Problems at 100,000 miles

I am new to this forum and hoping someone may be able to help or possibly had the same issue. I currently have two strange issues that are frustrating me in my 2005 Toyota Tacoma TRD. I bought the truck new and have not had any issues until now.

1. Within the last two months, I've had issues with the engine losing fuel pressure while driving. It happens and varies times and in different gears. While I'm driving, it's like I lose fuel pressure and lose power and if I take my foot off the gas and then depress the gas pedal again it picks right back up as if nothing was wrong. I have noticed it is doing it a little for frequently the past couple of weeks.

2. Within the last two weeks, I have had my kids tell me my lights are on in my truck. Sure enough my taillights and cargo light are on. I reached for my keys and as I walked outside, they turned off. Several minutes later, they are back on. It's like I hit 100,000 miles and the truck picked up a gremlin along the way.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

How old is your battery? Done any aftermaket wiring?

 

When my alternator went bad around 100k mine behaved strangely with various electrical issues.

 

Check the electrical portion of the ignition switch.

Slowly turn the ignition key through all its positions while wiggling. Look for the dash lights to come and go quickly. There may be a "dead spot"

Also check the brake light switch at the pedal, it may be causing the brake lights to come on randomly

 

I wanna see a pic of an '05 Taco with a cargo light.

 

True dat part about the brake light switch. Check that first

 

I'd get your alternator and battery tested for starters. Any check engine lights when you are driving?

 

It's the light above the rear window.. OP, get a gauge and check your fuel pressure and does pumping your brake pedal or lifting it up turns the tail lights off?

 

Do you notice the fuel issues above certain RPM's?

 

Red lens, only comes on when you press on the brakes? That's a brake lamp, not a cargo lamp.

 

I don’t have a cargo light
Were they on the earlier trucks but not the 12-15s?

 

Sounds like the brake light switch needs to be adjusted for both issues.

 

Do you know for certain it’s a fuel pressure issue? Could be throttle body, MAF cleaning time if you haven’t done it before..
BTW nice to have a single owner, thirteen yo truck w just a 100k on the odometer

 

Wow! thank you for all the replies and it's my bad on the cargo light, it's the third brake light. I will look into the brake switch, that makes sense because it's only affecting the brake lights. The fuel issue happens at different times, speeds and gears. Thankyou PzTank, I never thought about a throttle body issue. Can that cause intermittent fuel loss? I've seen trucks run a little rough when dirty, but other than the brief loss of power, the truck runs like a champ. The battery is a couple years old and there are no starting issues at all.

 

Now that we've verified that it's the brake lights and not the tail lights and cargo light, there's a very good chance that your drivability issue is related. The computer thinks that you're in panic mode with a stuck throttle and anchoring the brakes.

 

I’m not that knowledgeable about fuel loss associated with TB issues. Others may know more... I was trying to point out some maintenance tasks that might have been overlooked over 13 years that might cause your symptoms. I think @Muddinfun makes an interesting observation..
Keep us posted!

 

There is some good info in this thread that might be able to help you out OP
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/loss-of-power-engine-stalls-help-me.110527/

 

Toyota upgraded the ECU software after all the incidents with stuck throttles.
If you are driving (throttle pressed) and the brakes are applied (brake light switch engages) the ECU will cut the throttle to idle. It feels like you are losing power. Lifting off the throttle will reset the emergency shutdown.
This is likely what happens since you state your brake lights come on randomly.
Crawl into the driver footwell and clean and adjust the switch.

Fritz

 

^^^^^^ this. smart.
My old habit after washing my vehicles was to drive it around the block, and for 50 yards or so lightly hit the gas and brake at the same time to warm the brakes and try to dry them out to prevent rotor rust. This worked well in my 90's and 2000's cars, but I found out the tacoma retards the engine power if you are on the brakes and gas at the same time.

 

Thank you all very much, it was the switch and it cured the fuel issue as well. I would have never thought to go there first, especially for the fuel pressure issue. Fritzthecat your description was spot on as to what the truck was doing. That cured both you guys Rock!!!!