diablo, Dec 19, 2019
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