First Post...Rough Idle on New 4Runner?

K

King Red

New member
My wife and I purchased our new 2012 SR5 on Monday and I discovered this forum a couple of days ago. I always buy Toyota, and so far we love the truck! The only issue I am having is a somewhat rough idle when the engine is already warm and sitting a stop light, for example.

It's not excessively rough, but kind of annoying at the same time. You can kind of feel it in the seat of your pants and it's very noticeable.

When I'm at a standstill, the engine idles steadily at 600 rpm, and at 700 rpm with the AC cranked. The roughness is there without the AC on, but is much more noticeable with the AC on.

I've owned a Corolla, a Tacoma, a Tundra, and a Rav4, but have never had this issue before.

So, my question is whether this is normal or not. I can live with it if it is indeed normal, but I just want to make sure something isn't going to come apart at some point. Is it just a matter of breaking it in?

Thanks for the advice in advance. I really hope this is a normal thing!
 
Register to hide this ad
I just turned over 1K on my new 4runner and it's idle is smooth always.
I'd have the dealer check it out.
 
Natey said:
I just turned over 1K on my new 4runner and it's idle is smooth always.
I'd have the dealer check it out.
Click to expand...

Unless he's extraordinary, the dealer will probably say it's normal ... so, go in and drive another one first, and see how it strikes you. I'm guessing it'll be the same.

This engine is not sewing machine quiet, it has what some describe as a bit of a diesel-like sound. It has a noise, but it shouldn't be rough.
 
Thanks for the replies. Let me clarify. It's not a noise I'm concerned about. The truck is very quiet at idle. It's actually a shaking/ vibration that I'm dealing with. I guess I will test drive another to see if it is the same.
 
King Red said:
....It's not excessively rough, but kind of annoying at the same time. You can kind of feel it in the seat of your pants and it's very noticeable.
Click to expand...

King Red said:
It's actually a shaking/ vibration that I'm dealing with. I guess I will test drive another to see if it is the same.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I didn't read carefully. That indeed does not sound right. Still, since I'm the dealer-wary sort, and assuming you indeed have a problem, having another new 4R to take the SM for a ride in, will help.

And even if they dismiss it as normal, get it documented.

BTW, does this happen when in gear, AND in Park?
 
I just got back from the dealer. The sales manager that sold me the truck had me take it over to the service bay. The service guy did state that he could feel what I was talking about. However, since they were about to close, he could not check for codes. Will have to bring it back Monday for that.

Then I did test drive another 2012 SR5. It did the exact same thing. That was a huge relief to me. It must be specific to 4Runners I guess.

To answer your question. It is only in Drive with my foot on the brake that I get the rough idle. Much smoother in Park.

The only sad thing is that the brake pedal on the other 4Runner that I test drove was much more responsive than mine. My brake pedal is "squishy" and nowhere near as responsive as our Tundra or Rav4.
 
Just to help with your concerns, do a search on Brakes here on this forum, you will find the "squishing" sound and feel has been discussed ad-nauseam and is normal.....welcome to the fold and be safe.
 
The squish is normal. I have a new 2012 TE and it "squishes" when I press on the breaks. I did a bunch of research on this forum and a few people had technical details on why it does it, but it's normal. I like to think of it as knowing when I have my foot on the breaks. As for rough idling. I do find if I have my foot on the break like a little girl at the stop light I get some rougher idle. If I press down more it stops. Almost like you're not pushing hard enough and the breaks vs engine are kind of battling, hence the rougher idle. It's actually easy to do, in my VW i can just have my foot lightly on the breaks and it remains at a stop fine. In this beast, if you're not pressing a little harder, it can actually start to move.
 
My 2012 has about 580 miles on it and it idles very smooth. Definitely check it out. You'll get used to the brakes--they work fine.
 
King Red said:
My wife and I purchased our new 2012 SR5 on Monday and I discovered this forum a couple of days ago. I always buy Toyota, and so far we love the truck! The only issue I am having is a somewhat rough idle when the engine is already warm and sitting a stop light, for example.

It's not excessively rough, but kind of annoying at the same time. You can kind of feel it in the seat of your pants and it's very noticeable.

When I'm at a standstill, the engine idles steadily at 600 rpm, and at 700 rpm with the AC cranked. The roughness is there without the AC on, but is much more noticeable with the AC on.

