2016 Tacoma TRD Sport, MT, Standard Bed, Hesitation below 3500rpm

I have had my truck for about 2 months now and since I got it, it has been fairly sluggish under about 3500rpm. For example, if I am driving along in 2nd gear at 2500 rpm and then press the gas pedal aggressively to pick up speed, the truck will actually stumble a bit (for about a 1/2 second) then start to gradually pick up speed until about 3500rpm, then there is a burst of power where it takes off like it should. When the power comes on at 3500rpm, it is not smooth at all, it is literally a burst of power, then it pulls great all the way up. This behavior is pretty consistent in every gear, although less pronounced in higher gears. This is the only truck 2016 that I have driven. Is this normal? No check engine light or anything. Anyone else with a MT see this behavior?

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

Well, I've got an auto and that's pretty much how this engine is. It's torque curve isn't linear at all. This is one of the things that bugs me a bit coming from a Tundra that was smooth all the way though the range.

Can't speak to the hesitation though, but if I lock mine in S2 and hit the gas it seems to get moving right when I step on it up till I allow it to shift again.

Case in point:


You can see here that there's a whole lot of nothing from about 2800-3800 rpm till it picks back up again. That's what you feel is that second wave that rides up to it's peak. And when you're already past that first curve and hit it, it feels sluggish till it get's to the second curve.

Sure wish we could slap a turbo on this thing like an EcoBoost. But that's probably never going to happen.

 

The bump UP in power @ around 3.5K rpms is the variable timed intake valves opening up.. VVT-i I think it's called ... kinda standard stuff nowadays on engines. Honda has been doing this for `20 years I think Toyota also. You're just noticing in more due to the amount of HP & torque this engine has. That's the normal.. the not so normal is the hesitation from the drive by wire throttle. It's sometimes a bit sluggish depending on your timing and how hard you hit the gas. Change the way you shift and exellerate and you will figure out the best rpm range to avoid the hesitations.

Do this - put you truck in 4WD-LO (on gravel or grass) - hit the gas... you won't get any sluggish response and in fact it will put you back in your seat and startle you first time... 2nd time and WEEE HOOO its fun to drive!

 

That's ridiculous, under 2.8k rpm it has same torque as a civic on a vehicle that weighs double. I'm sure good tuning will fix the problem.

 

I have to agree, there is something off with the programming. It is either the transition between the Eco/emissions setting and performance, drive by wire latency or traction control being over controlling. This is my biggest gripe so far with my manual off-road Tacoma. I really hope they review the programming again and have an update. It is a safety issue when you are trying to merge into traffic.

 

Yeah well I have a TRD filter and a magnaflow exhaust - that helped a lot with throttle response. I even get a tad more MPG without having to baby the truck around town like I used to. I have the manual... I know you guys seem that this truck feels sluggish but "I" think it's a matter of pedal fell and driver learning how to use the pedal. This truck requires more pedal input that what you are used to. It took me a while but I'm getting better at it.

 

This issue has been my biggest gripe too. The hesitation being a safety issue is quite a concern, but the associated lurching when at low RPMs and speed really tends to cause discomfort with passengers and spill coffee.

I can't imagine the big brains at Toyota can't do a little better here. It's no wonder so many are jumping the fence and going to the Colorado and it's diesel power.

 

Reason #1 why I haven't bought a 3rd gen.

 

The upside is we have the double power of vtec yo

 

Thread revival.