Unsafe throttle response when using cruise control?

Ok first off I did use the search function to see if this particular topic had been already addressed and did not see that it had.

Now the threads that were archived address shifting, adaptive cruise settings, etc...

My issue is that by using cruise it creates an unsafe condition. Dose not matter whether in adaptive or regular cruise modes.

The issue is when cruise is set and I want to change lanes to move around slower traffic or if in an emergency situation need to quickly perform evasive action where responsive throttle inputs are needed it is not there!

The throttle pedal has a "dead zone" of what seems like 3/4 or more of the available pedal. I had set the cruise yesterday while driving home at 72 mph on a highway, flat level ground. And as I approached a semi I checked for oncoming traffic and seen I had at least a 3-4 car length gap to easily speed up change lane and go around the slower traffic.

Began to apply what would be consider "normal" pedal pressure at the same time changing lanes. Quickly realized that their was no throttle response and pressed firmer still nothing. Speedo still reading 72mph. And now in a bad situation as traffic has now caught up and i'm in the way!

At what seemed like less than a 1/4" pedal left the truck began to slowly accelerate and then all of a sudden rockets to over 90mph, wow!

 

Not normal, get it checked!

 

After exiting off the highway i replicated the situation at slower speeds on a backroad with a 45-50 mph speed limit. Took vehicle to dealership (3-4th time now with transmission shifting and throttle response issues). They seen me coming and had that look of not again

Told the service adviser my issue and he began to repeat the same song and dance "Mr. Doe that like I stated last time Operates as Designed.

The service manager was standing behind hime shaking his head as I told my complaint and spoke up and stated " Yep your right I drove your truck the last two time you were here". So I said this the first time that i've reported this issue, and you state you know it does this? They all do it as designed.

He proceeded to tell me that I couldn't use cruise with this truck like other vehicle and my problem was I was trying to compare it based on previous vehicle

He continued to state it wasn't Toyota's problem and it was due to the Federal Government stricter safety requirement that forced all auto makers to now require the safety feature such as Toyota Safety Sense. And due to this this is what we can now all expect from our $39,000 + vehicles

 

After telling him (not personally) that was the most stupid thing i've ever heard.... "Yep it states it right in the manual you can't use it on roads with traffic" What?? "Yep it in writing" SHOW ME I said! He proceeds to show me in the manual under cruise control the paragraph where it states not to be used while on wet and slippery roads, Heavy Traffic, survey or winding roads, etc...I state that in every manual on any vehicle and is not stating that I can't use cruise on Highways and long stretches of back roads otherwise why have it, why would Toyota include it as an option...Stupid.

 

Try test driving another new Tacoma to see if it feels the same to you, these trucks lack low end torque so you may just not be used to having to push so hard on the pedal.

 

Just going to float this; it's only my opinion and I have nothing to really justify it, but here goes...

Because Tacomas are 'fly by wire', when you set the cruise control you might be 'fooling' the truck to believe the pedal is depressed a certain amount to maintain the current speed. When you then decide you need to speed up you depress the pedal, but nothing happens! It appears you need to take up the 'slack' in the pedal between no input (foot off the pedal) and where the truck thinks the pedal is at (to maintain cc set speed) before you see a response.

I have noticed this on my truck (2016 TRDOR). If I have the cc set on the freeway (65mph) and very slowly ease into the pedal it seems as if there is 'slack' in the pedal that needs to be removed until I get a throttle response.

 

Told him let go for a ride and let him test it and tell me its normal. We head out and the whole time i'm pointing out the stutters, hesitations, misfires, and sorry shifting pattern of these truck (sorry guys I've read both sides of the transmission issues and this truck is bad by design, so don't flame me).

We it the on ramp and the truck struggles under what would be "normal" pedal deflection a good 11-14 seconds to enter the highway at 65 mph...I said your saying thats normal and acceptable for a $39,000 to $43,000 vehicle of todays design and technology? Yep, you just need to learn how to drive it, get in the gas faster if your going to use cruise.

Set the cruise at 69 MPH and I ask him to give it gas like he was going to change lanes and merge around traffic. He FLOORS it! I said NO, do it as a "normal" customer would do it and slowly press the gas to ease into the lane while applying firmer pressure and pick up speed to merge.

He did and after the pedal had move passed 3/4 available it demonstrated it first indication on the speedo and slowly moved off 69 MPH and then after what seemed to be a 4-5 second delay rockets up in speed.

