New taco, new concerns

My mom has an FJ, 2007 I believe. I have driven it here and there over the years and it has always seemed to have a good amount of get up and go. I bought a 2013 about 2 months ago and it doesn’t seem to compare. Both with the 4.0. I’m sure there is a weight difference but I didn’t figure it’s enough to drag down my Tacoma this much. Does this sound normal? 85k mi on the taco. Just did plugs

 

Doesn’t sound normal to me.
I’m going to guess you checked the air filter?
I am also going to assume there is no Check Engine Light?

 

Could be the throttle mapping you're noticing. Toyota put a serious curve on the '12-15 Tacoma map.

 

Isn’t the 4.0 in fj made in Japan and have higher output or is that just the 4Runner 4.0 ?

 

I believe the 07’ FJ had the same engine as the Tacoma.
Sometime around 09’ I think they got the Dual VVTI Engine.

 

Yeah I did the air filter as well. I was hoping something like air filter or plugs would be a quick solution, but no help

 

What is mapping?

 

Make sure tires are aired up properly

 

Will do

 

The rate at which the gas pedal responds to inputs.
Mapping is a broad term. It can also include shift timing and points, as well as throttle response.

 

If you really want to know for sure.
It’d be easier to just run the 2 side by side.
The Tacoma seems to “come alive” deeper in the throttle.
Toyota seems to have “tamed” the Tacoma on the low end. I am guessing for MPG.
Take your truck and “Give it the gas”. It should “wake up”, but you gotta WAKE IT UP.

 

@TnShooter what are people’s thoughts on “throttle enhancers”? The name I’ve seen thrown around some is pedal commander. If I understand right, they just make your throttle ramp up more rapidly but don’t actually change any stock settings.

 

My thought is, Don’t Waste your money.
Also, your thinking would be correct.

Tune the ECM if you want.
But stock truck isn’t really going to help with just an ECM tune.

Be warned, money can be spent by visiting the links below.
It ain’t my fault.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/n-a-power-gains-dynos-w-mods.229882/

And even more power here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1gr-fe-f-i-mods-and-dynos.465243/

 

I think it's hard to tell if something is wrong or not since we'd need to drive it or compare ourselves. If you can find another Tacoma in a similar year to drive that might help.

FWIW, when I had my 2006 4.0 Tacoma, it drove and felt peppier than my current 2014 Tacoma. Like others said, it's like they tamed it down on the low end. That 2006 had some grunt to it.

 

2010

 

I have 2 FJs(07, 09) and a 14 Taco. All the same engine. Its more likely weight, tire pressure or maybe just your butt dyno is a little out of calibration?

I felt the opposite, that my Taco was a little peppier when I got it. I was thinking maybe the Taco was just benefitting from improved aerodynamics, but maybe my butt dyno is a little off too..

 

disconnect the battery for 15 minutes, puts the ECM back into "learning mode", then start driving ..... just a thought.

 

12-15 tacomas seem slower by the pedal calibration. I drove a friends taco '10 model and it felt much more alive. Mine seems sluggish. Gotta rip the pedal more to get the same result.

But it's the pedal.

 

i never trust the "butt dyno".

what kind of MPG are you getting? is it running like shit?

 

Ide have to disagree with that since there is a noticeable difference from a stock truck vs a stock truck with a tune.