interesting issue today.

Truck didn't want to go! best way to put it.

90F, AC was on, wife and kids in the truck, light weight trailer with kayaks in tow.

Pulled off into a gas station just after leaving the lake to adjust straps on the kayaks. Truck was fine, has been fine in the heat with ac blasting coming home from work.

was getting annoyed with the way traffic was timed, couldn't get an easy gap to pull out. finally got one that meant putting my foot down a little more. So I did.... was like no one was home. No communication between pedal and throttle body type issue. No power at all, just casually rolled out even though I was half way into the pedal. From that point on for the hour drive home it was acting like what I had experienced when new, like I was dragging an anchor. Engine seemed to be struggling for no apparent reason. Downshifting more than normal (was putting kayaks and all gear on top of and in the truck) and just struggling at everything.

did this a couple times after I bought it. was annoying one time as it was on a road trip, gas mileage was total shit for 300 miles.

One thing I did today, used EBRAKE on boat launch while loading/unloading. but have done it all other times without issue I'm aware of.

Had a base OV tune done a month or so ago. Been fine (though their base tunes don't seem to do much besides improved throttle and less confused transmission)

 

Check your emergency brake cable. It may be slightly engaged but not enough to give you the indicating light.

 

People have reported having locked up rear drums after some version of water intrusion and ebrake activation:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-wheels-locked-up-to-the-dealership-she-goes.585474/

If you backed up far enough to get the drums wet, you might want to check out the above thread. Solutions were cable manipulations and simple fonzi style tapping on the drums.

 

that has been my thoughts on the occasions it has happened, ebrake hanging up. Odd to have the issue with a new truck. I Have seen/heard it happening though to other gen 3s, ebrake locks a wheel or both wheels still after being released.

Truck is perfectly fine this morning again.

What's got me going "wtf???" what seemed like lack of connection between throttle body and gas pedal. Didn't get that feeling of engine fighting against a sticking wheel. May be how things are with this truck. Don't get the torque twist one would expect.

going to pull the drums after work.

wondering if there is a "fix" for this as in better springs to release everything properly.

 

Did you smell brakes or anything? Part of me feels like it's the heat. Could you hear your fan while trying to accelerate? The ambient heat and heavy load from the cooling fan can rob a lot of power.

 

Does the boat trailer have brakes ??

 

And add in the extra weight of the trailer and family and I could see that. A fully locked fan will cost you 20+ HP.

 

No power when you step on the gas, that's weird, you hear the engine trying or nothing going on? You probably put your foot into it to try to get going.

 

I've had this truck hot before in stop and go and she is gutless.

 

Is your truck on the recall list. It sure sounds like the dreaded fuel pump problem.

 

no not that I'm aware of. it's a 2021

got a link to the symptoms of the fuel pump issues?

 

This does not sound like a brake problem. If it were the engine would rev up but be very hard to move if the brakes were locked up. to me this sounds like a throttle body issue or the gas pedal not sending a signal to the throttle body from pcm to respond. If this happens again turn the engine off and then back on, if that does not work, turn the engine off and remove a battery cable for 10 minutes to relearn the pcm. iF all else fails get the pcm reard with a scan tool. This engine is drive-by wire, not throttle cable.

 

this was my thoughts more than anything at first at least. I know these are drive by wire not cable. May have been coincidence to go along with my truck working harder than normal being I have had way more weight/on it and gotta better mileage with only difference was windows down vs AC on (which shouldn't be making that much difference at highway speeds).

so goal here was to see if anyone has experienced similar issues.

 

OP, I get it's 2021 but damn that sounds exactly like what happens with the fuel pump recall. Need full throttle and it just sorta sits for what seems like 30 seconds before it takes off...I'd take it in to the dealer before I'd be driving my family around with it. That hesitation could have been dangerous.

 

That's part of why it caught my attention, bad timing! was trying to pull out quickly as I had a narrow window to make it out due to traffic.

 

Sounds more like the fuel pump issue to me too. Get it looked at.

 

Ok, please let me know what you find, other post have said fuel pump issues. They maybe correct,lack of fuel volume or pressure will also cause this problem..

 

other than hesitation on one hot day I'm not seeing further symptoms. Going to the dealership is a headache. That's something I'll probably just check myself. I'm a tech but I work at an independent shop, don't see stuff this new yet.

I did the reset yesterday, forgot how much of a difference it makes for a while at least.

haven't had any issues since that time and it's only gotten hotter (almost broke 100F yesterday).

will be doing another trip towing that little trailer with our kayaks again this Sunday.

I'm hoping it's not the damn pump, be the 3rd warranty issue (first mechanical though) in 6 months

 

Updates thus far

Still not sure what caused it, haven't had any other issues since.

I am on the KDmax tune (mellow one) now, went camping this weekend with trailer, far more weight than I have ever had the truck handle yet and 0 issues. Only about an 1.25hrs away counting the time to drive all the way through the park. Wanted to replicate the same drive in the same hot afternoon temps to try and replicate.

All of us, kayaks, mountain bikes, generator you name it, everything for a family of 4 to camp comfortably but still in tents plus our stuff for outdoor activities. Including 2 large coolers. My wife is a bit demanding and over packs lol.

Oddly enough, KDmax tune I got the same mpg as I was with just the kayaks and a small cooler. Just me in the truck or just us in the truck gained substantial mpg (along with other perks of performance aimed tune).

Being the pump recall has extended not far from my production date, I'm keeping a close eye on how my truck acts, may flash to stock tune and take it in just to be on the safe side in the next week or so.

 

Was going to say the same, but if i did the same it'd roast the tires every time.