'98 w/ intermittant hesitation

[jlampitt]

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

[groupset]

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.

[jlampitt]

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.

[jlampitt]

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