2018 SR5 random hesitation and accelerator lag

[JAXJeremy]

I want to love my new 4runner, but this is driving me nuts. What bothers me most it that I even have to go to the internet to figure out what's going on with a brand new vehicle, less than 700 miles.

A little background, shortly after I bought my 4runner I installed a pedal commander. How Toyota came up with their throttle mapping is beyond me..our 2010 Honda Odyssey is drive by wire and the accelerator feels almost instantaneous in comparison.

That aside I'd been playing with the settings on the PC, switching between city than sport. This morning I left for work, PC in city mode +2. pulled out into the street foot lightly on the accelerator the tranny shifted, must have been in 2 or 3rd gear then the engine RPMs started going up and down, almost like it didn't know what gear to be..now I'm not sure if it was a result of not enough input on the accelerator or what but it was definitely noticeable. No CEL came on so it's not throwing a code.

The only other thing I did was use Carista to customize the window settings.

Was thinking I might disconnect the PC to see what happens, but I know a lot of other people here are using them with no problems.

Thoughts, suggestions?

 

[karmatp]

Mine drives like a dream, but I have never messed with the factory settings. One common factor with issues comes from aftermarket stuff people do to their vehicles.

 

[4runr4eva]

I want to love my new 4runner, but this is driving me nuts. What bothers me most it that I even have to go to the internet to figure out what's going on with a brand new vehicle, less than 700 miles.

A little background, shortly after I bought my 4runner I installed a pedal commander. How Toyota came up with their throttle mapping is beyond me..our 2010 Honda Odyssey is drive by wire and the accelerator feels almost instantaneous in comparison.

That aside I'd been playing with the settings on the PC, switching between city than sport. This morning I left for work, PC in city mode +2. pulled out into the street foot lightly on the accelerator the tranny shifted, must have been in 2 or 3rd gear then the engine RPMs started going up and down, almost like it didn't know what gear to be..now I'm not sure if it was a result of not enough input on the accelerator or what but it was definitely noticeable. No CEL came on so it's not throwing a code.

The only other thing I did was use Carista to customize the window settings.

Was thinking I might disconnect the PC to see what happens, but I know a lot of other people here are using them with no problems.

Thoughts, suggestions?

I certainly would remove and reinstall. It may be a loose wire. If not, remove the PC and see if the system gets restored. You could also remove the negative battery terminal to reset the ECU in case there is some weird mapping going on. Good luck OP.

 

[JAXJeremy]

I certainly would remove and reinstall. It may be a loose wire. If not, remove the PC and see if the system gets restored. You could also remove the negative battery terminal to reset the ECU in case there is some weird mapping going on. Good luck OP.

that's going to be the next step.

 

[TOYO74]

Seems very early to install an aftermarket device for throttle control when the vehicle is so new.

Why not try to get used to how your new vehicle responds to your input? How about disconnecting the device for about 1,000 miles or so and see if you can stand the factory setup?

I never expected a 5,000 pound high clearance, brick shaped vehicle to drive like a sports car. I was aware of what it is designed for when I bought it.

Just my opinion.

 

[JAXJeremy]

Seems very early to install an aftermarket device for throttle control when the vehicle is so new.

Why not try to get used to how your new vehicle responds to your input? How about disconnecting the device for about 1,000 miles or so and see if you can stand the factory setup?

I never expected a 5,000 pound high clearance, brick shaped vehicle to drive like a sports car. I was aware of what it is designed for when I bought it.

Just my opinion.

This is a good suggestion. Didn't really pay much attention to the lag until after I'd driven it a couple hundred miles, so it wasn't like I slapped the PC on right after I drove off the lot.

certainly not expecting sports car like performance, but I can tell you my 6K LB +, '92 Bronco has much smoother acceleration..to me that's just crazy..

aside from the lag issue, my bigger concern was how the engine RPMs seemed to be going up and down...I'll go back to stock and see what happens.

 

[headpaneer]

This is a good suggestion. Didn't really pay much attention to the lag until after I'd driven it a couple hundred miles, so it wasn't like I slapped the PC on right after I drove off the lot.

certainly not expecting sports car like performance, but I can tell you my 6K LB +, '92 Bronco has much smoother acceleration..to me that's just crazy..

aside from the lag issue, my bigger concern was how the engine RPMs seemed to be going up and down...I'll go back to stock and see what happens.

Sorry, I don't have a suggesting to help with the erratic throttle performance you are experiencing but will predict that if the factory throttle mapping annoyed you from the get go, it will always annoy you. Hope your ECU and Pedal Commander learn to get along with each other!

