2016 Tacoma no throttle, check engine light on, trac off light on

Guys, I need help! I have one of the first 2016 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4X4s. Bought in Oct 2015. At 121k miles in April 2020, while out 4x4ing, I stopped for 20 minutes or so to look around. When I tried to continue, I started it, the check engine light and trac off light came on and although it idled fine, when I pressed the throttle it sputtered and would not go. I ended up disconnecting the battery negative terminal for 15 minutes or so and that reset it and I drove 150 miles home. My research said to change the Crankshaft position sensor (CPS). Had to order one. While waiting for it to come in the same problem happened again, out 4x4ing, stopped for a bit, started it up and both lights came on and it would not go, no throttle, just sputtered and died. Again disconnected battery to reset and was able to then drive it 8 miles home. Changed CPS the next day (part came in) and for 2 months, no issues. In June 2020, while our 4x4ing, again stopped to eat lunch, restarted it and had the same issues. This time the codes would not reset, no matter what I did. Tried OBD II Reader reset and battery negative to reset, no good. Got a friend to tow me out of the remote desert and AAA towed it to a local shop.
Local shop said codes were High Pressure Fuel Pump and Fuel Injector Driver Circuit Performance Bank 1. They found the throttle body needed cleaning; they cleaned it and said I was good. When I went to pick it up at the shop. I started it and the lights came on and it would not go.
Left it at the Shop. A few days later the shop said I needed a new High Pressure fuel pump, so they replaced it and charged me over $2000. They drove it several times, let it rest then drove it again, repeating this a few times. Seemed to be good. I picked it up today and drove it home. Let it sit for 20 minutes and restarted it and the 2 lights came back on and I had no throttle response in drive. Having it towed back to the shop tomorrow. Oh, while it was at the shop I had them also put in a new Toyota CPS, the upgraded version (like the first one I put in). Just for my own peace of mind.
So it isn't the CPS and it isn't the High Pressure Fuel Pump. What in the world is it? HELP!
And, can I get reimbursed for a fuel pump that was not needed?

 

I just put up a similar post about my 2020. I know your frustrations! I’ve been to the dealer and they still can’t figure out my problem. They look at you like you’re crazy because they can’t duplicate the problem when you bring it in. The dealer tells me the “trac off” light indicates the truck is shutting down certain functions (like a safe mode) because of the problem. I’m so used to driving my new vehicle with all the trouble lights on I’m getting used to them. I’ll check in if Toyota ever figures out what’s wrong with mine.

 

Negative. 121,000 smiles and the fuel filter is plugged. Change it out and motor on good mate.

 

Sir, is your brake light switch messed up and sticking on?
If the computer senses brake and gas it shuts down throttle.

Another option is a failing electronic throttle, either the part attached to the foot pedal or at the throttle body for lack of a better term.

Do you have a scan tool with live data.
You should see voltages change as you apply throttle.
Can you get us the codes?

 

First order of business is getting your money back from that shady shop. U paid 2k for them to guess. That's on them, not you. Get your money back

 

No issues with brakes lights.
My OBD II code tonight is P062D, Fuel Injection Driver Circuit Bank 1. Could be a number of things.

 

Well this is a new one. Usually when I hear of this problem it was the CPS. You ruled that out so watching to see what's the cause. Sorry for the issue and Good luck OP and keep us posted.

 

CPS was a common issue on early trucks. There was also a fuel pump issue on some. I believe there was also some with sticking throttle bodies or something.

personally I’d have taken it to Toyota to figure out

 

Are you positive you got a new crank sensor from the new batch and not one of the old ones.

 

This!
It'll finance the real fix. I can't believe after paying that, you're the one still trying to fix this.

 

It did indeed get the new CPS, both times. Verified the Part # of the new CPS with the Toyota Recall Notice on them. Of course my VIN is not part of the Recall.

 

Very strange that disconnecting the battery fixes it for a while. That tells me something software control related is going on. If it were a solid mechanical issue it would be there all the time.
I would clean and reseat all connectors possible.

