Tacoma sputtering when I accelerate

I have a 2005 tacooma 4.0L. I bought it used and I noticed when I accelerate it sputters. I have changed the air filter and spark plugs. Its not as bad but still does it. I have not pressure washed the engine compartment. Any ideas?

 

Could be several issues and you already did the plugs. I'd start with the easiest and clean the MAF sensor and run some injector cleaner through the tank. Any CEL?

 

It has a brand new MAS on it. Just replaced it a month ago or so. Would a dirty throttle body cause it?

 

Check engine light is not on, no

 

Check throttle body, and all vacuum hoses for splits, causing vacuum leaks.

 

How many miles does it have?

 

154,000

 

Check to make sure each fuel injector isn't clogged/leaking/etc.

 

Spark plugs are probably ruled out if they were just changed. Visually check the ignition coil-pack rubber boots for cracks (this causes potential spark leaks and grounds, skipping that cylinder's firing). Also check vacuum hoses for leaks as mentioned above. Check/clean the throttle body butterfly valve and MAF (which may have already been done). If you have a compression test kit, you can easily rule out the cylinders by testing to make sure they all hold similiar pressure (balance test). Fuel injectors or the fuel pump may also be contributing. You probably have the very beginnings of a misfire, which is usually what causes a perceived acceleration sputtering.

If you google corolla misfire diagnosing - there will be some really good, systematic methods written by Toyota mechanics or former Toyota mechanics of how to diagnose a misfire in the best order.

Its something like: 1. Check/rule out vacuum hose leaks, 2. Check/rule out the cylinder compression, 3. Check/rule out the Spark and Ignition Coils, 4. Check the fuel injectors, fuel pump, fuel lines last.

My wife's 2004 Corolla had accereration sputtering - it turned out to be a latent defect of an improperly designed intake manifold gasket which became flattended and was leaking air. So the intake manifold gasket (which was creating a big vacuum leak) might also be something to check if the problem isn't further upstream.

 

I'd vote for bad ignition coils. Swapping them out is easy.

 

154k, 12 year old vehicle = fuel filter needs a replacement.

 

If the MAF is new, is it OEM or aftermarket?

Clogged or leaking injectors should set either lean or rich condition codes

If it's idling OK and just has an OFF idle or "tip-in" hesitation and then clears up, it's probably not a vacuum leak.

Coils will set a code, either misfire on that cylinder or coil circuit codes.

 

Should have posted this one prior to my other post, but does it run OK at cruise or does it continue to "sputter", is there a noticable lack of power?
Anything else done to it recently?

I always wonder when people make a point of stating they didn't do something, "pressure wash engine", it usually means they did and don't want to look silly.

If there is a lack of power or sputtering through the powerband, I'd start looking at base engine issues, plugged catalytic converters come to mind. Easy to check with a vacuum gauge...google it.

I would still check for codes, even though the MIL is NOT ON.