2013 Tacoma "Pinging"

Nice. I get the pinging also. Mines a 2011 4.0. Ive been running 91 octane and its helped some. With 87 I can really hear it.

 

Someone else posted that there would be a fix in 2-3 months. About 2-3 months ago. You're getting strung along. Toyota is not going to fix this -- they can't. Well they could, but it would involve not only new software, but new heads and changes to the VVT-i system.

You bought junk. Don't feel bad, so did I and so did some other folks on this forum. Wish I'd kept my 2004.

 

Mine is pinging severly on the 87 octane.
Now what?

 

Roll to a local dealer, get it documented, and then wait for Toyota to issue their fix, whatever the hell that may be. Parts, software, some combination, who knows. They're keeping the dealership service mgrs in the dark as to specifics. Quite possible even Toyota doesn't know.

Or they're saving pennies for what it's gonna cost to start replacing long blocks. Though they could sure lessen the problem by telling the ECU to drop timing in high gear @ low RPM w/ any load greater than a given value, and by telling the transmission ECU to get the f**k out of 5th gear over a given vehicle speed, given RPM range (1500-1800) and given load.

99% sure this is shitty software, since the hardware hasn't changed much since 2005. Problem is, if we're cookin' parts due to bad software, the whole mess has to be swapped out.

 

Thanks for the reply.

The knock sensors aren't picking up the pinging, so the ECM is not retarding the timing enough.
Mine does it really bad at 40mph with a slight tip in of the throttle.

Had I know I was required to run premium fuel, I would have never bought the truck.

 

That's the weird thing - the knock sensors *are* picking up the pinging. I have a ScanGauge II hooked up all the time, one part set to watch timing.

This afternoon, on a tank of 91 octane, I was driving up the long, steep hill to the parking lot at my gym. I heard the truck pinging (about 20-25 mph with the A/T selector in 3rd). I looked down and watched the timing drop back from 23->15 degrees. But at 15, it still pinged - the ECU got the message from the knock sensors, dropped the timing 8 degrees, but refused to drop it any further. Why it won't, I dunno - guessing it's a hard limit in the maps or the correction subroutine.

I also get the ping on tip-in around 30-35 - usually on the freeway in slow-and-go traffic - coasting along, so the transmission insists on staying in 5th gear. When I tip-in, the revs actually drop (say I'm showing 1300, tip-in they drop to 1000 or 900). It's like the tip in makes the converter lock up, when it really should stay unlocked. I think it's expecting a 'cruise' condition to follow, not an 'acceleration' event. That just makes the ping even worse.

Today the ping moved around, too. Got it at a solid 2000 rpm in 3rd gear on the freeway (moderately slow traffic) on the drive in this morning.

BTW if anyone wants to add data points, please take this survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L7XZ8QP

I created it, I'm going to use it to beat Toyota on the head. Stay anonymous, state your name, whatever, I don't care. I just want data with which to pummel these asslords.

 

Guys,

I have the same issue. Mine is a 2012 V6 with 23K miles. Bought it new. Sometimes during a slow acceleration from a stop, I can hear it rattle/ping some where below. The sound can be described as something loose hitting metal. I have been using only 87 octane in Socal.

 

Ok...I have the ping too. Just over 10,000 miles and I noticed it twice in the last week. I only use 87 octane and from either Chevron or BP.

 

Even if you don't have the time to take it to the dealer, at least lodge a complaint with Toyota corporate. They need to hear about this from everyone that has the problem.

Don't want to burn time on the phone? Do it on the web:

http://www.toyota.com/support/contact.html

They will follow-up, state the problem and that you want it documented and then don't let them waste any more of your time.

 

Sure will and Thanks for the link.

 

I called and would suggest everyone with this problem to contact Toyota.

 

I did the online resolution form.

 

It seems the pinging is getting worse. Had the trucks 20,000 mile service last week and of course no update. I feel like I'm driving a piece of garbage. This may be my first and last Toyota.

 

I hear you.
Buying the high dollar swill is draining my wallet.

 

Are you guys towing a trailer even though the truck is experiencing these issues?

 

2013 v6... Mine got louder from 10 to 20k miles. I'm currently at 33k and pinging/knock has been the same for the past 10k miles
Knight-out!

 

..

 

Well after much frustration with this stupid truck, and dealing with Toyota, I have traded my truck in for a new Jeep. This truck was sounding so bad, and often shuddering. I began to lose confidence in the reliability of this truck, concerned of breakdown towing my trailer or small road trips. Good luck everyone. I miss my truck and wish it would have worked out better

 

http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2013-14-toyota-tacoma-recalled-for-potential-engine-failure.html

 

Any update to this? Mine sounds and has sounded like absolute shit when getting on it. 87 or 91, regardless of gas octane. Reminds me of my old 05 GTO I used to have before I tuned it, suddenly it became the baddest running champ I had ever driven after the tune, without one hesitation or knock ever again.

More then likely my guess is that the problem is in the crap ass engine tuning they have to set the ECM to due to CA regulations and state laws from their nazist smog program they have in place here.

Obviously the best solution would be a retune, but given that there really is no tuning available for these trucks outside of the supercharger arena I don't see that happening.