I have a 97 tacoma 2.7l 4x4 5 spd i purchased a few weeks back and im fixing problems wrong with it.

Well it started misfiring really bad,so I changed the plugs and that cleaned it up a little bit.Rode good for a few days and it started doing it again, today.I went and bought new wires and cleaned the maf real good.This seems to have cleaned it up pretty good but it still has a rough idle to it.

Its always had a problem starting.If your cranking the truck up with it being cold you have to turn it over at least 2 times or pump the gas pedal,it'll then stumble to get its self running right for a few seconds.If your driving and run into the store or something real quick it cranks pretty much instantly.

Im thinking it is the injectors,my dads diesel did something similar once it got hot it wouldn't crank cause all the fuel was leaking past one of the injectors.

I am going tomorrow to get codes pulled i know one is from the rear 02 sensor being busted(its not plugged into any exhaust,was told the rear only turns on the cel.)Im resetting the cel codes tonight so i can make sure the codes are the current problems.

While i was changing plugs I notice this little thing just chillen on the motor.I looks to me like a coolant temp sensor??I looked for places it could go in the engine and couldn't find a single place anyone know what it is and where it goes?

 

just got back from getting the codes pulled.I got code p0340 which says camshaft senor bank 1 circuit malfunction.p0141 02 senors bank 1 sensor 2

so this should help figure the problem alittle better.

 

if you can grab a picture of where that wire goes i can help you identify it. check below the fuel rail.

EDIT: i guess this was posted 2 months ago, but still curious as to what that sensor was. CPS?

 

That looks like an O2 sensor I had on my Civic, maybe it's the same thing?

 

nah thats no 02 sensor. It looks like the crankshaft position sensor to me

 

I never did figure out what it is.The wire goes back into the main harness of wires.I took it to a few shops and they just scratched their heads.However I did cure two of my problems.

For the misfire I replaced plugs and wires
For the rough idle i ran 2 bottle of seafoam that stuff really made a difference.

As for the long cranks I believe the problem lays somewhere in the fuel system.If the truck sits longer then 10 mins it take a few cranks anything shorter instant cranks.So that leads me to think its losing its prime.I also replace the coolant temp sensor as a few suggested that but there was no change.

 

unplug that sensor and look for any markings on it. Then try to run it without that sensor, see if the ecu throws a code for it. If it does should tell you what that is.

 

I did that once before and I believe it is a crankshaft sensor but i never went back and got the code checked.

 

the loose sensor is your cam position sensor, check for a hole or plugged hole in the head just above the intake ports between cyl 2 & 3. i just broke/ replaced one on my rig

 

can i get a picture of exactly where it goes?

 

Looks like the camshaft position sensor to me. It's definitely not the crankshaft position sensor.

Here's a 2.7L's crankshaft position sensor:



This is a 2.7L's camshaft position sensor: