I have a 97' tacoma with the 2.7, 5speed, 4x4. Over the past months i have noticed almost like a slight stall at highway speeds and at low speeds. Almost like a miss-fire. Just recently i put on a fipk i got for christmas and I noticed it's gotten worse. Accelerating up a hill from a stop i can feel it missing. It's almost like a vaccuum leak, but I know it's not and I've checked every line a million times. I replaced the wires a plugs a while back and that seemed to help out a little. I am narrowing down the problem to the 2 coil packs. It really feels like it's an igniton problem. I'm just wondering if any of you guys would have any feedback on this problem?

 

only time i have ever had any stumble in the 2.7 was after a few harsh mud encounters while wheeling and hose down of the engine to clean it up. turns out my wires were bad. well....one actually. i just got the lifetime warrantied cheapo's from autozone until i am done wheeling. been running fine since i changed them.

 

Is it more like a stall or more like a misfire? How does it idle? You might want to check and see if you have the fairly common exhaust manifold crack that a lot of the 2.7 motors have. How many miles on yours?

 

How about the fuel filter when was it last changed?

 

well, I've got some where around 120,000 miles. The fuel filter hasnt been replaced, although i have bought one, but havent put it on. It really feels like an ignition problem because it's more of a misfire than a stall. The plugs and wires have already been changed...so im just going to shoot for the coils i ordered from my work. If that doesnt solve it, i'll go with the fuel filter....if that doesnt do it than i'm taking it to toyota. Thanks guys.

 

Dude,..change the fuel filter! Your fuel pump will thank you!

 

Where the heck is it? I've looked under both my trucks and can't find it! I have a similar miss, only in drive or reverse with my foot on the brake, it's fine when I put it in neutral...could the filter really cause a miss?

 

Everyone and their fuel filter gospel, I really doubt it's your issue. My 00 2.7 Runner has 94k and BFlooks has close to 150k on stock fuel filters, no problems at all. Like I have said before if it was easy to get to, like on the 3.4 I would change it, but it's not easy and Toyota says it doesn't need changing unless you get a tank of bad gas and contaminate it. To answer where it is, on the 2.7 it is on the drivers side of the engine block, you can see it through the wheel well, BFlooks and myslef thought about changing them last summer, but w/o taking the intake off it is nearly impossible. Before you pay money for coils I would take a look at your TPS, I had a skip in my 97 2.7 Tacoma, it would happen every now and then, and a new TPS fixed the problem.

 

Probably not a fuel filter issue, but I changed mine on my 97 2.7 last year. Its a pain, but doable through the wheel wheel-thanks to the fellas here telling me how. Jack it up, take the tire off, and work through the wheel well. You need a ratchet with some long extensions, a universal joint, sockets (preferably with magnet inserts so you won't loose the bolts), probably a stubby (17 mm) wrench or ratchet. Since I was missing a few of those I used the excuse of changing the fuel filter to buy the extra tools.

I had 110K miles on mine when I did it. I cut the old filter open later and it had crud all the way through it. I would at least change one out every 100K miles with an OEM filter. Just my $.02 worth.

 

the FIPK is probably crudding up the MAF sensor. those oiled filters will leave a residue on the MAF sensor element that can easily be cleaned off using CRC Electronics cleaner. when the sensor is crudded, the air-fuel mixture is lean, but i dont know if it would feel like a mis-fire. i clean mine during every oil filter change, becuase when you remove the air intake to do so, the oil filter is also left in easy reach (for the 2.7 L). check this link for instructions...

http://4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenanc...tenancep5.html

 

Thanks for the tip bk, just checked and it was filthy. I use the K&N drop in... Cleaned it and it ran better, but still missed. Touching my #1 plug wire made it miss...dough! I have the Magnacores, too bad, the stock spaghetti wires went back on and it purrs.

 

I don't think the wheel well trick works on the 4Runner.

 

i am hoping that once i get a body lift, this problem will be alleviated. lol!

 

Fixed it. The problem was 2 nasty ignition coils. Now she runs like a champ. Not a bad fix for only $100 ($50 per coil) and they have a lifetime warranty on them. I'll tackle the fuel filter on a long weekend when it gets warmer. Thanks guys.

 

Good to hear it is fixed. How do you like the FIPK on yours? Any different?

 

Had similar problem. Mine was the wires, carbon dust shorting out. I know you replaced them a while back but you might want to try cleaning the inside of the boots and the plugs themselves just to be sure. Cleaning mine with alcohol and a q tip got me running smooth until the new wires came in.

 

Thank Goodness for this web site. I have been chasing this problem myself for months now. I have a 98 2.7 with 192,000 miles and yes, a cracked exhaust manifold, and I have replaced fuel filter ( not as bad as everyone has said as long as you have a teenager with long skinny arms), plugs and wires, PCV valve, Cleaned MAF, thought about installing new O2 sensors, but thanks to you guys I know now to either get a new TPS or coils. Hopefully this will keep the unwanted, intermittant kill switch a bay.

 

I have the same problem w\ my 2000 2.7 4Runner 2wd. Just boggs down bad around 2000rpm. I have done so much to try to fix this n its drivin' me nuts. Ha. Have tweeked almost everything that can be tweeked and even put cold air intake. Have done all of the obvious. Anyone have any other ideas?