 

[JAXJeremy]

Sorry, I don't have a suggesting to help with the erratic throttle performance you are experiencing but will predict that if the factory throttle mapping annoyed you from the get go, it will always annoy you. Hope your ECU and Pedal Commander learn to get along with each other!

I would agree with that statement..it probably did bother me from the start..having said that I fail to believe in the age of modern computer controlled vehicles that the mapping couldn't have been better from the factory..one way or another I'll get it sorted.

 

[TOYO74]

This is a good suggestion. Didn't really pay much attention to the lag until after I'd driven it a couple hundred miles, so it wasn't like I slapped the PC on right after I drove off the lot.

certainly not expecting sports car like performance, but I can tell you my 6K LB +, '92 Bronco has much smoother acceleration..to me that's just crazy..

aside from the lag issue, my bigger concern was how the engine RPMs seemed to be going up and down...I'll go back to stock and see what happens.

Could be that something is whacky with the factory setting, so driving stock for a while may help determine that. Good luck-- hope you find the problem!

PS : Know what you mean about the older engines. I still miss my '64 Pontiac with a 326 cubic inch engine with 3 two barrel carbs!

 

[enyce]

I want to love my new 4runner, but this is driving me nuts. What bothers me most it that I even have to go to the internet to figure out what's going on with a brand new vehicle, less than 700 miles.

A little background, shortly after I bought my 4runner I installed a pedal commander. How Toyota came up with their throttle mapping is beyond me..our 2010 Honda Odyssey is drive by wire and the accelerator feels almost instantaneous in comparison.

That aside I'd been playing with the settings on the PC, switching between city than sport. This morning I left for work, PC in city mode +2. pulled out into the street foot lightly on the accelerator the tranny shifted, must have been in 2 or 3rd gear then the engine RPMs started going up and down, almost like it didn't know what gear to be..now I'm not sure if it was a result of not enough input on the accelerator or what but it was definitely noticeable. No CEL came on so it's not throwing a code.

The only other thing I did was use Carista to customize the window settings.

Was thinking I might disconnect the PC to see what happens, but I know a lot of other people here are using them with no problems.

Thoughts, suggestions?

So what is the problem... The 2018 4Runner, an aftermarket part or the owner who opted to install an aftermarket part in a 2018 4Runner?

Do yourself a favor and throw the pedal commander in the trash and enjoy your new truck. Yes the throttle response is slow compared to a Honda van (I have one also).

 

[thennen]

Agreed, and I have a question: is the slow pedal/throttle response actually beneficial when crawling or on rough trails? Does it permit you to make smaller inputs? Asking because I don’t know.

 

[RedSled]

Agreed, and I have a question: is the slow pedal/throttle response actually beneficial when crawling or on rough trails? Does it permit you to make smaller inputs? Asking because I don’t know.

In some situations i think while crawling it would be better to be back to stock, i was playing with the Peddle Commander while off road, and it is just the push of the button to dissable it.

 

[wcjeep]

Did it work before you touched it?

 

[Axix23]

I am big in customizing cars but to mess with the software on your brand new 4 runner is beyond me. I am hoping it didn't void your factory warranty.

When I saw your thread, I thought your brand new 18 4 Runner was messed up front the factory. Some of the lagging in throttle response is maybe from the factory gearing that we have with the 5 speed. Gear ratio for example. I didn't get the 4 runner for throttle response and acceleration.

 

[wfo9]

Easy fix. Take that aftermarket device off.

 

[Ferd_4R]

My PC does the same thing when I change modes while driving. If I turn the vehicle off and restart it works just fine. I now only change modes with the vehicle in park wait a few seconds and go. No issues.


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[JAXJeremy]

So what is the problem... The 2018 4Runner, an aftermarket part or the owner who opted to install an aftermarket part in a 2018 4Runner?

Do yourself a favor and throw the pedal commander in the trash and enjoy your new truck. Yes the throttle response is slow compared to a Honda van (I have one also).

Not planning to throw the PC away because I know it works..I've kept the settings the same for the last week and can tell a difference, but again part of it was just me needing to get used to the level of responsiveness and input required..it was just different than what I was used to..

Agreed, and I have a question: is the slow pedal/throttle response actually beneficial when crawling or on rough trails? Does it permit you to make smaller inputs? Asking because I don’t know.

my preference is to have a responsive throttle on the trail..that way I know it's going to engage as soon as I hit the accelerator, but again, it all depends on what you're used to.

Did it work before you touched it?

yes, it worked and it's working now. not sure if it just took the EEC a minute to adjust to the change, but it feels fine now.