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2011 Tacoma 4.0L rough idle & underpowered - any ideas?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by streetlightning, Jan 1, 2011.

  1. Jan 1, 2011 at 9:10 PM
    #1
    streetlightning

    streetlightning [OP] Member

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    Hey there,
    I've got a problem with my new 2011 Tacoma that the dealership can't figure out. They're trying, but I thought I'd see if anyone experienced the same problem.

    On Thanksgiving night, the Taco was idling in a parking lot and all of a sudden started idling rough. I didn't think much of it as thought it would go away. The next week, I drove to Salt Lake City (500 miles) and on the highway, it quit... not sputtered out... it just quit at 75MPH. I got it over to the side and it restarted and I was on my way again. The next day... same thing. It quit. This time, it didn't want to restart and when it did, the engine as well as the traction control light remained on. I took it to a dealer in Wyoming where they reset the misfire codes and told me I had water in the gas. They did not confirm this, but it was their speculation.

    Upon returning to Denver, I took it to my dealer where they told me I had water in the gas. Again, not confirming any gas. I told them I'd run a few hundred gallons of gas through it since the problem started and would continue to prove there was no water in the gas.

    The next week, they took a closer look and confirmed the truck does have a strange idle. They checked compression on each cylinder, spark gaps on each plug. They richened up the fuel and leaned it out only to find neither affected the rough idle.

    Its a 2011 with 12,000 miles. I bought it back in August and its not my first Tacoma. Its my fouth since 2004 and my third 4.0L VVTi (2006 and 2008) so I know exactly how they should run, especially with a trailer. My fear is that they are going to say this is normal. The real problem is when you put a trailer behind it. It is severly underpowered. I own three trailers and do a lot of towing. About 20% of my driving is towing a trailer. I towed my empty flat bed over the weekend and the cruise control wouldn't hold the truck at 70 MPH which should be no problem. Back in September, I drove this truck to Texas and back with this trailer and it ran great... just as it should.

    So, I'm looking for any thoughts on what this problem could be or how to approach this as its been in to the dealer three times and they can't fix the problem. Its a major problem when paying $500+ a month and not having a 100% working truck.

    Thanks in advance and happy new year!

    Warren
     
  2. Jan 1, 2011 at 10:04 PM
    #2
    BlazeTaco

    BlazeTaco Well-Known Member

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    Sounds to me like you have an intermittent short or bad connection in the wiring somewhere, which can be a real pain in the butt to find. Possibly relating to the fuel pump circuit. Do you have any ideas what codes were set if any? Incorrect fuel pressure can cause rough idle or engine shutoff if low enough. Did you run the gas tank low when this happened first?
     
  3. Jan 1, 2011 at 10:08 PM
    #3
    MountainEarth

    MountainEarth Well-Known Member

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  4. Jan 1, 2011 at 10:42 PM
    #4
    streetlightning

    streetlightning [OP] Member

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    Blaze- The codes were PO300, PO305 and PO306 all relating misfires both individual cylinder and multiple cylinder misfire.

    Both times the engine quit, it was well above half a tank of gas. I've now driven this over 2500 miles with the engine problem. Its crazy and its starting to get irritating. These 4 liter engines run so well and tow my trailers perfect, but this is a pain in the butt. I don't know what to do if they say they can't find the probelm so I'm trying to help them find the problem.
     
  5. Jan 1, 2011 at 10:47 PM
    #5
    satcom221

    satcom221 Well-Known Member

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    Warren,

    I had a 96 Jeep Cherokee (replaced it with 2010 Tacoma) that did that exact same thing for a few months and kept getting worse and longer to restart. It ended up being the crankshaft position sensor. In my case it could have been just out of adjustment but with over 210,000 miles, I had it replaced - cost me $400 but I didn't have to worry about the engine cutting out at 70 on the highway. Even though its a new vehicle might ask the service folks to take a look at it. I hope you find something out soon.

