2014 Runner weak up-hill ??

Oman350

Oman350

New member
33k miles. 2014 - never wrecked, driven daily, maintained at Toyota as recommended, pretty much stock other than wheels and tires *wheels same size as stock but maybe heavier a bit? KO2's*

Wife was driving it up a hill today and said with the windows down the runner was making a weird smell and she was almost flooring it up a hill, near our neighborhood. I took it up that hill when she came home and no problem... anf no smell. Thought maybe my wife accidently put in 4wd? Confirmed she didn't. She drove it again tonight and said the 4runner did it again (sluggish up hill) then drove normal again.

Anyone have any idea what this might be? I called the service dept and they asked if any cell lights are on...NO... asked if it's in 4WD...NO. what can this be? So strange!
 
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Ask your wife if it smells like rotten eggs. Also ask if she has the rear window cracked. only thing that comes to mind is exhaust smell.

Maybe, but I doubt it. You have a small oil leak somewhere that is leaking onto the manifold or exhaust? I don't think pulling a hill would increase heat enough to burn it off and create a smell different from every day driving.

Does she use the manual shift mode? Maybe it's holding the wrong gear if she is?

I got nuthin' else.
 
parking brake...? you'd be surprised.

otherwise, maybe it was an obstruction of some kind in the intake. perhaps of the rodential variety?
 
Maybe a clogged or partially clogged catalytic converter. Should set a MIL eventually.?
Could be bad fuel?
Could be intake restriction or leak?
Issue with transmission?
Take it on a test drive and see if YOU can duplicate it. If you can head to your dealer and SHOW them with a tech test drive
 
If it only happens when your wife drives it then quit letting her drive it lol

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I'm guessing she slightly applied the throttle, the vehicle started to move a little then it up shifted just before she encountered the hill. She probably did apply more throttle but almost floored probably would've resulted in a downshift which would've rocketed her over the hill. I find that I really have to be aggressive with the accelerator if I want my 5th gen to move sometimes.

To be honest, she probably just wants a new vehicle.
 
Oman350 said:
1) Wife was driving it up a hill today and said with the windows down the runner was making a weird smell and she was almost flooring it up a hill, near our neighborhood.

2) She drove it again tonight and said the 4runner did it again (sluggish up hill) then drove normal again.
Click to expand...

1) Which windows? Tailgate? I'm guessing so. You can't do this, period.

2) The 4R is very reluctant to downshift, unless you stab the pedal a little. I suspect she's being gentle. I also suspect she'll not like the way it acts when it finally does downshift.

I doubt there's anything wrong with it.
 
Sounds like a transmission downshift issue. Ask her to take the hill again, this time without overdrive (use S4).
 
If your windows are down and the exhaust pipe comes out from the rear and your vehicle is going uphill (driving at an angle) and youre driving not fast, then you will be smelling your exhaust.
 
Toyotas just have that smell come from the exhaust, the rear window must have been open a crack. As far as being weak? Well it's a 5th gen so....
 
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