I need some diagnostic help guys. I have a '98 Tacoma reg cab 4x4 2.7 with 5spd, 191,000 miles on it. I went out to start it this morning and it wouldn't crank. I checked the battery terminals and they were all clean (this had been a previous problem). I took the battery in to have it tested and it checked out fine, so I know its not the battery. I got the battery back home and re-installed it. I tried cranking again, and this time the truck struggled but it finally cranked up, but it sounded bad. I looked under the hood but I couldn't see anything obvious like a loose connection. It sounded almost like it was clogged or like it had an air leak of some sorts. I drove around the block a couple of times, and then parked and revved it a few times. While revving, it had that clogged sound. After 5-10 minutes of running, the sound immediately went away. I have two thoughts on this, but I'm not a mechanic. To me it sounded like either the fuel filter may have been slightly clogged (it does need to be changed) or maybe after it heated up whatever leak it had developed sealed itself off due to parts expanding. Let me know what you guys think as this is my only ride and I work 6 days a week, so I can't afford for my ride to be crippled and unreliable.

 

Any code? check engine light on?

 

No codes or lights. I'm thinking it may be the fuel filter, as it is the original and its got 191K miles on it. It acted like there may have been a blockage and then it finally blew it out. My other thought was that the sound was like an air leak, that went away after about 5-10 minutes of running time and then the truck acted fine. I'm gonna go crank it up in a minute and see what it does. I haven't fooled with it since I got to work today.

 

Cranked it up and it ran fine. Not sure what to think but I know I'll go ahead and change the fuel filter out.

 

Went to leave work last night and it cranked on the second attempt. This morning it cranked on the first try. From further reading, I think part of my problem could potentially be the starter contacts that seem to plague a lot of tacos. Will replace those also this week.