4x4 problem on 6-speed.stalling out

Aloha, My 2008 Rugged trail Tacoma is having issues. I have a three inch lift, ebaich coils, bilstein 5100 front and back and an add a leaf. Truck has 37,000 miles and I have drove it on the sand two times before with no problems. It a 6-speed manual.
I was driving on the beach in 4-hi for about 100 yds no problem, then my truck started to lose power. I pushed the gas in more and still the engine was losing power. I died right there on the beach. When I started the truck again the 4wd wouldn't engage. Even though I was already in 4wd. When I let the clutch out in 4wd hi and low it would just die. In 2wd it would not die.
Now (a week later) when I engage 4wd in the dirt it engages, but then loses power and dies.

What is going on. Please help!

 

do you have a check engine light on?

4x4 requires more power cuz you're trying to turn 4 wheels instead of two.

You either need to give it more power, start with more speed, or drop down to 4Lo.

 

I was in 1st and I was at 2100 rpm. Check engine light is not on. Also not sure of the TRAC.

 

Throttle Position Sensor out of adjustment or dying. Check wiring to crank trigger sensor, as well. I don't know if sand can block the crank trigger signal.

 

I will bring that to Toyota to check. Thank you!

Any other suggestions or opinions?

 

How many miles on the truck? I'm wondering if the exhaust O2 sensors (s) may need to be changed, as well. I would think if the truck has 100k or more I'd replace them anyway; they're no more difficult to replace than the spark plugs. Speaking of spark plugs; when is the last time you changed them?

 

Miles are in the OP.

The problem only happens when I am in 4wd and get into deep sand. It will run fine in 4wd out of the sand but when I get into the deep stuff the truck just dies.

 

Is it stalling or dying? No disrespect how long have you been driving a standard? To me it sounds like you are stalling the truck. Deep sand is going to place a great strain on the truck in 4WD to little throttle and the truck will stall. Also if it is stalling how are you getting out of the deep sand? Or are you possibly having a clutch problem.

 

Yeah its dying. Not stalling. I have driven in the sand numerous times with no problems and this just started happening. It is not operator error.

I have to get pulled out while I am in 2wd and it doesn't die.

 

So I have taken it into Toyota on Kauai (very helpful) and they cannot find anything wrong. "Everything mechanically looks good and no error codes show up in the computer."

They said that I can take a mechanic to a "nearby" (10 miles) beach and show him what is going on. I'll make an app for next week and keep this thread up to date.

Are there any other suggestions, of parts I should tell them to check?


Once again, the 4x4 engages in dirt but as soon as it starts to struggle (doesn't matter if I am flooring it already) it looses all engine power and dies.

 

Turns out a vacuum hose to the fuel regulator was disconnected.
This caused the truck, when under a heavy laid, to shut off due to lack of fuel.

Glad this all got worked out and now I can get back to adventuring!

Aloha!!!

 

Thanks for following up! Most of the time people don't post the fix but this definitely helps other owners trouble shoot their trucks when they have the same symptoms.

 

The mechanic said it must have been disconnected by a mechanic, I'm guessing before I bought it, and forgot to put reconnect it.