Stuttering when accelerating

Hi all,

I think I may be suffering from the WebMD effect trying to find out what's causing an issue that's crept up in the last couple days.

When asking for power at low RPM, eg. On flat road, slowing to turn then accelerating, light press on accelerator to accelerate without downshifting. I feel a stuttering that to me feels like a misfire. I have no codes, and plugged a code reader in anyway, reading 0 codes and no history. I put a container of dry-gas in and filled it from a 1/4 to full with super (91 where I'm at). When it's stuttering it goes away if you let off the accelerator, or if you give it more accelerator.

My truck is a 2016 TRD OR with around 76,000 miles, it is lifted on a 3" OME lift, I don't think it's a driveline issue because; when I installed this lift in May I've always had a light vibration, not a stutter, around 10MPH, this stutter feels very different from this vibration. This stutter has only crept up in the last couple days, the only correlation I can think of is we've started to have some cold nights and days not getting above freezing here in ME.

I've seen posts about bad fuel, this was my dad's initial reaction and suggested the drygas and super first, a crankshaft position sensor, to spark plugs. I'm hoping to get some more advice on what may actually be going on

 

I just received a recall notice on my truck about the fuel pump. See if your truck qualifies before for this prior to doing anything yourself. See if that fixes the issue and then proceed forward. Just my 2 cents.

 

If you don't mind my ask, how recent? I was in the stealership getting an appointment for the frame coating they didn't mention that. I thought that was a 2017 issue? I'm booked for the end of January to have the coating done and have some other things for them to do while it's there and put them on notice of this issue but I will ask they check on this also.

 

I just got the recall notice on this past Monday. So 3 days ago. The recall is actually due to the vehicle stalling while driving causing unsafe driving condition. I haven't called the dealer yet for appointment. Also keep in mind that some dealers don't always offer info. I would call and ask and have your VIN ready for them to run it in their computer.

Edit: So apparently the solution is a new fuel pump.

 

Yeah I hate the dealer I go to, but it's convenient and a guy in our offroad club is in the shop so I just request him I know the trucks being services properly at least... but yeah that's good to know.

 

Good Luck to you. Hope that helps.

 

Got my notice. Called dealer. They ordered part now. They said they will contact me when part comes in to schedule work.

 

He has a '16.

The recalls covers vehicles including the 2013-2015 Lexus LS 460 and GS 350, 2017-2019 Toyota Highlander and 2017-2020 Toyota Sienna and Lexus RX 350 and 2018-2020 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra as well as the 2019-2020 Toyota RAV4.

 

I use to have that jerky bucking too with my 17 Sport M/T. I would pull the Mass Air Flow sensor and spray it off with MAF cleaner and I wouldn’t feel the bucking for at least another 6-8 months and then do it again. I never knew about the fuel pump back then. Only learned of it after the personal appointment with the Elk that fixed all my issues with the truck

 

No help for the OP, but the Recall was recently expanded for the Taco to the second half of the 2017 MY and on.

 

It's a common complaint with these trucks (on TW, at least). My '16 M/T OR did it, and my 19 M/T Sport does it under the conditions you describe.

 

My 18 does it also. It did it before and after having the fuel pump recall done. I’ve assumed it’s one of those “Tacoma things”. Like the sort of stuff my Tundra never did.

 

I have a few personal experainces with similar issues on a few of my rigs, the reality is it could be a host of things, you just gotta play detective and go down the list. On a 06 manual BMW I had it was the spark plugs getting clogged up and going out (they hadn't seen love in a long time lol) but for whatever reason, it never threw a code. On a '13 chevy Tahoe I had for a little while, I had the exact same symptoms and it turned out to be my torque converter ripping itself apart and jamming shavings all through my tranny (that was the end of that truck for me). Fast forward to my '17 Tacoma, a week after I got it the same thing as you, as I was on my way to the dealer that I bought it at to rip them a new one it finally threw a code, turns out it was the mass 02 sensor, snagged a new one from auto zone and was on my way. Point is, these damn "confusers" don't always help you much I have personally had very bad luck with any modern sensors telling me what's actually going on. Don't just throw parts at it but go with your gut, if you feel like maybe the last station u filled up at wasn't too good, maybe spend an hour or two dropping the tank, changing the fuel filter and popping in some 93 to clean it out if you feel inclined. If you feel like it could be driveshaft, maybe get it up on some stands and CAREFULLY give her a little go and have a buddy listen outside the truck. The point is if you're looking to diagnose at home without a fancy Toyota confuser your gonna have to go the old fashion way and see what you can do WITHOUT just throwing expensive parts at it. Not discouraging DIY work, I love doing my own work, and it's a great way to learn about your truck (also there might sometime come a day when this is your only option); however, sometimes that 70-100 dollar diagnostic fee at a good reputable shop or a dealer if you prefer, is at the end cheaper than guessing at it yourself. Good luck my friend, hope you get it figured out!

 

Thank you all for the advice and replying. I think there must have been some crud or water in my fuel, as the drygas and a tank of super seems to have fully cleared up the problem. It was due for spark plug replacement so I did that after the fact anyway.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/slight-miss.448072/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/had-the-truck-two-weeks-it-runs-better-on-89-octane.668446/

Lots of us have found that higher octane fixes the problem you are describing. Mines been this way for 56k miles now.