p219a error code

My 2013 Tacoma, which I got from a family transfer, only has 63000 miles on it now. I don't drive rough or badly, I got the transfer when it had 17500 miles on it in 2018. My uncle, who I got it from, must have bought a lemon. It has had numerous problems with the engine, which I have posted here about before. The cylinder 2 misfire turned out to be a cracked cylinder head, which I had taken care of. Now I am getting the p219a code, which is fuel ratio imbalance I think. When I left my truck at the shop for them to look at, they tried for 5 days to figure it out, and couldn't figure out why it was getting that code. Luckily, the shop is owned by a very honest man, who has had the shop for over 26 years, and he didn't charge me a thing for the 5 days of work they put into it, because they couldn't figure it out. He did tell me to take it to Toyota and have the diagnose it...but they will charge me upwards of thousands of dollars just to diagnose it, IF it is an internal issue. I'm thinking it is,since my mechanics did all they could without taken the whole engine out. They replaced the spark plugs, coils, and put in a new o2 sensor. They switched around the plugs and coils and still got the code. I asked them how long I could drive it for as is, with the fuel ratio imbalance code, and he said forever(broad term, I know), but I just wouldn't be able to smog it as is. THAT will be my issue. I have until next year November til I have to smog it again, but don't know if I should just get rid of the truck with only 63k miles on it now, since I won't be able to smog it, therefore not be able to register it in 1 1/2 years. Any ideas what the problem could be that is creating this p219a error code on a truck with only 63k miles on it?

 

https://www.700r4transmissionhq.com/p219a-toyota-tacoma/

I'd be looking for an exhaust leak. The idea supported by the article above.

 

Do you have the 2.7L or 4.0L engine?

 

I am sure that is one of the first things the mechanic looked at. He did say his number 1 fear, and most likely culprit is the o-ring, which would be $$BUCKS$$ to fix, I know. He also said they were getting misfires in the other cylinder(1?) while driving it, even although it did not trigger an error code on the dash board. Either way, this sh..tuff shouldn't be happening with a Tacoma with only 63k miles on it! Thanks for the input.

 

4.0L.

 

In any case, I will most likely need to try and sell it before next smog time in Nov of '25. Any idea how much I should ask for it? I think the blue book is around $12k or $13k? But with the check engine light and error code, 'they' will not be able to register it over here(San Diego) unless it is smogged, and they won't smog it with a check engine light. And I definitely don't have the money to fix it myself, otherwise I wouldn't sell it.

 

What o ring ?

 

Sorry, I don't know. I am not car/mechanically inclined. He just said the o ring. If there are rings for all cylinders, I would assume number 1? He did say 'new engine' too. Which in hindsight(20/20), I would have paid much less getting a new engine,than I have put into this truck already since I have gotten it with these problems the past 2 years....about $8k, give or take. This truck is a lemon.

 

A good tech, that knows how to read scan tool data, could probably diag this in a few hours.
The issue is, this code isn't common. It basically means one of the cylinders is a little bit more rich/lean the the others.

Read all about it in the file below.
We (this forum) has been here before. (Thanks @Dm93 for the file)
The bigger issue is, no one has yet come back and said if the fixed it permanently.

 

That's a very unusual code to see on a 2nd gen.

I can't really see it being a base engine issue if the engine runs smooth and there are no misfires.

I think I'd want to verify there are no exhaust leaks upstream or near the AFR sensors first, if not then I'd probably swap the AFR sensors side to side and see if the code follows the sensor. If it does then the sensor is bad, if not then I'd probably do an injector balance test to rule out an injector.

 

Yea that's kinda what they were telling me too, in those words. I just didn't remember. But they came to the conclusion that it is most likely a 'new engine' scenario. He said to have it diagnosed at the Toyota dealership, and then if I decided to have the work done at their shop, then he would add on that extra time spent diagnosing.

 

Well sh**, I wish you guys were my mechanics! But like I said, they didn't charge me for looking at it for 5 days. I honestly think my uncle bought a lemon. Only 63k miles on it, already had a cracked cylinder 2. They said they got misfires when they were driving it, from other cylinders, just no error codes. I mean...they looked at it for 5 days, spend a lot of time on it. These guys have been around for over 24 years....may be 26. I trust they know what they are doing.

 

But like I said, I'm not going to have the money in any foreseeable future to take care of it. What do you guys think I can get for it if I try to sell it?

 

No idea.
Your biggest issue is Smog Testing.

Other wise, I'd say - DRIVE IT.

What state do you live in?

 

I live in San Diego, CA. You can't register your vehicle without smogging every 2 years.