Problems with my 1996 Toyota Tacoma

[SeaRun1]

Update…

So I started it up today and was planning on replacing the fuel filter.  I have been watching videos and it seems that another thing might be replacing the injectors.

I started it up and it turned on the check engine light.  It threw a p0304 code which is cylinder four misfire.

Will look into the throttle positioning sensor as well.

Thanks for the help all.  Feels like this might be the last hurrah for my old Tacoma.

SR1

[MeepDog]

You probably already know this, but if you coolant is going down or has bubbles in the reservoir then you could have a head gasket leak. They will throw a misfire code if they're leaking coolant into the cylinder. Another sign would be steam in exhaust or milky sludge oil. I just did a head gasket in a Camry and when you revved it the engine wanted to die afterwards from to much steam in the cyl. If you don't have any of those symptoms don't worry about it.

[SeaRun1]

I do have a coolant leak.  I put in a half gallon of anti freeze maybe every month or two.  How difficult is this to do?

SR1

[TommyH]

The 3.4 head gaskets is a pretty big job. A Motor replacement would be easier...

[MeepDog]

I do have a coolant leak.  I put in a half gallon of anti freeze maybe every month or two.  How difficult is this to do?

SR1

Head gasket replacement is a job that costs very little in parts but for a shop costs a ton for labor. It's a great job for a competent diy mechanic but can take up to a week. A shop would certainly charge over $1k. If you verify 99% that it's a head gasket you may as well try a sealant if you're not gonna replace the head gasket. It could save you the whole process but if you have water in your oil don't do it because it will add bad abrasives to your oil. There's a whole range of head gasket sealants but whatever you use make sure you follow the instructions exactly. Do some research on them. I've never used them but it beats scrapping the engine.

[Woodchuck]

A lack of fuel pressure and or volume doesn't isolate to one cylinder it would affect all of them. Check for a vacuum leak with brake clean is solid advice. The other fun trick you can do is spray the coils, plug wires and plugs with water out of a spray bottle, DO NOT DUMP A 5 GALLON PAIL OF WATER UNDER THE HOOD. Turn the lights off, start it and put it under load and if you get a pretty little light show, you have ignition breakdown. Do a tune up.
You can also swap coils from one cylinder to another and see if the miss moves to a different cylinder, if it does, you need a coil.

[thinkingman]

I don't know if that motor has individual coil packs but that's where I would look if I had an individual cylinder misfire.

[Woodchuck]

3 coils and 3 wires.

[Fidelk]

I'm dying to know what the actual problem(s) is/are. All the responses make sense to me. Not that I know much about mechanicing.

[JakeLand]

Sounds to me like coil packs

[SeaRun1]

I’m working on it and certainly taking (and appreciating) everyone’s thoughts and advice.  I’m trying to balance spending money on the truck with unknown odds of success.  Will work on it this weekend.

Thanks all.

SR1

[Sandberm]

I'm dying to know what the actual problem(s) is/are. All the responses make sense to me. Not that I know much about mechanicing.

Me too.

Sorry, couldnt help my self...here's the list of suggestions from all the replies...so far, good luck! 

-obstruction in fuel line
-fuel filter
-head gasket
-intake manifold gasket
-clean the throttle body
-spark plug wire
-coil pack
-mass air flow sensor
-throttle position sensor
-check for lose ground wire
-fuel pump
-vacuum line
annnnnnd
-injectors

Looks like a potential office betting pool checker board of ideas on what is wrong with your rig 

[Woodchuck]

I'm in for 20 on the coil square. 

[fishngamereaper]

How much for the truck.

[Sandberm]

Last problem  I had with my S-10 I brought out the trebuchet from the shed so i could throw a proper amount of money at it before i figured out it was a bad positive battery cable.

-bad positive battery cable ...

There, I contributed to the clutter of ideas. I hope Searun doesnt have ADD