A few car problems

[Gamingphreek]

In July 2010 I bought a new Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 TRD Off-Road fully loaded. I am having a few problems with it right now (Odd for a Toyota in my experience). The dealer has failed me (surprise) so I'm hoping AT won't (Never have before )

Let me start with what I have done

1. I got that stupid Gas Pedal Override recall in which they shave the gas pedal, install an override, and reflash the ECM with updated shifting parameters (Particularly the 2-1 downshift I have heard).

2. I had Toyota upgrade the rear Leaf Spring pack from a 3-Leaf set to a 4 Leaf set.

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The problem(s):

1. After the Override and the Leaf Spring pack (Perhaps before and it went unnoticed), the engine appears to lug before properly downshifting when braking/coasting - particularly at 25MPH. It downshifts just fine when asked for more power, but when coasting or braking at potentially low RPM's it seems that it doesn't downshift when it should and lugs instead.

2. There is a... "jingling" noise most noticeable from the drivers side coming from the undercarriage. It isn't a heat shield, wheel, or suspension problem. Occasionally there is a soft ping when it shifts (1-2, 2-3). Additionally, when coasting at <10MPH it is most noticeable as the metal jingling appears to tumble with the movement of the car (Like if someone left keys in a clothes dryer)

3. This came about as a result of 1. I brought it into the dealer and they found that all 4 tires were out of balance by 15-25 grams. They also stated they found that the Alloy wheels showed no flat spots. My car has 17K miles on it and has been taken very good care of. That seems like a LOT of weight to suddenly need. I looked when I got home from work today and found these weights on the tires:
P265/75R16 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A

Driver Front: Outside=30g+30g :: Inside=25g
Passenger Front: Outside=30g+40g :: Inside=30g
Driver Rear: Outside=40g :: Inside=32.5g+32.5g
Passenger Rear: Outside=32.5g+32.5g :: Inside = 10g+10g+27g

Is that not a lot of weight? I'm sure they are still under BFGoodrich's warranty if so...

Any help would be VERY much appreciated!

Thanks,
-Kevin

 

[Gamingphreek]

Bump - can anyone help with any aspect of this. I really apparently need to give the dealership something to go off of since I'm back again for the same reason.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The things you mention seem like the things you actually have to reproduce with them in the car for them to take you seriously. Or if you let them take care of it you will just get a "Problem cannot be replicated" and they will send you on your way.

 

[Gamingphreek]

The things you mention seem like the things you actually have to reproduce with them in the car for them to take you seriously. Or if you let them take care of it you will just get a "Problem cannot be replicated" and they will send you on your way.

So I can request that one of Toyota's mechanics actually ride around the parking lot with me as I reproduce these problems? Like I said, every time I rely on one of them, they never manage to find the problem at all.

 

[LTC8K6]

Try another dealer?

Any decent place will do a ride along with you.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

So I can request that one of Toyota's mechanics actually ride around the parking lot with me as I reproduce these problems? Like I said, every time I rely on one of them, they never manage to find the problem at all.

Yeah, just ask. They should be more than happy to comply with that.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Oh jeez - I had no idea they would do something like that. I'll make a point of doing that this weekend.

Any thoughts on the amount of weight on the tire? It seems like a lot given that these tires haven't even hit 20K miles yet! I don't think they would get them balanced if they used a road force balancer-- I think the wheel or tire isn't round personally (And no one bothered to try spinning the tire on the rim)

-Kevin

 

[jlee]

Oh jeez - I had no idea they would do something like that. I'll make a point of doing that this weekend.

Any thoughts on the amount of weight on the tire? It seems like a lot given that these tires haven't even hit 20K miles yet! I don't think they would get them balanced if they used a road force balancer-- I think the wheel or tire isn't round personally (And no one bothered to try spinning the tire on the rim)

-Kevin

If wheels and tires were perfect, there would be no need for weights. If there's no vibration, I wouldn't worry about it. One of my Tundra's tires (BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO's) needed a lot of weight (don't know how much, though) and it's been fine for years.

 

[Gamingphreek]

If wheels and tires were perfect, there would be no need for weights. If there's no vibration, I wouldn't worry about it. One of my Tundra's tires (BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO's) needed a lot of weight (don't know how much, though) and it's been fine for years.

Haha - thats true. It just seemed like a lot to me when I'm looking at the wheel. I think there is some vibration, but it is difficult to say one way or another with what I think is a drivetrain related problem between 20 and 30 MPH (Northern VA Traffic tends to keep me from going faster than that more often than not haha)

 

[Kirby]

new Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 TRD Off-Road fully loaded

That a mouthful. :biggrin: