captainnemojr
New member
I miss my ECT PWR button. It made a big diff in my Lexus IS 350. I too notice a lag on my 4Runner sometimes.
Acceleration Hesitation
- Thread starter Norcal_Mike
- Start date
Emailed Toyota customer service!
:cry2:Took my 4Runner into the dealer about hesitation problem and of coarse got the everything is normal line.
Emailed customer service at (Toyota .com contact us) about hesitation problem from slow down and accelerate and the safety issue that is involved here. I received a call from Toyota and was told that as of now there is no flash available but they will document my complaint. I was told that no flashes or remedys are in the works until there are more Documented complaints and as of now it is not a safety issue in their eyes.
So please if you have the Hesitation we speak of please bring your 4Runner in and let's get this problem solved once and for all!:reddance:
:cry2:Took my 4Runner into the dealer about hesitation problem and of coarse got the everything is normal line.
Emailed customer service at (Toyota .com contact us) about hesitation problem from slow down and accelerate and the safety issue that is involved here. I received a call from Toyota and was told that as of now there is no flash available but they will document my complaint. I was told that no flashes or remedys are in the works until there are more Documented complaints and as of now it is not a safety issue in their eyes.
So please if you have the Hesitation we speak of please bring your 4Runner in and let's get this problem solved once and for all!:reddance:
BrianLSU
New member
It not accelerator hesitation, it's the transmission and there's no problem. The transmission is downshifting as you roll, slowing down. When you hit the gas, you're in a low gear and as it up shifts, it feels as if it's lagging. Remember too, the electronics are monitoring your driving style for efficiency. It takes a little while to build a profile of your habits, after it has done so, it will react differently and behave better. Maybe it won't downshift so aggressively after it figures out you like to do rolling stops.
Use logic here, if you're at a complete stop, there's no lag. Watch and feel how it up shifts when you hit the gas from a rolling stop, you can feel it up shift, that's the lag and again, it's not a bug or defect.
Use logic here, if you're at a complete stop, there's no lag. Watch and feel how it up shifts when you hit the gas from a rolling stop, you can feel it up shift, that's the lag and again, it's not a bug or defect.
BrianLSU
New member
BTW, the ECT PWR button remaps the transmission shift points, i.e. the transmission shifts at a higher RPM, i.e. the engine input is immediate and you don't have a lag in the engine output as the transmission is shifting to a higher gear.
westwind77
New member
I would not be so quick to judge, either way. You may not be personally having any of these issues, but some people are. Some may 'think' they have issues and don't, others really do.
My 4R does have an issue, sometimes it behaves the way it should other times not so much. The 4R seems to get 'lost' between 1st and 2nd a lot, especially when going around a corner. Step on the gas and all the 4R does is rev rpms, it takes it a few seconds to actually figure out that it wants to shift. When it does this the 4R feels, and essential is, in Neutral, no power is being transfered to the rear wheels. I can actually 'play' with the 4R when it does this, if you keep pushing the gas but not too far down then release and do it over and over it still will NOT pick a gear. You have to hold it down for it to make up its mind.
I could understand if it was in 1st or 2nd and had an issue jumping back and forth, but what I think many are running into is this 'Neutral' issue resulting in hesitation. Off the line the 4R jumps, never had an issue, 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th, again no problems. It is a very specific and unique set of conditions that have to be met for it to do this, but it happens daily.
If you really get into it I think the word 'hesitation' is the wrong term because as soon as you hit the gas the rpms jump, but sadly the 4R can not pick a gear and therefore does not move right away. I have never owned an auto car/suv that has not always been in one gear or another, never been able to step on the gas and get get revs. If this were an older car it would be in for a trany that is slipping, because that is exactly what it feels like.
Maybe this is the fix Toyota had for their acceleration issue 
The computer says -- hey do I really want to accelerate
The answer is - yes the gas pedal is down so accelerate
Takes a few seconds ......
