Toyota Repair: Toyota Tacoma, coolant temperature sensor, air fuel ratio

Question
Dear Mr. Ritter - I have a 1996 Toyota Tacoma 2.4 L with i5i,000 miles. Is is showing an OBD code P0171, no other codes. At about the same time it became hard to start in hot weather with a hot engine. It push starts or starts after it cools. I don't know if the two are related. I was going to change the coolant temperature sensor but can't find it. The OBD code is more important to me than the starting problem. What is your advice? Thanks Mike Taggard

Answer
The PO171 code is a lean condition, the air/fuel ratio is too lean under certain conditions, in most cases this can be remedied by replacing the mass airflow(MAF sensor) it's located on the air intake tube that comes from the air filter, just after the air filter, it has two phillips screws and an electrical connector.