Tacoma Sputters but fine in Overdrive.

Hey everybody, first post on this forum. I'm super thankful this place exists and hopefully y'all can help me diagnose the problem I'm experiencing.

I bought this 2002 Tacoma (6 cylinder - 2wd) about 6000 miles ago (120,000) presently and it's driven like a champ until about 2 weeks ago.

The truck starts to sputter when I'm doing around 45 mph and trying to accelerate on the freeway. It'll violently jerk about 3 or 4 times and then go back to normal.

It seems to consistently do this now.

However, it doesn't sputter if I hit the "OVERDRIVE" button.

It felt like maybe I got some bad gas, but I'm not sure. I did put some fuel treatment stuff in the tank when I filled up the other day but I've noticed no significant difference.

I've also dug through previous threads and it seems others have experienced the sputtering too but it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it may be.

I've seen people say everything from a fuel filter, to something with a catalytic converter to a timing belt being off.

I'm hoping the fact that the rig drives fine in overdrive but not in regular mode may offer a clue about what is going on.

No check engine lights have come on at any time either.

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

Hitting the OD button toggles between 'OD on' and 'OD off', depending on whether of not the tranny is in OD, so 'hitting the button' could mean 2 different things.

Just to be clear on this :
Say, you in overdrive mode (no light on the dash), does the sputter happen then when you accelerate past 40?
Or does it only happen when you are have overdrive off (the light in the dash is on)

 

I actually don't see a light on the dash that indicates whether or not the overdrive is on. I assumed the truck just starts out in regular mode and switches to overdrive once I push the button.

I can feel a significant boost in power once I push the overdrive button and when I do the sputtering is non existent.

 

When you are in overdrive your engine is turning less rpm thus requiring less fuel. I would see what kind of fuel pump pressure you have. If you get a long enough fuel pump pressure line you can run it into the cab and watch fuel pump pressure, when it's not running properly just a thought.

 

Thanks Pakrat. Although that sounds pretty exhausting just to test the fuel pump pressure. Surely there's gotta be a easier way.

 

Sounds like you are feeling the the lock up torque converter applying in overdrive . I would bet you need an engine tune up . If I am correct , you can re-produce the stumble sitting in your drive way under full throttle load while holding your brakes or better known as a stall test .

 

I wanted to say thanks for those that tried to help troubleshoot this issue. I found out the problem and wanted to update y'all in case someone else came across this thread and was having similar issues.

After changing the plugs and plug wires the truck is running all smooth again.

Simple but easy fix. Very thankful.

Cheers

Jason