    Rick
     
  6. Jan 1, 2011 at 11:47 PM
    #6
    BlazeTaco

    BlazeTaco Well-Known Member

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    Hey one of those codes is camshaft sensor a range/performance error. check for loose wiring or exposed copper around the top portion of the engine towards the front of the cylinder heads. Your engine has variable valve timing it uses the sensor as a reference of where to adjust the cam to in correlation to the rest of the engine. That can cause some major issues like you described if it getting incorrect timing readings.
     
  7. Jan 1, 2011 at 11:58 PM
    #7
    streetlightning

    streetlightning [OP] Member

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    I typed one of the codes as PO360 instead of PO306. I think they're all cylinder misfire codes. I also believe that this problem has something to do with the cam/valve timing. I don't fully understand the VVTi and how it works, but know enough to know that its more likely the cause.

    I think there are many people out there with this problem, but most people won't notice it 1.) because it seems normal and have nothing to compare it to and 2.) because they don't tow very often. Hopefully, they'll find this and issue a TSB on it.
     
  8. Jan 2, 2011 at 12:23 AM
    #8
    MountainEarth

    MountainEarth Well-Known Member

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    Your engine cutting out at 75mph is NEVER normal!
     
  9. Jan 2, 2011 at 12:40 AM
    #9
    BlazeTaco

    BlazeTaco Well-Known Member

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    well incorrect cam timing could cause lost compression since the valve is not opening or closing at the right time hense the cylinder misfire.
     
  10. Jan 2, 2011 at 6:50 AM
    #10
    shook0002

    shook0002 "The Fuzz"

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    3 times back at the dealer, same problem, still no fix. Sounds like a great reason to lemon law it and get another one.
     
  11. Jan 5, 2011 at 3:06 PM
    #11
    streetlightning

    streetlightning [OP] Member

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    I had the Tacoma back at the dealership today as the Toyota Field Representative was in town. They still haven't figured out the power/idle issue. I mentioned a possible cam/timing sensor and they didn't feel that was the problem. Toyota has authorized the replacement of all six injectors which should go in next week. I hope it fixes it.
     
  12. Jan 5, 2011 at 3:48 PM
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    jg7

    jg7 Active Member

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    My $$$ is on the cam position sensor and/or wiring loom leading to it.
     
  13. Jan 5, 2011 at 4:16 PM
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    Supra TT

    Supra TT Supercharged Lifter

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    Heh I like when the deal just throws money at shit they aren't even 100% sure of :eek: :D
     
  14. Jan 5, 2011 at 4:23 PM
    #14
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    I predict you'll need to pursue a buyback. So record all your problems and contacts with the dealer/Toyota and save all your paperwork and receipts!
     
  15. Jan 5, 2011 at 4:38 PM
    #15
    vbibi

    vbibi Well-Known Member

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    Throw the book at them, and lemon law theyr ass.
    Take care
    vbibi:(
     
  16. Jan 6, 2011 at 4:54 AM
    #16
    jg7

    jg7 Active Member

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    For lemon law to work I believe the diagnosis must be EXACTLY the same on three invoices or else it doesn't count. Don't let them say it is the O2 sensor one day, Cam sensor next, then injectors. This is how they get around it. Make sure it says something broad like "runs abnormally rough as confirmed by technichian".
     
  17. Jan 6, 2011 at 5:02 AM
    #17
    buddywh1

    buddywh1 Well-Known Member

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    Contact Toyota and start a complaint saying the dealer can't find or fix a problem.

    If no one can find it or fix it...that's what lemon laws are indeed for. Check out what the process is in your state for declaring yours a lemon and make sure you are following it in case they never find the problem. With three return trips for the same problem I'd imagine you're getting close.
     
  18. Jan 6, 2011 at 5:12 AM
    #18
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

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  19. Jan 6, 2011 at 5:18 AM
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    Burns

    Burns Excellent Member

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    X2 Look into the lemon laws in your state.
     
  20. Jan 6, 2011 at 5:23 AM
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    rwilso03

    rwilso03 Well-Known Member

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    This definitely sounds like a wiring issue to me. Maybe a loose ground in the ignition or like before mentioned the VVT System. I have seen one loose or frayed ground wire do some really strange things...
    Oh and yes they are a bitch to find.
     

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