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2018 TRD Sport, getting 9mpg, super rough idle, terrible noises, and Toyota told me not to come back

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Nikvic, Sep 16, 2023.

  1. Sep 16, 2023 at 5:42 PM
    #1
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey guy, I would love a bit of input on this, I'm pretty much at the end of my rope. I just bought this truck about 3 months ago, and somehow pissed off Toyota enough by disagreeing with their opinion that the truck is perfectly fine, that they've basically told me not to come back, so although it's under warranty for the next 6 months and 9000 km, I think I'm left to figure this out myself. So here's what I'm dealing with, and if anyone has any ideas for me, I would be eternally grateful, and definitely find a way to buy you some beer!


    So I bought the truck in June.

    I almost immediately noticed knocking and chirping coming from the engine, and it was severely underpowered, and shifting weirdly. It just felt horrible to drive, and was getting terrible mileage. Unfortunately I bought it sight unseen from a dealer, due to my old truck breaking down, and urgently needing a new truck, while trusting that a dealer would not sell me a broken vehicle.
    After waiting a couple weeks for them to have time to take my truck in, I brought it in for all of the problems and they told me that the #3 ignition coil was completely burned out, and I should change my spark plugs. No CEL appeared and no code was thrown.

    I took my truck to an independent garage and had the work done. It fixed some of the power problem, but the truck was still running extremely rough and had a laundry list of issues which I was experiencing, especially when the truck had been really warmed up. it was clearly used off-road a lot before I got it (might matter?) with no accidents that I know of, just a couple carfax items for glass replacement
    I also just learned that it has had the low pressure fuel pump replaced on warranty, but it is still extremely loud and also this information did not appear in the carfax report given to me.
    Fuel pressure is 3 times what it should be and high pressure fuel pump is making sounds, Toyota said there’s nothing wrong with it though, but my mechanics scan tool showed 1050psi when the normal range is about 50 to 300 or 350
    There is knocking from passenger side, but it's intermittent, and happens more when the truck is warm.
    It seems to engage the torque converter at low speeds (this is just me after hours on the internet, maybe I should just say that it doesn't accelerate well at any speed when warm, and instead of accelerating in any gear seems to only shift down to accelerate), and it shifts roughly.
    There is howling and humming, also some metal rattling sounds from the engine bay.
    Terrible mileage in the city (20 to 25 l/100km), strangely good mileage on the highway (10 - 14)
    Loss of power. More noticeable once truck has been running for a while, and especially noticeable on the highway. Rpms fluctuate and often do not seem linked with any delivery of power, but upon laying off the accelerator and reapplying it, transmission will then downshift, sometimes two or three gears, and that downshift will be the only form of acceleration, not accelerating in gear for any length of time ever. Also once it is hot and exhibiting its poorest performance, it will not want to coast at all, slowing the truck down seemingly intentionally by downshifting I believe. There are occasional lurches and stalls, and clunking from the transmission.
    Related to the above, If I tap the gas pedal the rpms sometimes rise and the take quite a long time to come back down, and seem to have no effect on speed or power. They also wander up and down before reaching their baseline, both stopped and at speed. It’s like it’s in neutral, but I will be driving.
    There is also a quick hiss or “tssst” both when I turn the steering wheel, and when I hit the gas. Possibly the vacuum pump or high pressure fuel pump? Also there is a high pitched whistle like a vacuum leak perhaps at times when I accelerate above about 2500 rpm
    Misfires, all cylinders, moreso on acceleration
    After the engine is hot, smoke will come from the oil fill if I open it up
    High pitched whining or whistling at any speed over 30 or so, much more so around 80 to 100, different than the occasional (assumed) vacuum leak sound
    Intermittent chirping from engine, again more reliably observable when the truck is hot.
    “Evap ready” on obd2 always incomplete, also it says that the evap leak test failed


    Things that i've noticed, and think may be part of the problem:

    on Obd2 scan tool:

    Cat temps 2 are about 250 degrees colder than sensor 1 temps.
    Spark advance timing jumps all over the place.
    MAF readings go from 2 to 4g at idle, to 20 to 40g/s at 1000 to 1500rpm but jump around
    Mechanic said injectors all sounded ok
    I drove around for 2 days with the gas cap off because I wanted to see if the truck just wouldn't throw codes for some reason and it never threw a code or the CEL but when i unplugged the MAF it immediately threw a code.
    High pressure fuel reading was 1050 psi, normal range looks like 50 to 350psi.
    exhaust sounds a bit tinny


    I uploaded some movies and pics to google drive, if you want to take a look you can, here:

    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FB-WM8r175nrGRaRVYRpeUqdcHhqjBsu?usp=sharing



    I have more that I'll try to find and upload, but if you like puzzles then this problem might be the one for you! Again, would really love any input, and thank you if you've taken the time to read this
     
  2. Sep 16, 2023 at 5:57 PM
    #2
    MadKatt

    MadKatt In need of serious help..

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    Sorry dude but problem #1 you trusted the dealer. Should have bought a certified truck at least that way you would know what they actually looked at before they sold it to you. Having said that these trucks do hunt gears for some mine is a non issue but opinions vary. Also it’s not a race car and the truck works better at higher rpm’s so step on the gas and the truck works better or run the truck with the ect button pressed thisvseems to help some. Good luck.
     
    Nikvic[OP] likes this.
  3. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:01 PM
    #3
    Wire4Money

    Wire4Money Well-Known Member

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    The 3.5 is a very noisy engine, and quite anemic at lower rpms. I’d disconnect the battery for an hour or so in hopes the transmission will go into relearn mode. Have you ever driven a 3rd gen Tacoma before?
     
  4. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:05 PM
    #4
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    No I haven't, but I've compared the truck next to another sport (2017) at idle and revving it a bit and mine sounds much much worse. I'm also definitely less concerned with the gear hunting (which I'm learning could be totally normal without a tune) etc than I am the misfires, gas mileage and general engine health. The timing and potential clogged cat are kind of what I'm trying to figure out (if I'm even on the right track at all there anyways). What are normal MAF readings with this engine? I'm sure it's more than just a sensor, but I'm willing to try anything and everything at this point.
     
  5. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:10 PM
    #5
    Wire4Money

    Wire4Money Well-Known Member

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    Is it lifted? What kind of driving do you do? Short trips? How many miles? Have you swapped plugs?
     
  6. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:13 PM
    #6
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    And let me be totally clear here, I'm not a mechanic, and I've been trying to learn as much as I can lately, but I am totally aware that many of my suggestions and ideas are going to be absolutely ridiculous, and I'm willing to take the ridicule if there's a chance I can get some sort of legitimate direction to pursue.

    I know the above is super long and hard to get through, so here's a condensed version

    • “Pfft” sound when turning steering wheel in park. Gas pedal works to make the noise also while driving or parked, especially when coasting and giving the gas a quick tap.
    • Terrible mileage in the city (20 to 25 l/100km), good mileage on the highway (10 - 14)
    • Running rich
    • Evap leak test failed on obd2 scan tool
    • After engine is hot, and occasionally cold, there is a loud knocking sound from passenger side of engine, speeds up with rpm
    • Chirping from engine after hot. Speeds up with rpm
    • Misfires
    • Ignition timing, MAF readings, and TP all seem to fluctuate a great deal
    • Ignition timing and how rough the engine runs is definitely my biggest concern. I'm thinking knock sensors? Clogged cat? bad sensors (crank, cam, tps, maf, o2?), and anything and everything else?
    • Smoke from under oil fill cap after engine is hot, and once going up a hill I smelled burning (like plastic burning)
    • High pressure fuel pressure reading was 1050psi!!!!!!!!!!
    • Gas tank super loud fuel pump at idle
    • #3 coil was burned out when I got the truck so I had that changed and also the spark plugs
     
  7. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:14 PM
    #7
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wire4Money - I do a mix of highway and city, it has 91000 km, and i just changed the plugs, ngk iridium. I'd say lately i've done 50/50 city and highway
     
  8. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:17 PM
    #8
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I know, I was in a tough spot and I'm unfortunately just trying to deal with the results of my decision now, but I definitely would have taken more time with it all if I could have. Unfortunately my choices got me here and now I just have to try and figure out how to fix it.
     