 

How savvy are you with a meter? Could start checking resistance to the injectors. I'm assuming the code is for the port injectors and not the direct.

 

As a 50 year electronics technician I am savvy with a meter. And I know the frustration of intermittent issues. That's why I am letting the shop do it. But if I can find someone who had this issue repaired, then I can guide the mechanic. I am a disabled Vet so I would rather not do the work myself anymore.

 

My 2016 Tacoma is fixed! I have 124K miles. So my symptoms were check engine light and trac off light came on and I had no throttle response. The codes on the OBDII said
"High Pressure Fuel Pump" and "Fuel Injector Driver Circuit Performance Bank 1". Both were spot on. The high pressure fuel pump had been going bad and finally died, only supplying 60PSI instead of the 1600 needed upon depressing the throttle. Once that was replaced ($1270 for part and $660 labor) the only fault was the "Fuel Injector Driver Circuit Performance Bank 1". The Shop owner, a master mech, used a troubleshooting matrix/flowchart for my engine and while doing resistance checks determined that the wire from the Direct Injector Relay (pin 3) to ground was partially shorted; should have had 10K ohms or more, but it had 200-2K ohms instead, depending on when you checked it. Then the same wire from the relay to a point on the the Powertrain Control Board (PCM) was supposed to be a direct short (less than .5 ohm), yet had several hundred ohms of resistance. Bottom line, the Fuel Injector Driver Circuit in the PCM had been failing and finally failed completely. The Mech stated that other manufacturers have or have had this issue when a moderately high amperage (current) circuit is engineered into a small enclosed computer (the PCM). The heat generated just cannot dissipate and eventually the circuit burns up. Toyota hasn't figured this out yet. So, instead of another $1200 part, plus the labor, then have it towed to Toyota so the new PCM can be flashed with the latest software, my mechanic bypassed that fried circuit. (the rest of the PCM functions were operating normal). No additional cost to me. He put in a more robust (larger gauge) wire, a Bosch relay and a fuse to perform as the new Fuel Injector Driver Circuit. And he looped it back into the PCM so it would see all the proper signals for good operation as well as being able to still detect a fault if something were to fail. Simply replacing the PCM meant that it would likely occur again sometime in the future. This new robust driver circuit has been used by my mechanic for 4 decades on the same issues with Chevy's in the 80s, Ford's in the 90s and on 2016+ Chryslers now. He has never had one come back failed.
So if you tried replacing the Crankshaft Position Sensor and it is still giving you issues check those ODBII codes. You may have a failed PCM and/or high pressure fuel pump.
Does anyone know how I relay this to Toyota?
I hope someone else can use this information and get their truck back on the road.

 

Spoke too soon. Got 1000 miles on above fix and it happened again. Exact same symptoms. Back at shop. new code, P1235. This is on my 2016 TRD OFF_ROAD 4x4.
The day it happened, a week ago, I went out and luckily found a new 2020 fully equipped and same color (Quicksand) and bought it. Will sell 2016 as soon as the shop figures it out. I knew better than to buy a first model year but did it anyway. Oh well.

 

I’m really worried about these newer Tacoma’s. Toyota has managed to put so much technology in them that repairing them for problems like yours seems out of reach of anyone - even Toyota. See my thread on this forum. I haven’t even owned mine ninety days and already four trips and over 30 days in the shop and still not repaired. That’s why I posted mine-to see if we could help each other out. Unfortunately these issues seem too large for anyone to address.

 

I’d report the truck to the NHSTA (National Highway Safety Transportation Authority) website. That’s what I did. Truck stalls are dangerous. Unless we report these issues (sounds like your problem is similar to mine) Toyota won’t know they exist or look into them.

 

I too complained to NHSTA.
Hey Chuck X1, do you know what Toyota has changed so far in an attempt to repair it?

 

Hey Chuck X1, What part of the country are you in? I am in the desert of Southern CA.
I am wondering if our environment has something to do with it.