ENGINE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

Hey all,

I have a 2016 SR, all stock except for the A/T wheels and a small LED light in the front. 28500 miles.

Drove 2 hours home just now (90% highway), and literally just as I was about to turn the wheel left into the driveway, the engine died. I had almost come to a complete stop to turn. Out of nowhere, no mechanical sounds were heard before it happened, it just died. The following occurred:

1) 4 lights came on: "Malfunction indicator lamp", "Low engine oil pressure warning light", "automatic transmission fluid temperature warning light", and "charging system warning light"
2) My headlights/tail lights, dashboard lights were all on and remained on, and cabin lights were able to be turned on and stayed on.
3) Engine oil temperature (according to the gauge on the dashboard) was normal.
4) Attempted to start, it was able to crank, but did not turn over. Did this at least 4 times.
4) Engine oil level was fine.
5) Fluid levels were good. In fact, I had just brought the truck into the Toyota dealership shop for the rear differential leak recall 2 days ago (Thursday), and they stated fluid levels were good at that time in addition to there being no leak from the rear differential. They retightened fasteners.
6) Waited ~3 minutes, engine turned over, rpms went up to 1000 by itself, back down to 500, tried to go up again and then died. (note, I did not rev the engine myself)
7) Waited ~3 more minutes, engined was able to turn over, and I drove it into driveway with no unusual mechanical sounds heard.
8) Turned engine off, then turned it over again with no apparent issues.
9) Waited 10 minutes in the car, it did not die randomly. Was able to rev the engine normally. No problems shifting to and from P, R, N, D.
10) There was no apparent leak from the bottom.

Any idea what the hell happened? I'm just glad it didn't happen while I was on the highway. I might be wrong, but this is a serious safety issue. I don't think it's a battery issue, since lights and all were still functional and remained functional throughout episode. I don't think it's the alternator either...no dim lights or weird smells, even though the charging system light was on.

Of note, while at my recall appointment 2 days ago, the guy helping me get situated mentioned that he was just seeing an interim recall pop up for the crankshaft position sensor. It's not officially released, but in interim, and it must have just come up on Thursday because he hadn't seen it at all before. Not sure if it's related to my current issue....

Thanks a bunch in advance for any help. Planning to bring it in tomorrow to the dealership if the shop is open -- if it can make it there without being stranded....

 

I'm also guessing crankshaft positioning sensor. There's a recall for it. If you're not on it, I think it's like a $100 part and is easy to change.

 

Sounds like CPS, but take it in and get it diagnosed, could be something new.

 

Noob question, but how can you tell if you're on the recall list?

 

Here you go!

https://www.toyota.com/recall

 

Sounds like the classic cps failure. Does your Vin come up for the recall?

 

Enter your VIN

https://www.toyota.com/recall

 

Thanks everyone, it does come up; however, the recall is in interim with no official remedy yet. If it really is the cps, I would rather have it fixed now rather than wait for the recall to be official (it's my daily driver). Is there a way to proactively fix it, and then get reimbursed later?

 

Solution is replacement of the cps with a new one not affected by the issue.

They will swap it at dealer. Several people have had it done and it is a quick job. Toyota care tow to the dealer for free, rental car for a couple days and the truck back with an unaffected cps.

 

If you do it yourself here's a good thread to read for easy instructions

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-check-replace-your-cps-sensor.497659/

And btw by law they have to reimburse you

 

Thanks again everyone. Will be calling them on Monday to see if they are willing to do it for free/reimburse later. If not, I'll do it myself.

 

I had a dodge charger for 9 years. During that time period it would stall out and die about 15 times over that course of time. Dodge could never find a problem with the car or couldn't replicate the issue. Really pissed me off. Hate to see this could still be an issue. Not sure as to what was the cause of that damn car to die as many times as it did. Even after the engine blew up after 100,000+ miles and had the dealer install a new engine for $7000 that one would do the same 5 months later. Will never buy a dodge again.

 

It's under warranty. A CPS is covered.

 

CKP is fried. Go get it replaced at the dealer as you are within mileage and it is becoming a well known issue.

To all of you posting it's the CPS. What is that? Camshaft Position Sensor? Cylinder Position Sensor?

 

Even if you are not on the list, it's a warranty issue. Toyota will replace it.

 

Was just thinking to myself, and please guide me if I'm wrong since it's also for my learning, but isn't replacing the CPS just a temporary bandaid? It seems the root problem is that there's too much gunk on the crankshaft timing rotor, and given time even a replaced CPS will malfunction again. It's like we're driving a time bomb that can randomly go off at any moment haha.

 

You are missing my joking sarcasm. My point is that a CPS can be labeled as multiple things and it has been a long standing acronym that the Crankshaft Position sensor is actually labeled as CKP. So what I'm getting at here is that the acronym CPS is misinformative and anyone who doesn't know what you guys are trying to describe will not be able to accurately describe it to other people.

 

CKP is misinfomantive because it actually means Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabh

 

It's not gunk. Toyota is saying there is too much anticorrosion coating on the timing rotor. That could be grease, could be paint, could be other things. Sounds like the CPS just isn't strong enough (it's basically a hall effect switch) to work with the excess coating.

 

Hence the reason I spelled it out in post #3. Or if you google "cps Toyota Tacoma" it comes up as the first result. Not exactly misinformative.