Three days ago the cel came on in my 1999 toyota tacoma and imediately following it the truck stalled out. After fifteen minutes it started up again and I tried to drive it home, I was 25 miles away. Even after 20 minutes it wouldn't start again. All it would do is start up for 3 seconds and then the rpms would drop down and it would die. Sounded like it wasn't getting enough fuel. I had to tow it home, luckily I have free towing on my insurance. The next day I changed the fuel filter in hopes that it was clogged up. The truck started and the cel was gone. I drove it for 10 minutes and the cel light came back on so I went down to autozone. The reading came up as a knock sensor gone bad and a misfire. I purchased a knock sensor and drove home. Everytime I would slow down the truck would stall, but it would start right back up again. Once I got it home it was up to its old business again of starting for 3 seconds and then die. I replaced the knock sensor, and start for 3 seconds and die. I let it sit for a day and then came back to it, deciding to change the spark plugs. As I was taking the first plug off when I remembered a test to see if fuel was getting into the cylinders. I tried to start it and it fired right up and kept going. I couldn't believe it. Turned it off, started up again no problem. I changed the spark plugs out as they needed it anyway. Started it up again and took it for a test drive. First around the block and let it warm up. Then I took it on a major street and took it up to about 50 for a little bit. Satisfied, I drove home. Pulled into the driveway, and popped the hood to tighten the battery cables as I had taken them off while replacing things. Went to start it up on last time and back to the same old problem. I really don't know whats going on with this thing. Please help if anyone else has had this problem.

 

you kinda put this in the wrong location. you posted in the computer section instead of the 4runner/trucks section. either a mod will move it for you or you can just delete this and put a new thread in the proper section.

 

first thing's first: if your CEL came on, what was the CEL code and did you decipher it? your 99 is OBDII, so it'll be easy to lift hte code by going to a place/shop w/ a CEL reader. to me, that's the first thing you should've done instead of trying to fix things that might have been (or might not have been) the cause of the starting problems.

bob

 

Pardon my ignorance, Bob, but what is a CEL?

 

Check Engine Light

 

Yes the Check engine light was the knock sensor, which I replaced and the misfire, could have been caused by the knock sensor malfunction. Those were the only codes and the cel has not returned, but the truck still won't start

 

Try taking a look at, and perhaps cleaning off and/or replacing, the starter's contacts/terminals.

And while you're at it, check on what sort of shape your PS pump is in (not leaking, is it).

 

If it is cranking but not firing, you might take a look at the Circuit Opening Relay. Unfortulately on the Tacoma, there is no bypass jumper as on the earlier trucks, but check out the primary and secondardy windings to see if it is OK. You could also see if the fuel pump is getting power and that is the main thing the CO relay sends power to.

 

thanks, I will certainly give those suggestions a try.

 

First of all which engine is this?
What was the exact number for the OBD code you got?

There are a few things to check if the vehicle does not start, the two problems may be totally unrelated.

 

hi guys, i just bought a 89 v6 stakebed truck. i have the same problem with starting the car sometime. i have change the fuel pump and fuel filter. before i just wouldn't start sometimes. but now it died on me while i am driving. when it dies it makes a sound like no gas is pumping. and when i try to start it, it makes the same choking and dies. i need this truck for my delivery business. so please if anyone has any ideals or any info that you could help. please email me or reply to the post. oh yeah, it cranks but won't start. email is keeby82sim@yahoo.com thank you all in advance.

 

A place to start:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#FuelPump

Might be a bad AFM:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/AFM/index.shtml