Toyota Tacoma (1995-2023) firing order — diagram & guide
It’s not so easy for a foreign pickup truck to rank high among US-made vehicles in this category, but Toyota managed to do it with Tacoma. It was even ranked as the best truck of the year in the mid-size pickup category back in 2005, and it was mostly because of reliable engine options.
The new generation has already been announced for the beginning of 2024, so we wanted to reflect back on the previous ones and their engines. If you are a proud owner of this car, our guide on Toyota Tacoma (1995-2023) firing order will freshen up your memory as we go through the firing order and cylinder arrangement for each engine option.
| TACOMA YEARS | ENGINE | FIRING ORDER |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Gen (1995-2004) | 2.4L | 1-3-4-2 |
| 2.7L | 1-3-4-2 | |
| 3.4L V6 | 1-2-3-4-5-6 | |
| 2nd Gen (2005-2014) | 2.7L | 1-3-4-2 |
| 4.0L V6 | 1-2-3-4-5-6 | |
| 3rd Gen (2015-2023) | 2.7L | 1-3-4-2 |
| 3.5L V6 | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
First-generation Toyota Tacoma (1995-2004) firing order
The first-generation model of the Tacoma was produced in 1995 and the first engine used was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Besides that one, there’s another four-cylinder engine and a V6, so let’s take a look at the firing orders for each engine.
Toyota Tacoma 2.4L firing order
First things first, the Toyota Tacoma 2.4L firing order is 1-3-4-2 and it’s a base four-cylinder engine with a simple cylinder configuration. So, the first cylinder is on the left side of the engine and the fourth one is on the right side of the engine.
Toyota Tacoma 2.7L firing order
As the second four-cylinder option, the 2.7-liter straight-four has been added for the later model years of the first generation. The good thing is – the Toyota Tacoma 2.7L firing order is 1-3-4-2 so it’s the same firing sequence as the previous engine had.
Plus, the cylinder configuration also matches as you’ll find the first cylinder on the left side of the engine. All the cylinders are oriented left to right from the first one to the cylinder number four.
Toyota Tacoma 3.4L firing order
Now we come to the only V6 engine option offered for the first-gen Tacoma – the 3.4-liter V6. The first thing you should know is that the Toyota Tacoma 3.4L firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6, but this is not just a regular V6 engine in terms of the cylinder layout.
It’s a transverse engine which means the cylinder banks are rotated in 90 degrees, so there’s no left and right bank. Instead, there’s an upper and a lower cylinder bank, and the first cylinder is located as the left-most one in the upper cylinder bank.
This one also houses cylinders 3 and 5, while cylinders 2, 4, and 6 are within the lower cylinder bank, oriented left to right.
Second-generation Toyota Tacoma (2005-2014) firing order
The second-gen Tacoma model received significant updates in terms of the engine lineup since the 2.4L and 3.4-liter engines were removed. The only engine kept was the 2.7-liter one, while the new six-cylinder engine was added, so let’s take a closer look.
Toyota Tacoma 4.0L firing order
The firing order for a Toyota Tacoma 4.0L is 1-2-3-4-5-6, and it’s the same firing order that all the V6 engines across the Tacoma generations use. However, the 4.0-liter engine isn’t a transverse powertrain like the 3.4L one.
Instead, cylinders 1, 3, and 5 are located on the passenger’s side of the engine, while cylinders 2, 4, and 6 are on the driver’s side of the engine.
Third-generation Toyota Tacoma (2015-2023) firing order
As we move on through the Tacoma years, it becomes clear that the 2.7-liter engine has proved to be the most durable out of the bunch. So, the third-gen Tacoma also has a 2.7-liter engine offered, but there’s also the 3.5-liter V6 coming instead of the 4.0-liter one.
Toyota Tacoma 3.5L firing order
Finally, the Toyota Tacoma 3.5L firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6, and this firing order is once again just like for the previous V6s. However, we have to give you a heads-up on the main differences between all these V6 engines. While the 4.0-liter one wasn’t transverse, this one is once again similar to the 3.4-liter V6 from the first generation.
So, this transverse engine once again has cylinders 1, 3, and 5 going from left to right in the upper cylinder bank, while cylinders 2, 4, and 6 are right below them.
Our take
Ultimately, the Toyota Tacoma is a very reliable car and that’s mostly due to the great Toyota engine options used. If you are confident in your DIY maintenance skills, then this guide will be just what you are looking for.
Since all the engines used in the Tacoma are petrol ones, you’ll have an easier time diagnosing misfires, and replacing spark plugs and coils now that you are aware of the precise firing sequence for your engine.