    MadKatt[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:19 PM
    #9
    MadKatt

    MadKatt In need of serious help..

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    Yea I get it but read some threads on here maybe get a tune but keep in mind my truck averages around 16 mpg so don’t feel too bad.
     
  10. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:21 PM
    #10
    RichochetRabbit

    RichochetRabbit Bing Bing Bing

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    You received one good piece of advice that you have not indicated following ... disconnect the battery and force the computer to "start from scratch". It cannot break things more than the mind-set the truck has taken already.
     
    RedWings44 and usmc2msu like this.
  11. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:21 PM
    #11
    Rock Lobster

    Rock Lobster Thread Derailer

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    If it still has a warranty on it, take it to another dealer. Just tell them that it's misfiring and knocking, and stand back to see if they find anything.
     
  12. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:23 PM
    #12
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I'd generally be ok with not perfect fuel mileage, but combined with all the other problems, plus my mechanic saying there's definitely something actually wrong with it but he can't figure it out, I feel like there's something real that I need to find and fix
    I have actually done this, but I'm happy to do it again for sure. is there anything I need to know about resetting the throttle position sensor or anything after doing this?
     
  13. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:25 PM
    #13
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I tried that, I got a phone call from the manager of that dealership before I was due in and he refused to take it in since the other dealership decided that there was nothing wrong with it. I was even willing to pay all the diagnostic costs, and there are definite real problems, like the fuel pressure readings, and failed evap leak test. I'm pretty sure I'm flagged in Toyota's system. It was a pretty bizarre conversation TBH
     
    Phlogiston likes this.
  14. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:27 PM
    #14
    Phlogiston

    Phlogiston There are no victims, only volunteers.

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    If there is a knock and the sensor is picking it up then it would retard the timing and make it run very rough. My old Frontier did this to me on occasion and it was just a bad knock sensor.
    I can't say that's exactly what you have going on or even if that's all of what's going on. Do you have a reputable shop or Mechanic you trust to let them look into it? People can give you all kinds of ideas of what could possibly be going on but it sounds like you've got most of those ideas going through your head already.
     
    Stevie17 likes this.
  15. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:28 PM
    #15
    Rock Lobster

    Rock Lobster Thread Derailer

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    Find a local off road/ Toyota enthusiast group, go to a meet, have them look at the truck. Either they'll help with local advice or they'll add perspective.
     
  16. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:29 PM
    #16
    rds54

    rds54 Well-Known Member

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    Have you tried going directly to toyota corporate? If you have a warranty and the dealer won't fix it, that would probably be a good next step
     
    Raptr117, usmc2msu, Frog4aday and 3 others like this.
  17. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:29 PM
    #17
    StayinStock

    StayinStock Set it and forget it

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    Can you possibly find out who the previous owner was and give them a call? They have nothing to lose by telling you the truck may/may not be shit.
     
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  18. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:30 PM
    #18
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Actually I was wondering if this might be the case! The brake vacuum boost pump has a tsb for knocking I think, maybe I could put a long stick to it and have a listen? I'm not sure exactly where it is, but I can find a diagram online I'm sure!
     
    Stevie17 likes this.
  19. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:31 PM
    #19
    Phlogiston

    Phlogiston There are no victims, only volunteers.

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    That doesn't sound right, since when does a dealership turn away money?
    Maybe there's something going on with that truck that those dealers know about but don't want to talk about.
     
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  20. Sep 16, 2023 at 6:31 PM
    #20
    Nikvic

    Nikvic [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Actually I think they accidentally left the old paperwork in the truck and I might have their name somewhere, I'll have a look!! Thanks for the idea!
     

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