hello i have a 1997 tacoma it has the 2.4L engine, and 5 speed manual transmission 133k. when I shift from 2 to 3 and give it the gas, especially up a hill it feels like the engine is skipping .. i was wondering if this is a sign of a transmission problem, or what the problem might be? it only does it in 3rd gear, no other gears ever do it.

thank you

 

Describe "feels like the engine is skipping." Maybe your experiencing the clutch slipping. Is it the original clutch?

 

Thanks for the response - I'm not sure if it's the original clutch or not, and the skipping has just started I believe. It's not the vibration feeling that you get when you've got it in too low of a gear. It's like you're accelerating and you feel a serious bump or jerk, or kind of like the engine skips, then you keep going it might do it 1 or 2 more times I guess. It only does it in Third gear, and it does it more when you accelerate hard up a hill.

 

I would start with a tune-up if it has not been done recently. Plugs, wires, etc. I had a '97 Tacoma with the 3.4 that would cut out under load. I replaced the plug wires and coil pack boots and it fixed it. I would then check the fuel system if a tune up does not fix it. You can borrow fuel pressure testers from Autozone. That does not sound like a transmission problem to me. A bad transmission is going to grind, whine, or make some kind of noise. A slipping clutch is noticably different than an engine miss.

 

Today someone told me it was probably some trash in the fuel system or fuel injectors, I'll start by changing the plugs and wires and stuff, and hopefully that will fix it. Thanks for the info supernerd.

 

Could this be high gear / low rpm ping like the 3.4 supercharged guys experience? What octane gas do you use?