Stalls when it rains

So a couple months ago I was driving about 70mph on the highway and my engine shut off twice. Cruise on, lane departure on, all the other sensors on and it was raining. Engine shuts off and I get a bunch of malfunction warnings on the dash. After I pull it off the road I try restarting the engine but it only cranks. After I shut all power off for a couple minutes it starts right up. Did it a second time that day too. Toyota couldn’t find anything wrong because it didn’t report any codes. They blamed my Shift Sense Pro being plugged into the OBD port even though I told them it wasn’t on at the time.

Well today it died again while pulling out of the drive thru. No cruise or any other sensors on except the TSS, but it was raining again. That seems to be the only common denominator. Not sure if the rain is interfering with the grill sensor. I have a Chinese Pro grill but Toyota garnish like a lot of other bros on here.

Anybody else experience this?

 

you are still under warranty. I would just have it towed to dealer next time it does it. Just make sure you don't have you shift sense installed.

 

I’m afraid since there weren’t any codes from the first time and after the computer reboots it starts right back up they won’t be able to diagnose it. I guess I’ll video the light show on the dash next time to prove it’s got a problem.

 

That is strange... probably the best thing you can do lol

 

That is a real safety issue for you and drivers around you. I would contact Toyota corporate AND put a report in with the NHTSA. You may not be the only person with that issue. I would then contact your dealer again and let them know you have filed complaints. Your local dealer needs to have a fire under them to investigate deeper.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

 

Maybe check if water is getting to the ECU? Windhsield leak, etc. Just a thought

 

Not sure if it applies, but I recall someone else on TW having similar issues which ended up being their aftermarket headlights as the cause. Anytime they got wet the truck took a dump.

 

Maybe the CPS issue.

 

I had a Scion that would do this after I installed a cold air intake on it (this was years ago before I knew any better). When it rained heavily enough, water would get into the intake and stall the motor.

 

Move to AZ. It almost NEVER rains.

 

Unfortunately, does Toyota service have a written record of Shift Sense Pro being installed on the truck? If so, its going to be hard to legally blame the truck for it unless you can provide proof that your mod didnt cause the problem.

 

Yes they know it was on there. They also suggested calling SSP to see if they knew of any problems. After the 0062 tsb I really don’t use it anymore. With the other mods on the truck they could claim it’s almost anything else. It acts like a bad crank position sensor and maybe the rain is throwing it off. Just wouldn’t know how to test it.

 

Your idea of recording it is a good idea, I’d also show when it happens again without cutting the video that SSP isnt connected...

Can you replicate the issue in a good carwash that includes undercarriage nozzles? Wondering if theres a short in a connector under there, but not getting any codes doesnt help. Good luck with that, electric gremlins are a you know what.

 

I bet the owner had fun tracking that one down!

 

Check your ground wire

 

This for sure

 

has this issue been resolved?!?!....My 2019 tacoma Offroad was recently in a crash and never had this problem before the accident....took it to the body shop that was under progressive, and they "fixed" my truck....a week later it started shutting off while i was cruising down the road and it would only happen in the rain (more than 9 times before i was able to take it in).....I took it back to the place that did the work on the truck, and they said they couldn't diagnose the problem and they took it to toyota and it wasn't pulling any codes (even though i told them it only happens when it rains and the 2 days they had the truck it was sunny as hell out and no rain in sight)....one of my buddy's works at that toyota and i called him after the repair shop told me to have a nice day, and he got me in touch with the service manager...Brought the truck into toyota this morning and they ran it through the car wash with me and the head tech inside the truck, and also had it running at 1,500 rpms while we hosed it completely down (even in the engine bay with the hood up), truck wouldn't shut off and replicate the problem....So now they are contacting the shop that did the repairs for the accident and are going to fish through every single part they replaced to see if it's something on their end that they didn't wire properly

P.S......the only thing that saved me a couple times while i was going 70mph on a major highway was my Taco is a manual, so when the truck would shut off, i'd be able to shift it to Neutral, turn the key to the off position, cruise for about 5 seconds with no power steering or ABS brakes, then push the clutch and start it back up while rolling at a high speed and then shift to the right gear....all i can say is, thank god it didn't happen while i was going through a turn, because it would have been a bad day for me and anyone else in a oncoming lane.

 

But when it does - it pours -

Actually the only time it rains is when I wash the truck -
I used to have farmers pay me back in the Mid-West to wash my car...

 

Mine still can stall in the rain. Toyota won't do the TSB to fix the TSS sensor because of the aftermarket grill and lift.