Engine Knock to Throttle Body Replacement to ... What's next? P2111

Originally I had this problem and Toyota refused to acknowledge. After a two month fight last summer they release the spark knock noise update


I had to file a BBB review in order to get them to release this update: Look under guarantee/ warranty issues to read my story there.

That was 1 year and 30,000 miles ago. Now my truck is in the shop for a throttle body replacement. The issue began when my truck decided t would not accelerate upon stepping the throttle. I looked down at the dash to find an check engine light lit up. I pulled out my OBD reader and got the error code P2111. This happened after driving for 30 minutes at 70 miles an hour. So I have AAA tow it to the nearest dealership which just happened to be the worst I have ever encountered. It's been there for 4 weeks so far going on week 5.

First I was told nothing for a week... Then after calling I was told they would "look harder and drive it to reproduce the problem because they've found nothing". Then I was told nothing for another week... After calling 20 times I was told they needed more time to diagnose. Then I was told nothing for a few days... I had to call back again, at least 6 times when I finally decided to go to the service supervisor. It's been three weeks at this point and I get a call back saying basically nothing. A few days later I call again and finally they think they've found the issue. "The throttle body is dirty and we need to clean it, that'll be $350.00". I call B.S. and start calling mechanics I know at other Toyota dealerships.

After speaking with two other mechanics, a mechanical engineer, and a diesel mechanic we all agree someone has lost their mind and there is no way that a dirty throttle body causes the error code found. I again call the Supervisor and let him know I am going to be in contact with Toyota Headquarters. He promises to look deeper and get back to me after talking with the shop foreman and looking into himself.

This guy does call me back and sends me a photo. The throttle body is clean and their service department is full of morons I suppose or they were too busy to really look into the issue. They tell me it is time to replace the throttle body and order the part. This guy was the only one who could return phone calls and work with me, now he left the dealership and I get almost no correspondence anymore.

So I contact Toyota Headquarters and they tell me they can offer me an extended powertrain warranty and open a case to see if anything else can be done. I said alright and they open the case. The case manager basically listened and told me they were going to find a remedy to this problem.

It's been 4 weeks, going on 5, and so far they are still waiting on a part. I wanted to post this here in case anyone else is having issues like this. My 2013 Limited Tacoma PreRunner has been in the shop more than my 1993 Honda civic hatchback. I don't know if this is usual for Toyota but amongst the issues described I have found that they also put crappy tires on my truck causing it to pull to the right since 1,000 miles. The Entune Radio microphone had to be replaced and the Entune dash unit as well. They turned my rotors around 15,000 miles because the brakes were squealing, even though the actual fix was brake grease which we found out upon a return trip for the same issue.

I'm already looking into a lemon lawsuit because I'm not entirely convinced that the throttle body has been correctly operating from the beginning and the engine spark knock noise crap may or may not have caused it. I get the feeling somehow this may be related to their update of the "Computer Logic". If it did then there is likely more damage inside the engine which needs to be replaced. If anyone else has experienced this level of headache I encourage to respond here so we can get a lawyer to go to bat for us.

UPDATE:

• 4,000+ Tacomas manufactured around the time that my truck is manufactured (but not within the qualifying window) are recalled for valve spring failure. Curious if this issue could be extended to more Tacoma's. HQ is looking into possible similarities between that manufacture's issue and the manufacturing of my truck.
• Dealer is talking to engineers to get more information on the "computer logic" they updated. Being a computer engineer I'm pretty interested to see what they changed in the operation of the throttle body if anything at all.
• After talking with my father-in-law the mechanical engineer for weather ford, We are wondering if there might be valve damage from the 32,000 miles of spark knock noise (I still feel stupid using that title like it is technical).

Other Issues (repairs performed at dealership under warranty):

• Truck pulled to the right no matter what we did to the alignment for 52,000 miles until I replaced the tires. Problem solved after dropping $1200 on tires. (replaced)
• Brakes squealed for the first 20,000 miles while stopping. They eventually serviced the rear drum and applied brake grease or something. (repaired)
• Bluetooth mic got replaced. (repaired)
• Dash unit got replaced. (repaired)
• Wind Whistle fro the front of the vehicle T-SB-0144013 (not yet fixed)
• Driveline Vibration T-SB-0249-12 (not yet fixed)

 

P2111 is for the throttle actuator stuck open. Seems pretty simple to me is is probably the throttle actuator or the throttle position sensor. Both are on the throttle body...

Now them keeping it for 5 weeks and not repairing the issue is another story.

I am suspecting there is lots more to the story that you are not telling.

 

I have spark knock and find this interesting.

 

Not that this is relevant.But my brother has a 2007 chevy( shit box) trailblazer.He has had throttle body replaced. Twice now 72000miles???? Toyotas have parts had by Delhi ( gm) too.Yes not fun being the guy with the problem every two weeks I know.Document and keep us in the loop.Hopefully mixed Rite this time!!!!! Ps sorry to hear..

 

Yeah it is. The TAC is controlled by the ECU though. The TAC controls the flutter inside the throttle body which simply opens and closes to increase/decrease airflow into the intake manifold. . There is more to tell overall, but pertaining to this issue I have told you everything. Aside from one little detail where I told the service manager where they needed to improve upon their process. Other than that, it's all out there in the open.

 

I heard a tsb on brake Controler in the ecu.Dont know if that has something to do with it? My wife has a 2013 sport crew cab 4x4.everthing good so far but at only 25,000 miles I would hope so.You could task gadget at urdusa he is a Toyota wizard.He might know something.Again sorry to hear about your issues.I mean the truck..!