[Partially Solved] Random loss of power

Hi,

A month ago, I got a Tacoma 2012 TRD 4x4. Everything just fine, power, mpg, etc. Before buying it, I had it checked in a Toyota dealer, and was almost perfect.

I usually get 87 octane gas; a Friday for whatever reason, I put 85 octane. The motor felt with less power, and then I added an octane booster additive in gasoline; the power came back, and I was happy as usual. Next Saturday. the day came when the insurance company I hired, installed a satellite detector. As I was informed by the technician, it has a connection to the gas pump, ground, and takes energy from the fuse box.

They explained me that no problem at all would be caused. After they installed it, I decided to go for a short trip, and in the highway, I intermediately sensed less power; not huge, yet I could notice it. As power in a motor is veeery important to me, I called the insurance company and checked the installation; they came to my house, reviewed the cable work, told me was all right.

I took the Tacoma to the Toyota dealer, explained them on the device installed; they reviewed air filter, gas pressure, spark plugs, computer error codes (no one found) . Diagnosis from Toyota, everything is just fine.

I took it to Autozone, and they reported that the battery (an original Toyota) “does not satisfy accepted industry standards, and should be replaced”. Long time ago I had a Chevrolet Tahoe; there was a time where the battery was low, I replaced it, and I felt more power…

Whatever: today I still feel the loss of power, specially on highway. Before the problem, even at 5th speed, pressing the accelerator you could feel the motor push. Now, it cannot be felt, and you have to press more the pedal, to gain a gear change.

I like this truck, yet I miss very much the initial power I felt in it. Any feedback will be very appreciated please.

 

1st never use octane booster... its a joke.... one that claims an 8 point raise in octane is only going to boost your octane from 87.0 to 87.8 ....

2nd. are ambient temps different (hotter) these trucks as well as any other vehicle start to feel sluggish in 95-100+ * ambients due to the hotter thinner air.

 

Who is this insurance company and wtf does this contraption do?? My insurance company better stay the hell out of my truck or I'll be jumping ship in a hurry.

 

I bet its a gluteus sensor problem.

 

The octane booster may cause any damage? In Toyota I was told that, if the liquid was the problem, I should have felt it immediately; it was not so. I used it lets say, at 5 pm, and drove after 2 more hours. I parked it, and the next morning the satellite device was installed... then, the problem was felt.

 

no your fine the octane booster didnt do shit either way for your truck.... just dont keep using it.

 

I second this...

 

I think your senses are lying to you.

Increased octane doesn't make more power. Never has.

 

To the OP; if power is 'very important' to you why did you buy a six cylinder truck? Ram Hemi would have been the way to go...

 

More like 5.7L iforce....

 

I'm guessing this satellite detector is to detect speed traps??? I'm guessing it was the insurance company's idea to sell you this as well. Either way, I'd remove it. If it's just a few wires, remove it and see what happens. These trucks aren't fast from the get go. They're fun but not fast. Remove it and see what happens with the power.

 

the hell is a satellite detector?

 

itsa detector that detects satellites....

 

Why would that be needed?

 

Its a gps car locator. You can track it in case of robbery, and have the car stopped (it's wired in the gas pump line). Around here, some insurance companies, install it

 

The original power the Tacoma had when I got it (about a month ago), was just fine for me. I'd just need to restore it

 

They probably disconnect the battery to install the system and it may has affected the parameters of the truck. Let it relearn few miles.

 

If the problem was immediately noticed after the satellite installation, then it likely is the problem.

It should not be wired in with the fuel pump. It should be wired in on its own.

Correct the wiring.

Then, use only a minimum of 87. Those two things should correct your issues.

 

- Unplugged the OBD2 Bluethooth connector; after several days, no change.
- Yesterday, the insurance company un-installed the GPS device; I test drove the Taco in highway; after 10 mins driving, power slowly came back. I was happy ! ... came back to the city, and still noticed what seemed to be a slow, but uniform power restoration.
- Today, I went out to city drive, power was down again :-(

It's indeed, confusing; after the device was uninstalled, improvement was evident, and now, power loss again even without the GPS dev. ? Or, as I have read in other Tacoma forums, ECU has to "re-adapt" to the new conditions, and eventually (days later...) will have the motor power steady?

 

The last thing tried in a Toyota Shop, was to reset the ECT-i memory; after 2 weeks on testing, power improved indeed; variations were not eliminated, yet they were fewer and on the lows, not as low as before. So, this kind of worked, not completely, but helped.