Loss of power in sand

I live down in Cabo and was over on the east cape this weekend. Long story short I had to drive up a small deep sand dune to get back to the arroyo I drove out from. I was coming to it with speed but as I started to climb I would loose all power and come to a stop. I was in 4Lo and trac control was off, but I think this shouldn’t make a difference as trac control is automatically shut off in 4Lo?
Eventually made it over by shifting into second gear and keeping it there barely creeping over.
Anyone know the reason for the loss of power?

 

Morning. I would assume that you have had your truck for a while and that you have driven this route in the past so you know how your truck is supposed to feel. If my assumptions are correct, how does the truck drive otherwise? Any noticeable loss of power? I am pretty sure there are two levels of traction control.

 

You lost your momentum, tires spun and you started to dig because of the sand.

 

That’s the thing my tires stopped spinning. I had my foot on the gas but my rpm’s were sitting at idle levels.

 

Never had a problem before. I normally don’t ever bothering airing down but this time I was down to 18 psi. I’m running 33s so I struggle in 4hi in deep sand. But I was in 4lo, never felt the truck practically give up like that.

 

How long had you been driving around in the sand. I wonder if you put the trans into limp mode and subsequently no throttle input. 4lo should of kept trans temps cooler (its what I use exclusively in the sand unless its flat) but its possible with lots of beating on the truck if you had been in 4hi you coulda heated things up to limp mode. Were there any dash lights on other than standard stuff for 4wd?

4lo should be able to spin 33s down to china in sand.

 

I had just started driving again after hanging at the beach for about three hours. I always go 4lo on the sand. And have definitely spun the tires deep. I even had trouble getting the front tires to spin when reversing.

 

Also suggest 2nd or 3rd gear driving in sand. Assuming a automatic transmission.

 

Hmm that definitely is odd. how are things on the street when you go wide open throttle? Im wondering if you are having fuel pump issues.

ALSO could be the brake light switch, if the switch is bad/being activated in error that will kill throttle input.

 

Are we sure it's not a traction control issue? I remember an episode of Matt's Off Road Recovery where this was a problem with a Tacoma.

 

By default 4lo doesnt have any traction control, the only thing that it could be would be atrac (which OP doesnt have as hes not a TRD OR), but that wont make it to where you cant spin tires.

 

Doesn t 4lo turn off Trac? It does in my truck

 

Hi,

I have the same issue with my 2013, the once the car starts climbing the dunes it loses power and comes to a stop almost.
once im back on the flat, the power loss gradually disappears. The vehicle is chugging though and i can feel the power lag sometimes on the road aswell. @
mmcfaddenjr, have you got if fixed? if yes can you share the diagnostics.? it might help me...
I have changed the spark plugs and the fuel filter, and there is no catalytic converter on the car
thanks .

 

Have you tried turning off your traction control? It will limit your throttle input if it detects wheel spin.

 

Yeah.. I switched off the traction when I get into the desert. But it feels like the engine is chocking. And the truck is chugging since that day.. lost about 120km on a tank

 

OP, your traction control was ON in 4lo?

Edit: Just saw you said it was off, my mistake. It does sound like it was on, though. And all 4 tires had no traction, so it killed engine power.

 

I didn’t think these trucks had a serviceable fuel filter.

 

This post MIGHT help you find where the issue might be.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...easy-to-understand-i-hope.70551/#post-1333613

 

Try driving on the street, turn traction control off can you spin the tires?

 

yes.. while on the street, if the traction is off there is wheel spin. I have changed the muffler of the truck yesterday and it improved the performance.
I'll take it to the desert today to test the power. will keep posted. There is error code 1604 without engine warning light during OBD scan, fuel pump is working fine. ill check the pressure regulator on the injector common rail if the power loss is still there ..