So when you press and repress it gets conflicting information -- yes accelerate, no wait well yes, no.......
I don't know was funny to me
The computer says -- hey do I really want to accelerate
The answer is - yes the gas pedal is down so accelerate
Takes a few seconds ......
So when you press and repress it gets conflicting information -- yes accelerate, no wait well yes, no.......
I don't know was funny to me
westwind77
New member
Maybe this is the fix Toyota had for their acceleration issue
The computer says -- hey do I really want to accelerate
The answer is - yes the gas pedal is down so accelerate
Takes a few seconds ......
So when you press and repress it gets conflicting information -- yes accelerate, no wait well yes, no.......
I don't know was funny to me
:cheers: Good one
I tried that only a few times just to see if I could get it to lock into a gear, no luck. However, I did noticed a little more responsiveness in S mode. I think I am going to keep it in S (leaving the main in 5) and see if I still get the issue. I highly doubt the that would make a difference but anything is worth a shot.
SeattleMike
New member
I've noticed a bare hesitation as I coast into a corner or do a rolling stop for an empty intersection or speed bump. It seems to be the coasting that triggers it for me, and it may be related to the compression braking that others have noticed going downhill at speed.
Now, I LIKE compression braking because it saves my brakes and this is a heavy vehicle. I've never considered it a problem and, when going down hill on gravel roads, it is more of a bonus. Knowing it is going to happen as I come out of a turn or as I roll through the stop sign, I can adjust my driving to account for it, much like I adjust to a clutch in a new car.
Even so, the lag is not more than a bare hesitation so there may be other problems at play for those with similar issues. Your experience may not be the same.
Now, I LIKE compression braking because it saves my brakes and this is a heavy vehicle. I've never considered it a problem and, when going down hill on gravel roads, it is more of a bonus. Knowing it is going to happen as I come out of a turn or as I roll through the stop sign, I can adjust my driving to account for it, much like I adjust to a clutch in a new car.
Even so, the lag is not more than a bare hesitation so there may be other problems at play for those with similar issues. Your experience may not be the same.
just remember that in D, the computer is doing all your shifting. by swapping it over to S, you are in sport/manual mode and you are controlling the shift points. so yea, you can have a lil more umph when hitting the gas, but you have to monitor the shifting...just as you would do in a stick.
i havent really had any issues with my 4runner with this....or because i'm driving so much I don't really notice it anyhow. my accelerates smoothly with no issues. only thing i've found is theres a couple of spots i will manually shift down into 2nd on, and when i swap back to drive it kinda feels like its hunting, but cant quite decide. i will try manually shifting back up into 4th tomorrow before switching back to drive to see if this fixes that.
i havent really had any issues with my 4runner with this....or because i'm driving so much I don't really notice it anyhow. my accelerates smoothly with no issues. only thing i've found is theres a couple of spots i will manually shift down into 2nd on, and when i swap back to drive it kinda feels like its hunting, but cant quite decide. i will try manually shifting back up into 4th tomorrow before switching back to drive to see if this fixes that.
JB.
New member
You 5th gen guys are really on the ball. My 4th gen acts exactly like this but I haven't seen a thread this good about the behavior. In my truck a big piece of the puzzle has to do with the way the electronic throttle control handles engine vacuum.
To test for this and also take shifting out of the equation, put it in 1st gear and then drive like you're in a big, busy parking lot and you're on and off the gas a lot. The throttle should feel abrupt in both directions, but especially when opening coming off of engine braking. There is a delay and then it comes on abruptly.
