Stutter Under load (feels like a misfire)

He’s talking about generic OBDII misfire counters. That’s what’s so irritating about these ‘misfires’ everyone is complaining about. The computer doesn’t think they are misfires. Is the computer wrong or is it something else in the driveline?

 

Sounds similar to when my clutch was going out, almost felt like a misfire as the clutch plate began to slip and lost all power under load, but the only difference is that when the clutch slips the rpms race up as it starts to slip the flywheel. I would be in 4th gear driving and if I tried to pass someone, clutch would slip, rpms would race, and power would disappear.

you have an auto or manual?

 

First automatic car yea.......

 

Knock on wood, mine has never shuddered and only stumbled once. That was before any of the flashes. I’m actually quite happy with the way it drives now with the latest revision. It surges a tiny bit at idle in warm up mode but every modern vehicle does that.

I am glad mine doesn’t do it but it also means I can’t get any data to help others. I’m pretty convinced it isn’t a misfire because the manuals don’t do it. I’m even more convinced now that a 4 cylinder auto is doing it.

Certainly the shift map sucks then we load up the engine in overdrive which is really no different than diagnosing a misfire in a service bay by putting it in drive and giving it a little gas while holding the brakes. You can’t do that with these because the computer will cut fuel but I’m pretty sure if you could it wouldn’t miss.

This is something from the torque converter back and is some sort of harmonic vibration that happens when the engine lugs.

 

I really don't think it's a misfire. I think it's stupid software. Really, though, it doesn't matter what either of us think it is. Toyota says it's supposed to that. We'll see what they do when they get my next letter. Should be arriving there tomorrow.

 

hmm,, sorry but the autos are out of my experience, I have no idea hahaha.

 

Your service department sucks though and you either need to get a mongoose cable from Drew Tech or take it somewhere else. I know spending $500 sucks and who wants to wrench on their own stuff after working all day. But nobody making flat rate is going to take the time to properly diagnose this and your going to spend the $500 on a rental.

 

Mine surges at least 3 times when I am gassing it from 30 to 60mph. Because I drive fairly conservatively, I rarely feel those surges. They are very defined though. It's like I'm hitting a sneaky pete 30 shot.

 

If you think it’s misfired but it doesn’t show up on a counter, it’s possible some sensor is pooched. It’s like misting oil to the air intake that’s the result of a faulty pcv valve. The vehicle runs like shit but nothing is “wrong” as far as the computer is concerned.

Have Toyota looked at engine sensors yet?

 

Not in mine. They hooked see no check engine and latest software and say it's working EXACTLY like it's supposed to. It's doing precisely what it was made to do.... Even driving it and feeling the issues. Again, this is a TOYOTA tech. Not a dealership tech.

 

Just because there is no CEL, it doesn’t mean there is nothing wrong. It just means you have to look harder to find the cause.

If something has failed or is defective, it does not always trigger CEL is what I’m saying.

Computers are wonderful things but you still need to be able to diagnose.

 

I definitely wouldn't say that they're doing it right. Just that this is what they've done.

 

Agreed. Driveablity is probably one of the worst and most nebulous things to diagnose. I understand completely why they wash their hands of it i don’t blame them. I am probably going to go deeper into it if they basically just keep telling me it’s normal. Because thats the “we don’t know” or “i don’t care to” response. But being a 3rd party and not having access to Toyotas stuff it will be slightly more difficult

 

That's the kind of response I hate and makes it even worse. Especially after they've been asked in writing to fix it after 3 previous attempts. All they do hook up to it and tell me it's perfect.

 

S mode doesn’t affect lockup it just stops at whatever gear you have set and shifts normally to that point

 

Cool. One place to start is checking the fluid level. You can jumper it into check mode if you don’t have access to the fluid temperature PID.

 

A lot of it has to do with flat rate-most use a multiplier for customer pay. Warranty doesn't pay any kind of bump and its hard to make money so anything the tech can do to move it along is better for the tech.

 

My dealership definitely seems aggravated that I want my truck to work right. BTW, Cobb County Toyota will not be my dealership after I get rid of this truck. I figured the Toyota tech would put in an extra few minutes though...

 

Sadly this is the case. I can’t fault the guy for just trying to feed his family as much as it inconveniences me. Hopefully I can get this delt with and not having to get lawyers involved

 

What state are you in?