2012 Powers out climbing steep hills offroading

I've been digging through posts and don't really see any answers so I thought I'd ask if anyone else has the same issues.

2012 TRD TXpro that I can be in 4 high or 4 low with rear locker in and I'll just power out. Like it won't grab another gear. Truck is still pretty much stock. I added a 2" lift and 265/70/17 tires when i first bought it. I've had it for a few years now and that's how it's always been in the hills. I am thinking it's just the way it is but maybe not?.?.

 

what does power-out mean?

 

I can stand on the gas and eventually I lose all momentum and the truck goes to 0 mph and rpm is low but still trying. Starts to smoke and stink obviously. Ha. Doesn't matter whether I start out in 4th gear or 1st gear. All traction control off too

 

Could it be the fuel pump craping out due to the angles?

 

I'm not sure. It's not like the engine cuts out or dies. It's like it's not grabbing another gear.

 

trans may be low on fluid.

 

I had it serviced about 20,000 miles ago and even before that it had done the same thing. Fluid level looks good. I've put on about 50,000 miles since I bought it.

 

if fluids ok you got mechanical problems with the trans. some clutches are fried.

 

auto of manual?

 

Yeah I guess that's a possibility. I never have any other issues. I can cruise the interstate from Wyoming to wherever and back and through town everything seems good.

 

Auto transmission

 

Im going to guess its traction control stepping in and limiting power.

 

I've noticed the same thing on my '09 TRDOR. Especially in steep sand dunes.
I always assumed it was a traction control limitation.

 

Post a video!

 

You can turn off traction control a few ways, but in a TRD OR when you lock the rear diff PROPERLY (that is fully in 4lo, and rear diff light on SOLID) traction control and abs will be disabled. The only other thing would be if atrac is on which if you are in 4lo rear locked will not do anything above 3 or 5 mph. Needless to say if you are in 4lo You can let her eat till your hearts content.

I am going to bet OP never made it into 4lo, as in 4lo traction aids are turned off automatically and the only traction aid would be atrac which doesnt limit throttle only applies brakes to simulate locker(s) (front and rear if rear isnt locked, front only if rear is locked). In 4lo there is no throttle limiting like there can be in 4hi.

Do note, the stock transmission tune in 4lo only allows up to 4th gear.... but on revlimiter in 4th gear (auto trans) you are doing ~50mph.

 

BamBeds that's where I notice it the most too is sandy hills.

nd4spdbh it acts the same in 4hi as it does in 4lo with the locker. Just a little more bottom end in lo obviously. Still just runs out of power and it always seems to happen right before I crest over the top. Haha. So I have to back down and try another hill until I find one I can make. Tires don't spin at all. I'll have to look into traction control a little more. I thought I was turning it all the way off by stopping and holding the button until it showed it was all off.

 

You should be able to spin tires EASILY in 4lo. Like stated im betting you arent all the way in 4lo and are still in 4hi with traction control intervening. For an auto transmission, you must be fully in 4hi, no flashing lights on the dash. Be under 3mph with the trans in neutral and then shift to 4lo. only once the 4lo light is SOLID are you actually in 4lo.

 

I'm definitely in 4lo. 4low light is solid, traction control, abs the whole works. Whether I put the locker in or not I wait until it's solid too. But it does seem like something with the traction control. Maybe I'll run it by the Toyota shop and see what they say.... thanks for all the help and ideas!

 

Sometime I'm glad I'm in a base 2005 SR5 trim where there's no electronics besides ABS.