‘19 Taco with under 500 miles temperature question

I got stuck in traffic today in North Texas. Outside temp was reading 104° I spent about an hour and moving as little as 1/2 mile. My new truck slowly stopped blowing ice cold air and it was now only slightly cold. The engine temp gauge moved from dead center to half way over to the red zone (see attached). Once I got to moving again, engine temp returned to normal and ice cold air was blowing again.

Should I be concerned and take it to the dealer, or is this somewhat normal for this engine in 104°?

I traded a ‘06 4.7L 4Runner with 230k miles in on this Tacoma. The 4Runner didn’t have that problem, but it was a V8.

 

I would take it in. I am in the desert 110 and in traffic my has never done that.

 

My 16, 17 and both 19s have never done that or been that far over and I was stationed in AZ for a few years, definately have it looked at, there is a known issue with a coolant hose rubbing on braket in the engine causing premature leakage, maybe a bubble, etc. but definately not worth risking.

 

I regularly idle for long times in AZ at 110+ degrees. Maybe your radiator fins are plugged a bit

 

Take it in. Show them the picture. They'll probably push back but insist they check out the cooling system and the ac. The temp of the engine coolant should have no barring on the performance of the ac, although I think at low rpm, such as idling in traffic, it's probably not a peak performance and keeping up with 100+ degrees is a task. (probably more in the engine compartment)

I don't sit in traffic as long as you describe, but have been caught by trains in 100+ weather and not seen this condition.

 

I took a drive to AZ this past weekend and it never did that once. I would take it in quick!

 

I say there's potentially and issue there.

Toyota will say, "This picture shows engine temps within normal range."

 

That’s bad! Definitely take it back. Very bad things can happen once engine overheats. Even without the picture they can plug in there computer and look at the freeze data. Not good at all.

 

I would take it in to the dealer, show them the picture, I too live in hot as hell Texas and have never seen that gauge past the middle (18 OR 14K miles)

 

Newer vehicles can withstand high outside temps and remain cool as well as ac performing as it should. Now granted any ac, new or old, in extreme heat and at idle will rise in temp a little bit still keep the cab cool. The engine running at that temp is abnormal. If the vehicle had 100k miles or more maybe but even then with today’s modern cars it’s unlikely. My Altima has 66k miles on it now and it’s hot in Alabama too and never does what your truck is doing.

 

Take her in for sure

 

Arizona. Hot AF. Never above 1/2 way point.
Take it in.

 

My truck is new also and it gets hot here also. No problems with engine staying cool.

 

I live in west texas and I got stuck in a traffic jam last week around 3 pm. The outside temp was 106 and It took about 45 minutes for my AC to completely stop blowing cold air and the temp to start rising.
My truck did exactly the same thing as what you are describing but it never got past that second line. As soon as I turned the AC off it will slowly start to come down. I also noticed that If i revved the engine the temperature will drop immediately.
I took it to the dealership and they couldn’t replicate the problem...

 

Isn’t there a TSB for reduced A/C output at idle in 100* plus weather?

 

Here is the link for a discussion referencing said TSB.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tsb-0063-18-a-c-issue.565942/

I’ll go back and push my dealership to perform this.

 

Never been over half way, that’s not normal.

 

Hottest I got was 122* on the coolant. AZ, super hot, stop and go.

Edit 122

 

Have you off roaded in dusty silt? Only thread that replicates your condition found out the hard way that you have to wash the radiator after going off road. Fill the fins with silt does not help remove heat lol.

 

Stuck thermostat, bad clutch fan or low on antifreeze. Take it to the dealership and let them figure it out.