O4 Tacoma 6 cyl Throttle Hesitation ?

I am hoping for some input, here's the scoop:

My 2004 Tacoma 6cyl has been having some hesitation when I press the gas now and then. No RPM response at all at times, I need to let off and keep pressing the gas until it responds.

I had it to a local mechanic who hooked it up to a PC and found no errors. He checked and cleaned the throttle body and said it was fine, it ran OK for a few days then started acting up again.

Took it to another mechanic who told me my throttle body needed to be replaced wanted me to pay 1500.00, I left.

I do quite a bit of off roading and one long dusty trail in particular. I thought perhaps some dust had gotten into something so I cleaned the sensor connections, throttle body, etc...it ran fine for a week, then started hesitating worse than ever this weekend, actually "jerking" the truck coming up the hill to my house.

This doesn't happen consistently, it can go for days or a week without any problems, then drive like crap for a few days, then back to normal.

Anyone experience anything similar?

I plan to check my fuel filter, fuel sending unit this weekend, Throttle Position Sensor, Mass Airflow, etc.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

check your fuel filter and clean you maf first

 

Do you get actual hesitation from the engine like sputtering & jerking or does it simply not respond when the pedal is pressed? If it's the latter I would say check out the ETCS-i "throttle by wire" system.

When I was looking to buy my truck I read about a few people having problems with this on the 03-04s & is why I choose to get a 01-02 which has a throttle cable direct to the throttle body.

Seems like Toyota has had this issue long before the recent blown out of proportion incidents. Doesn't seem like a whole lot of people have had this problem on 03-04s but there are.

 

The 2003 - 2004 Tacoma ETCS-i system was not pure 'throttle by wire', because there was still a direct mechanical cable linkage from the accelerator to the throttle body. However, sensors at both ends (Accelerator / Pedal Position Sensor; Throttle Position Sensor) fed the ECM, which adjusted the throttle on its own using the motor-controlled throttle.

*IF* this problem is caused by the ETCS-i system it's probably one or the other sensor going bad, or maybe a wiring fault between either sensor and the ECM.

It could also be explained by a problem with the throttle control motor mechanism (or its wiring / connections).

 

Mahalo for the suggestions guys...

Until this last episode I never actually had hesitation with the engine, the engine simply didn't respond to the gas pedal, when it did respond it was fine. While coming home last weekend it did begin to miss and the truck would jerk around.
Since then I've just left it alone and drove the old Jeep in hopes that it would "fix itself" because that always works right.

I've got a long weekend so I'll be trying to get it resolved. Wish me luck and have a great weekend.

Aloha!

 

Hi

Did you ever find a fix for this problem? My Taco is doing the same thing.

Thanks,
Joe

 

I did, I bought a new throttle bottle and had it installed. Problem solved. Cost me 700.00 I think. Good luck.

Clarification: I bought a rebuilt one, not a new one. 700.00 included overnight shipping to Hawaii.

 

I had a similar problem and I replaced the throttle position sensor..problem solved. The reason for this is the throttle cable only moves the butterfly in the throttle body. The TPS actually sends a signal to the ecu to tell the fuel injectors to spray fuel. You can find a new one on e-bay for a very reasonable price. Hope this helps.

 

X2

 

How hard it is to change the TPS, can you describe the process or point me to a HOWTO? I am going to try this as it is only $50.

Thank you

 

I am experiencing very similar issues with my '01 Taco. However, it typically happens more on drives that are over 5 to 10 minutes. I am going to look into the fuel filter tonight, but was seeing if this is a waste if time or what. Any help would be great.

 

This is a known issue with the APPS, which is only available from Toyota as a complete throttle body.

 

Is the apps the same as the GPS, or are we talking about separate parts?

 

Stupid iPad autocorrect. I meant is the APPs the same as the TPS?

 

HELP!!!
I was having the same problem on my 2003 Tacoma!!! I replaced the throttle body. I still have the same problem: 1/3 play in the throttle, high idle (1500-2000 rpm). When I disconnect the battery cable and reconnect it runs fine, no play in throttle and idles around 500 rpm. But when I shut the engine off and restart it, it goes back to the high idle and play in throttle.
Brand new $1200 Throttle Body!!!
PLEASE HELP!!!

 

Hey all,
I was having the same hesitation problem in my 03 V6 Tacoma...
this thread ...
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/168680-cant-figure-hick-up-out.html#post9264168
suggested cycling the TPS with the engine off and pumping the accelerator 100 times..
it totally worked!
(not sure what to say about the idle problem w a new throttle body other than O2 sensor maybe, if not timing?)

good luck!