A Cautionary Tale w/ Weathertech

[Cascade4runner]

Hey everyone, figured I should pass this down. My wife and I bought a new 2021 T4R, our first ever new vehicle. We have about 3,300 miles on her and it was time for an interior detail. Took out the very nice weathertech floor mats to clean them up, installed them back properly (or so it seemed) using the proper two floor clips. All looked well. Went to turn on the vehicle and unbeknownst to me, the mat had caught the accelerator and pinned it all the way down. Hit the push start and the motor went straight to max throttle. I was able to shut her off after about 4-5 seconds of maximum throttle, to say it scared the living daylights out of me is an understatement. I’m praying it didn’t cause any damage to the motor, considering it was a cold motor. I pulled it into the garage about an hour earlier to clean it, but other then that it was cold. Garage temp 50-60 degrees. Motor sounds fine, nothing abnormal. But it’s hard not to be paranoid after an event like that.

This was my own fault and by NO means a Weathertech issue. I didn’t fully check up there in the corner to make sure all was well. I figured it would be pertinent information to pass along for all you to learn from my stupid mistake. We have owned Weathertechs in all of our vehicles for about 10 years. They are phenomenal. This post is a cautionary tale to always check your floor mats after reinstallation.

 

[CajunMikeR]

The engine is more than likely fine.

When I built engines for a living (industrial diesel & natural gas), we ran them long enough to identify any leaks, immediately went to WOT for 2-3 minutes, ran for about 30mins while fine tuning it, then moved it to the dyno for power verification and final tweaking.

Why? Because if it was going to come apart, it was going to do it at our shop and not the customer's site.

 

[lewdog998]

Hey everyone, figured I should pass this down. My wife and I bought a new 2021 T4R, our first ever new vehicle. We have about 3,300 miles on her and it was time for an interior detail. Took out the very nice weathertech floor mats to clean them up, installed them back properly (or so it seemed) using the proper two floor clips. All looked well. Went to turn on the vehicle and unbeknownst to me, the mat had caught the accelerator and pinned it all the way down. Hit the push start and the motor went straight to max throttle. I was able to shut her off after about 4-5 seconds of maximum throttle, to say it scared the living daylights out of me is an understatement. I’m praying it didn’t cause any damage to the motor, considering it was a cold motor. I pulled it into the garage about an hour earlier to clean it, but other then that it was cold. Garage temp 50-60 degrees. Motor sounds fine, nothing abnormal. But it’s hard not to be paranoid after an event like that.

This was my own fault and by NO means a Weathertech issue. I didn’t fully check up there in the corner to make sure all was well. I figured it would be pertinent information to pass along for all you to learn from my stupid mistake. We have owned Weathertechs in all of our vehicles for about 10 years. They are phenomenal. This post is a cautionary tale to always check your floor mats after reinstallation.

Lol....I have done these same thing. Years ago I had just purchased a new MV Agusta F4 Agostini....(a limited production model). Anyways I had it strapped down the trailer and stared it up, with the throttle wide open. (misroute of strap)...anyways it went straight to 12k plus redline. I was freaked out for while about your same concerns. Never had an issue and ran the crap out of it on race tracks. Lasted till I high sided it at Barber and totaled it. Point is, forget about it, otherwise it will drive you crazy.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Your engine will be just fine.

With my Tacoma, I left my weathertech on the pedal as well but it was only slightly depressed after I had already started moving. So starting and backing up was fine but I basically did a reverse to drive drop. It peeled out a little but but that's it. It kept on going to 145K miles without issues until a careless driver ran a red and totaled it.

 

[17KT4R]

You turned it off while bouncing on the rev limiter? Or managed to get the mat out and allow it to come back to idle first?

Cause there would have been some fuel washing past the piston rings likely while the motor was spinning back down without ignition. Change the oil if that was the case for peace of mind maybe…

 

[Cascade4runner]

You turned it off while bouncing on the rev limiter? Or managed to get the mat out and allow it to come back to idle first?

Cause there would have been some fuel washing past the piston rings likely while the motor was spinning back down without ignition. Change the oil if that was the case for peace of mind maybe…

I first tried to tap the accelerator to see what was going on, felt what was going on and then turned it off. After I caught my breathe I turned it back on, let it idle calmly and then proceeded to pull out. I’ll change the oil for piece of mind. Thanks for the words of encouragement guys!

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Just drive it. No need to change the oil an sooner than normal.

 

[Humble Leader]

you're going to have to try harder than that to break a 4runner

 

[1000MPH]

That’s weird. I thought Toyota’s “unintended acceleration” fix prevented this from happening. My gf did the same thing in her rav4 but the engine never went above idle. I thought this was in every Toyota but I admit I’ve never tested it in the 4R.
Oh also, full brake pressure is supposed to cut out the throttle as well.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Had this happen once with my Huskys, it's just the design of the floorboards and the way the mats follow it. Scared the crap out of me when it happened and I'm definitely OCD about making sure it doesn't happen again. Thankfully it's a lesson and you'll be more careful in the future I hope

 

[AirspeedX]

Wow, Ill have to double check next time I reinstall mine. Never had this happen after 8 years, love the mats! But it could happen to anyone!

 

[CavPro]

That’s weird. I thought Toyota’s “unintended acceleration” fix prevented this from happening. My gf did the same thing in her rav4 but the engine never went above idle. I thought this was in every Toyota but I admit I’ve never tested it in the 4R.
Oh also, full brake pressure is supposed to cut out the throttle as well.

Everything you mention may be in place, I think the difference here is it was in park not actually going down the road at the time.

 

[mrblah]

happen to me to when i owned my old vehicle. After that, I am extremely careful when i put the matts back in, even running my hand under the gas pedal to make sure I can feel it.

 

[rhadam]

I have the OEM TRD all-weather mats. 2 years in with a lot of abuse they are still doing great. Is there a reason people opt for Weathertech or Husky over these? Price?

 

[Whippersnapper02]

I have the OEM TRD all-weather mats. 2 years in with a lot of abuse they are still doing great. Is there a reason people opt for Weathertech or Husky over these? Price?

More coverage.

 

[rhadam]

More coverage.

I'll check them out when it's time to replace my current mats, thanks.