'98 w/ intermittant hesitation

Hi all,

New to the forum. Hoping someone has a clue about what's going on.

I've got a 98 Tacoma 4x2 with the 4-cyl engine. The truck has run near flawlessly since I purchased it new until now.

This past fall I started working a part-time job which had me driving to work in the wee hours of the frigid Colorado mornings.

The trouble comes in when I'm motoring about in a certain RPM range, but I don't have a tach so all I can tell you is that I've noticed the hesitation most when I'm in 3rd gear doing about 40 mph and/or barely on the accelerator. I seem to get the same result in 2nd gear doing around 30 mph. Rarely do I see the problem in putting around in 4th or 5th although I have had some of the more major "hiccups" when in my 4th gear.

The only other issues I've had with the truck have to do with running a K&N filter and the mass-air sensor getting all gunked up and turning on the check engine light.

Anyone have any ideas?

JLampitt

How many miles are on the truck? Have the plug wires; coil wire; etc. ever been replaced? Sounds like an ignition-related problem. I'd replace plugs, plug & coil wires, and fuel filter as a start.

I have a little over 87,500 on the truck.

I've been religious about maintenance and had all the factory suggested maintenance completed at the specified intervals.

Replaced the plugs and wires. Still have the hesitation problem.

Any suggestions other than taking it to my dealer tomorrow morning for a diagnostic?

JL