Hello and thanks in advance for any help that can be provided.

1996 Tacoma Xtra Cab 4x4
4 cylinder 2.7 liter

My truck has been starting fine but my gas mileage has been very poor over the last 6-8 months. I have tried cleaning the air filter, oil change and tire pressure but nothing has worked. I decided to replace the spark plugs, spark plug wires, oil, oil filter, pcv valve, distributer cap, and rotar and charged K&N air filter. I put the wires on just as they came off and I have never had any problems changing plugs/wires with other vehicles in the past.

Once everything was installed I tried to start the truck and it cranks over but does not start. I triple checked the firing order and everything is correct. Counter clockwise 1,3,4,2. I pulled the plug and confirmed that I was getting a spark. After going over everything and not finding the answer I decided to put on the old distributer cap and old rotor. It still did not start. I pulled all the new NGK plugs and put in the old Bosch plugs and wires and again no luck.

I decided to pull all the old off and put all the new back on. Once everything was back on I checked the MAF sensor to see if it looked dirty. I am getting NO CODES or CHECK ENGINE light. The sensor looks fine and I cleaned with the correct electronic cleaner as I have done in the past. The truck still would not start. I decided to pump the gas peddle over and over and it started and then quickly died. I decided to pull the air filter thinking maybe I put too much oil and maybe it was starving for air? It still would not start. After messing with it for hours it finally started and it stayed running only when I keep pressure on the gas. Once I let off it will die. I decided to get a fuel filter thinking it might be a fuel issue? After installing I am left with the same result. I have tried to start by removing or bypassing the Intake Air Temperature sensor in the air box. Once I did this the Check engine light flagged of course and gave me the IAT code. I removed battery lead and cleared the code and connected the sensor. I feathered the gas and after hours I was able to start the truck and I raised the rpm and let it run for about 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes the timing seems fine. As soon as I left off the gas it dies and sometimes will backfire out of the air intake line/box. It is a white smoke that comes out. When I put the ignition to ON I do not hear the gas pump but I never did in the past. I am not sure if this is a fuel issue, vacuum issue, or sensor etc. I would think that the system would flag a CODE if a sensor was bad?

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

 

I also forgot to mention that I also purchased a new battery since the other would not hold a charged after I drained it from the vehicle not running. I also checked the Throttle Position Sensor and it is working correctly according to the multimeter.

 

MAF/VAF or O2 sensors!!! White smoke is too much fuel in the system easily caused by either. know any one with a 95-96 like yours??? swap MAF and see what happens. O2's ??? hard to say till you eliminate a couple for sure, just because there is no light does not mean the maf is really good could be dirty and that oil filter you use in the intake will increase the dirt factor on the maf!!! so make sure you clean that well and such!! I do use a q-tip against recommendation light touch just realize you do run the risk!! cheaper than replacing it though!! Fuel injectors???

 

I have my posting in the correct area now here...

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/9...ot-run-202737/

Thanks Eddie for the reply