I've owned a Corolla, a Tacoma, a Tundra, and a Rav4, but have never had this issue before.

So, my question is whether this is normal or not. I can live with it if it is indeed normal, but I just want to make sure something isn't going to come apart at some point. Is it just a matter of breaking it in?

Thanks for the advice in advance. I really hope this is a normal thing!
Click to expand...

New here also, just bought a brand new 2012 sr5 and drove it from washington state to florida. It has about 3800 miles on it completely stock. I noticed that when the AC is on, the truck pulses vibrations through the brake pedal and the seat. When I turn the AC off everything is fine. Its very annoying and seams to get worse and worse. I will be taking it to a dealer this week.
 
I read this forum a lot and as far as memory serves, (given my age and short term memory problems) this is a new one. Yea, bring it in and please post what the dealer says. Very interested in the results. Welcome to the family!
Be Safe.
 
First time post...I am having the same problem with the rough idle. This happens when the truck is at normal operating temperature, in drive and stopped with the A/C on. Like when you are stuck in traffic. I have a 2012 T4R Limited and noticed this problem right after i bought the car in April. I was first told that this is normal for this vehicle. This cannot be true!! I have taken the car in for this problem several times now. The service people tell me that there are no bulletins about this problem nor is there anything that they can fix or replace. The second time i brought in the truck, the service person witnessed the rough idle and said that they found some carbon in the throttle body and cleaned it all out. This did not fix the problem!! I called Toyota and opened a case but they referred me back to the dealer. So, i take my truck back in and a Regional Service Mgr was supposed to drive my car and confirm my problem. I was told that the T4R is on a truck frame and this could be the problem. I called BS on this excuse!! Very frustrating!!
 
curveball512 said:
First time post...I am having the same problem with the rough idle. This happens when the truck is at normal operating temperature, in drive and stopped with the A/C on. Like when you are stuck in traffic. I have a 2012 T4R Limited and noticed this problem right after i bought the car in April. I was first told that this is normal for this vehicle. This cannot be true!! I have taken the car in for this problem several times now. The service people tell me that there are no bulletins about this problem nor is there anything that they can fix or replace. The second time i brought in the truck, the service person witnessed the rough idle and said that they found some carbon in the throttle body and cleaned it all out. This did not fix the problem!! I called Toyota and opened a case but they referred me back to the dealer. So, i take my truck back in and a Regional Service Mgr was supposed to drive my car and confirm my problem. I was told that the T4R is on a truck frame and this could be the problem. I called BS on this excuse!! Very frustrating!!
Click to expand...

This is not normal. Keep taking it back in and have the regional guy check it out. Just because they don't know how to fix it, doesn't make it normal. If your state has a lemon law, use it.
 
I've noticed the exact same thing at idle. Has anyone resolved this issue? Thanks
 
Last edited:
I do notice a minor shake/vibration sometimes at a traffic light when AC is on but don't think it's a issue in my case it's the Ac compressor kicking on/off. You must have a lot of vibration/miss.
 
rough idle

My truck has thrown a code for the rough idle so I'm hoping that it will be resolved on Monday when my super scratch prone magnetic gray is at the shop.....maybe they can repaint it with a better quality paint/clearcoat while it is in the shop at 35,500 clicks on the odometer.
 
Update:

I brought my truck to the dealer Saturday to check some issues I have been having with my 2012 4runner 23,500 miles. As said above their is a constant engine vibration I have been having. It happens at idle when the AC is cranked on and it has now become a moderate vibration. Also when driving at around 35-50 I feel a hesitation from the motor and a weird vibration sensation from the front. I also have the clunking rear end as well as a pulsing feeling in the brakes. I waited about two hours and they said they could only repeat the rear end clunk and the slight vibration at 35-50. Their solution was to put air in my tires :mmph: . They said Toyota is aware of the rear end clunk and the service guy even told me it was the propellor shaft, but that there was no TSB out at this time :rolleyes:. He stated everything was normal and gave me the keys. I got in and drove a block and instantly felt everything. Im gonna make a new appt bring in the TSB and see what happens. I may need to trade this thing in for something else.... sigh.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 453 (members: 0, guests: 453)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,068
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top