Tacoma will not move or accelerate

2013 Tacoma Manual transmission.
I was just out doing some errands and I stopped for a few minutes and when I got back in the truck I went forward about 20 feet and the truck just locked up and would not accelerate or move. I think that the brakes were locked up but I am not sure. It would not accelerate beyond idle speed. I tried accelerating and tried moving in first gear and reverse but it just killed the engine because it would not accelerate. After trying that several times it finally would accelerate and I could move again. I went home and everything seems to be normal again.

Any idea what the problem could be?

 

Rear brakes are notorious for staying locked once the shoes get a bit of wear in them on these, but typically its after releasing the parking brake, the rears simply don't release. If you moved 20 feet and all of a sudden it just stopped and locked up, I don't think that would be brakes...unless you applied the brakes or parking brake to make it stop at that point. I'd start by jacking up the rear axle with the trans in neutral and see if the wheels turn. If they do, the brakes are not locked up. Then go to the driveshaft and see if it turns (the wheels will turn without the driveshaft turning because of the differential). If the driveshaft won't turn...trans/transfer case issue, or possibly pinion bearing....disconnect driveshaft from differential and see if it turns in the trans output.

Before you go too far with this, you might jack up the front and check if those are locked up...but I can't really see any manner in which the front brakes just decide to lock up on their own after 20 feet of being just fine.

 

This should help.... Broken spring on clutch. Pg.2 w/ pics.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-wont-go-into-gear-in-rwd.816516/

 

That is about the clutch not disengaging because one of the hub springs is tangled up between the clutch and the pressure plate or flywheel...completely different issue than the OP has.

 

I think @Chris(NJ) has a sound idea. Clutch springs get compressed from stalls and jerky engagements, can wind up rattling around in their pockets, slip out and jam things up. Engaging from a stop would be the most compression they'd see. It could slip out, jam, lock things up. and it could, in theory, go away if the spring gets forced out of the way enough.
I'd prolly follow up with asking about mileage on the present clutch and if the truck taught anyone manual. Besides that, checking out the brakes and driveline would be good practice. or checking for an electrical thing, if there's indication of that.

 

What are the chances you bumped the 4wd switch with your knee and it's binding up in 4wd?

If the clutch pedal feels normal and you don't have any trouble slipping the shifter into 1st and reverse I doubt anything is broken in the clutch. Usually when things pop off in there the disc won't release properly so you're grinding it trying to put it in gear..

 

I am at a loss here. I put it in gear and moved about 20 feet and it stopped like I had put the brakes on. I could depress the clutch and push the accelerator down and the engine would not rev up. I am not sure why the truck seemed to self correct. My OBD2 scanner would not work (grandson had borrowed it for a year) so I brought it to Auto Zone and they did not bring up any faults.

 

Sounds kind of fuel or air related, whether it be bad gas, pump, filter. Sticking, broken, worn or dirty throttle body and/or sensors.
More food for thought

 

Is the truck able to move in neutral?

 

I think that you may be correct with it being a fuel problem. Probably not bad gas or filter since it went to idle speed after moving normally for about 20 feet then very suddenly went to idle speed. After a few minutes of trying to get the accelerator to respond it would suddenly respond and it has been OK since then. I am inclined to suspect a sensor making a poor connection. I obviously want to find the problem before it happens again. Next time may not be in a parking lot but in the roadway.

 

you need to be more specific here.

when you say the scanner would not work…what does that mean? The scanner would not power up or would not communicate?…or the scanner would power up and communicate but did not show any codes?

will the truck roll in neutral?

 

Could be timing related.
My 3rd gen crankshaft position sensor was faulty after a couple of years. Throws everything off like you're describing, too.

 

Scanner turned on but when I pressed read it showed "error" after about 30 seconds. The scanner at Auto Zone read it just fine but it showed no faults/codes. Their reader is much better quality than mine is. I don't know if the truck would roll in neutral. It was in a level parking lot and I did not think to try to push it. After thinking about it I don't think that the problem is in the brakes. It stopped suddenly but at that point I was only moving a 1 or 2 MPH so loss of power would seem like putting the brakes on.

I am inclined to think a bad sensor, probably marginal and intermittent. I think that it needs better diagnostic equipment than an OBD2 reader.

 

Without touching the throttle, you can ease the clutch out and roll along at idle in 1st. You originally stated it just stalked and implied that it didn’t move when attempted this…is this what happened or did it move before it stalled? Where is the truck now and how did it get there? Did all 4 wheels roll during the process?

 

I tried easing out the clutch and it just killed the engine. As I stated after a few minutes it would accelerate. At that point I backed up a couple of feet because in the past when the rear shoes locked up that would release the brake shoes. Once it would accelerate I drove it home and everything was as normal. I drove it to Auto Zone later with no problem. I am not sure if the brakes were locked up or not. Whatever the problem may be it is not consistent.

 

My 2016 TRDOR manual has ignored throttle input a few times randomly....but after releasing and re-applying, it works. Maybe this happened?

 

Any idea why it ignored the throttle? What did you release and re=apply?

 

No idea…always right after startup. I release and reapply the throttle and it acts normal. It’s done it maybe 5 times over the last 6 months…not regular enough where I can catch it on a scan tool. I do keep one in the center console though…so next time it does it, I’ll keep the pedal to the floor and plug in and look at data to see what’s missing

 

Do you use the parking brake or just park it in gear? Check for oil on the rear break drum.

 

Master/Slave cylinder or throw out bearing failure?