First check your dashboard to see if the "check engine" light is on or the temperature gauge is abnormally high. If the engine isn't overheated and the "check engine" light is not on then it's likely not the fault of the engine itself, which is a good thing. On the other hand if the "check engine" light is on whenever the key is in the ignition, regardless of the engine's temperature, then your engine's CO2 sensor may be faulty. Take note of any sound the engine makes before it dies. If it makes a high-pitched whine, like a jet engine, it's because the sensor is sending an order to shut down because it's getting a false high reading. If the engine stutters before it dies, then the problem is the fuel pump or the fuel filter. The filter is easy to check. If it's greasy or contains any sediment, it should be swapped out. There's no real way to check the fuel pump aside from replacing it outright. If the engine makes no odd noises and dies abruptly, then the problem is electrical. The fuel pump relay, also called the circuit opening relay, is faulty. A new one can be slotted into place if you can locate it under the truck's head in the fuse block.
If the truck makes a noise like a muffled gunshot, check the exhaust pipe. Once the truck is turned off and parked follow the pipe all the way back to the engine. It's possible a hole has rusted in it, which would cause the banging. Because the exhaust isn't being properly disposed of, a momentary loss of power as the engine fights to clear its cylinders may occur as well. If there is no hole, then there is a functional issue that needs to be dealt with. Typically an O2 sensor somewhere in the engine is faulty, causing too lean a mixture of fuel and air to be fed into the combustion cylinders. This will result in a loss of power as well as the occasional backfire.
Possibly one of the biggest headaches for anyone who owns a stick shift is the clutch pedal odd. A recurring issue with many Toyotas is that some people find the clutch pedal going so soft that the transmission is engaged as soon as the truck starts. Obviously this means you end up grinding gears and muscling the clutch into submission until the poor thing just gives out entirely. The truck may have plenty of transmission fluid and clean lines but still experience problems. Toyota transmissions have two transmission fluid cylinders: a master and a slave, whose concerted movement is what causes the vehicle to switch gears. These cylinders have multiple layers, the exterior layer being a hollow housing. Sometimes a leak can cause the fluid to travel from the inside of the cylinders to the external housing, preventing the cylinders from moving properly because they don't have sufficient fluid pressure. Have a friend watch the cylinders as you start the engine and push your clutch in. If the cylinders don't lift and move at least an inch from their starting position when the clutch is depressed, they need to be replaced.