 

Make sure you go test drive another new tacoma, sounds like it is rocketing off like that because you are finally getting up into the powerband.

 

You are absolutely right and this is exactly what I feel is happening, but is dangerous.

If my wife who doesn't drive my truck happens to use it and I have not told her and trained her of this "great" feature it could spell disaster.

 

This is what I do, I just assumed it was part of the "behavior of the vehicle". Honesty, just don't baby the thing. I drive it like I stole it and its much more fun. The cruise control is pretty useless for me as every Missouri hill triggers an automatic downshift and then hangs onto 4 gear for too long.

 

The service manager stated they all do it and said if you want to see bad response delay let's go drive a Limited" The facts are he admits its not right, but claims there all like this so "this is "Operating by Design" and nothing he can do to satisfy me".

 

If you are cruising along at around 2000 RPMs there is just no torque, once you get above 3500 RPMs it will start to respond.

 

A Limited isn't going to be any different. This is how this truck is. No Torque or Horsepower until high rpms. You gotta drive it like a sportscar if you want power. Its not ideal, but thats the way she is.

 

I haven't put a lot of time in yet on two lane highways to say anything definitively on this, but with what passing I have done on such roads, I have experienced somewhat the same conditions you had where you step on the pedal to accelerate to pass, the response in acceleration is found lacking, so you push the pedal further, and all of a sudden acceleration kicks in and you are on a rocket ship. The process is a bit embarrassing as I imagine it might come off to the person you are passing that you are showboating.

I don't think it has anything to do with the cruise control though. There is a delay that you have to wait for, when pushing the pedal, to wait for the acceleration to begin. It's just a matter of recalibrating your foot for a different throttle response and acting accordingly. All vehicles behave differently when it comes to the situation of passing on a two lane road. I have driven a lot of different types of rental vehicles and work vehicles, and you have to play it safe on passing distances until you have the nuances of that vehicles throttle response ironed out. I have come across other vehicles that have the same delayed response the Tacoma has, so it isn't unique to this model.

I have nothing to hang this on at this point, but my guess is that the ECU learning will eventually iron out this issue, or your foot will adapt, or a bit of both will happen in the end to make it a non-issue. I will say that I am amazed by how quickly this truck can accelerate at high speeds, once it gets around to kicking in.

 

I had them write up a service ticket and the Manager stated he was just going to state "no problem, Operates as Designed (OAD)".

I said fine but record on the ticket my concerns as I described them. They did and gave me the Toyota corporate customer care # for me to record it with them. Which I have done and their going to call me back by Monday.

If anyone else want to know that # its 1-800-331-4331

The way I see it I love my truck for everything a Toyota has come to represent to me (i've owned 6 other Toyota products) but with this one I hate to drive it, it has become a chore. Instead of just getting in and intuitive driving, it like I have to fight it to drive it. It wants to be in charge and I have no control over its will, pathetic!

 

It is just the characteristics of these trucks, over time you will learn to adapt your driving style, there is plenty of power but it is at higher RPMs than you are probably used to.

 

I understand "characteristics of these trucks" but it is so frustrating! I want a $39,000 dollar truck to at least drive better than the beater that just passed me as I jerk, sputters, and misfire down the highway

 

This for sure happens and it's normal. I'm not sure why anyone would expect different operation...to have otherwise would mean remapping the gas pedal during cruise. Could do it sure but it's completely unnecessary and would make transitioning into cruise fucked. Imagine driving at 70 mph with 30% throttle applied. When you turn on cruise the throttle mapping would reset so now your 30% throttle command is 30% throttle in addition to what it takes to cruise 70 - so 60% throttle. Coming out of cruise while you are giving throttle would also be fucked. Same thing but in reverse.

Combination of two things happened to OP.

1) Doesn't know how cruise control works in a drive by wire car
2) Underestimates what it takes to get an AT Tacoma to accelerate at 72 mph. I would expect very very little acceleration until it down-shifts which it eventually did once enough throttle was given.

 

When new guys come here asking about buying a 3rd Gen I always suggest getting an extended or overnight test drive and go out on the roads they normally drive.

 

You need a job with Toyota! You would make a great sales/service manager. Patronize the customer who keeps your company a float by telling them they don't understand how to drive

For one not my first rodeo, two my job consist of quality assurance of aircraft fitted with fly by wires, so I fully understand the concept.

If our aircraft had this "mapping" build into them we be looking at a smoking hole and an FAA crash investigation, thanks.