To test for this and also take shifting out of the equation, put it in 1st gear and then drive like you're in a big, busy parking lot and you're on and off the gas a lot. The throttle should feel abrupt in both directions, but especially when opening coming off of engine braking. There is a delay and then it comes on abruptly.
westwind77
New member
Well...yes...and no...all depends what gear you leave it in. It you have the 4R is S mode but in 5th the 4R will shift normally through the gears as it would in D. Only if you start in 1st and bump up as you accelerate are you going to control the shift points (the system will auto shift up for safety if you dont when the rpms gets too high also) I am going to leave it in 5th, but in S mode, going around the corner where the transmision usually 'hunts' to see if it makes a difference. Maybe there is a computer 'bug', maybe the 4R only does it in D, I will know more after a few days.
i might add I now have almost 13k on the clock on my 5th gen. (all highway between GA and TN) I dont remember experiencing it, nor do i really experience it now. I like to swap between sport mode and auto anyhow, specially when using on and off ramps, its easier to let the engine bump down the speed rather than using all brake.
I did do my test yesterday about putting it in manual mode and 2nd to traverse up a stupid hill that you are only allowed to go up 15mph (military housing area), and by manually shifting back up to 4th before swapping back to d, it doesnt hunt anymore.
could be a bug, could be the tranny. not sure, and i refuse to take it to the local toyota dealer.
I did do my test yesterday about putting it in manual mode and 2nd to traverse up a stupid hill that you are only allowed to go up 15mph (military housing area), and by manually shifting back up to 4th before swapping back to d, it doesnt hunt anymore.
could be a bug, could be the tranny. not sure, and i refuse to take it to the local toyota dealer.
BrianLSU
New member
I was told when I bought my Jeep in 05 that the computer system has to "learn" my specific habits and that it would behave much better after 3k miles or around there. I was not told this by the Toyota guys, but you have to believe the 4Runner has the same process.
My wife's Lexus does this, acceleration lag from a rolling start, when I drive and it's mildly annoying. But it doesn't do it for her, she doesn't hit the gas as hard as me and she rarely rolls to a stop slowly, she just stops. Who knows, I would like to see the engine braking maybe ease a bit.
newbie5thgen
New member
Check out the promise made by Toyota to make sure they're listening to customer's concerns on quality. Toyota promises quicker response on quality issues - KTRV Fox 12
I say we call them on it.
I say we call them on it.
bigbwb
Member
Huh?????
I thought the eco mode light is just that, a light which indicates if you are driving frugal. I do not believe its a mode but more a indicator light on/off switch.
chimyz
New member
I'm pretty sure you are right...the Eco mode on/off is just the green Eco light. I've had mine switched off since new, but there is no difference when I turn it back on.
Also if you cycle through some of the dash options, you can still get the Eco gauge on the optitron models, so it really doesn't shut anything off but that green Eco light.
Lag in 2011 4Runner Reverse to drive
I've notice this problem when I am reversing and make a rolling stop, I will shift into drive. Though when I do this, my check engine light will come on momentarily and the engine feels like it is in a complete stall before it jumps into drive. Has anyone experience this problem with the 2011's? Thanks
I've notice this problem when I am reversing and make a rolling stop, I will shift into drive. Though when I do this, my check engine light will come on momentarily and the engine feels like it is in a complete stall before it jumps into drive. Has anyone experience this problem with the 2011's? Thanks
Antman
Elite Member
It's there to protect the drivetrain from sudden jolts. Stomping on and off the accelerator is hard on the drivetrain- all of it. The software softens the impact by applying the power more gradually.
Remember the old "neutral drop"? Put the auto in neutral, and floor the gas at the same time you pull the lever into drive. Result- massive smokey burnout. My Dad kicked my a$$ after our family car's tranny started slipping, just as I turned 16. (he did it to HIS Dad's car too...
). Anyway, you can't do that anymore. Put it in neutral, and when you pull the lever into drive, the ECU will prevent any throttle response it deems "harmful". You want Toyota reliability? This is one of the things that makes that happen!
westwind77
New member
Do you mean your 'Check Engine' light of your TRAC light....I think you need to check you gauges again next time. If it is TRAC, as i would assume, then the 4R is doing what it should when it activates. (If you are don't know what TRAC is/does :rtfm: or search on here) and GO PATS!
