HELP- Drivetrain problems with 2012 TE

mook21

New member
I am taking in my 2012 TE Monday to the dealership BUT I have 36, 512 miles!!!! Crap. Here's what's happening to check and see if others have had anything similar or top get thoughts. First of all, I have a 2" Toytech spring lift, nothing extreme and 285's (Firestone Destination A/T with 50% tread). Noticed a few months ago that when accelerating in rain or loose surface turning right that the traction control seems to kick in a lot. Same when driving going somewhat fast around a sharp curve, more turning right than left. Just thought maybe tires not getting traction / getting old (2 years old). By the way, I has full alignment when going from 275's to 285's. Had 275's (same tire, different size) from when bought new then switched to 285's 2-3 months ago (about when this started). Tonight on a very rainy, slick road, I switched to 4 high to see if it helped after accelerating straight line and traction control coming on (can hear passenger side read wheel slipping it seems every time). When in 4high, it pulled HARD to the left, when accelerating, would have more torque steer than I have ever felt, almost like 0% to rear and 100% to driver side front. I switched back to 2H... the 4x4 light on the dash (green diagram on drivetrain showing in 4WD) did not even flash, stayed solid and it did not shift out. Came to stop and made sure fully shifted, nothing. Put in reverse then N, nothing. Then drove 1-2 miles and came to stop sign. After accelerating through intersection, had a noticeable thunk and it shifted back to 2WD and the light went off. Feel like it is only pushing with passenger rear and pulling with driver front. Any ideas???
 
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I am not sure about your pulling issue, but have you performed a Zero Point Calibration, after lifting? If not, I would suggest you try that at home first and see if it helps: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...celeration-sensor-zero-point-calibration.html

If you flip through that thread, I think towards the end I wrote a few helpful tips for how to perform the calibration on a TE (initializing the crawl control buttons).

I have absolutely no explanation but, it seems like TEs are just much more sensitive to lifts and tires, and require the ZPC to be performed; otherwise your traction control will go nuts :(

I had major traction control issues from just installing LT tires...no clue why, but the ZPC fixed it apparently.
 
I am taking in my 2012 TE Monday to the dealership BUT I have 36, 512 miles!!!! Crap. Here's what's happening to check and see if others have had anything similar or top get thoughts. First of all, I have a 2" Toytech spring lift, nothing extreme and 285's (Firestone Destination A/T with 50% tread). Noticed a few months ago that when accelerating in rain or loose surface turning right that the traction control seems to kick in a lot. Same when driving going somewhat fast around a sharp curve, more turning right than left. Just thought maybe tires not getting traction / getting old (2 years old). By the way, I has full alignment when going from 275's to 285's. Had 275's (same tire, different size) from when bought new then switched to 285's 2-3 months ago (about when this started). Tonight on a very rainy, slick road, I switched to 4 high to see if it helped after accelerating straight line and traction control coming on (can hear passenger side read wheel slipping it seems every time). When in 4high, it pulled HARD to the left, when accelerating, would have more torque steer than I have ever felt, almost like 0% to rear and 100% to driver side front. I switched back to 2H... the 4x4 light on the dash (green diagram on drivetrain showing in 4WD) did not even flash, stayed solid and it did not shift out. Came to stop and made sure fully shifted, nothing. Put in reverse then N, nothing. Then drove 1-2 miles and came to stop sign. After accelerating through intersection, had a noticeable thunk and it shifted back to 2WD and the light went off. Feel like it is only pushing with passenger rear and pulling with driver front. Any ideas???

Check to see if your lower control arm bolts are still snug- they need to be TIGHT. Seems like A LOT of alignment shops (mine included) do not tighten these fully. Mine caused some loud thunks and afterwards it pulled to one side.

Could be that they are loose and the alignment is out of whack again. I would bet a F/E out of alignment really bad could cause problems with the 4wd not disengaging as well...

Just a thought.
 
I'd say that eddiebx and Antman have given you a couple of good things to look into. In addition to their suggestions, it could be a wheel sensor or the skid control sensor wire. They control things like 4wd, TRC, VSC, and ABS.
 
My money is on Zero Point Calibration.

Every* time I have ever done anything that affects front ride height, my VSC goes nuts. ZPC fixes it until I do something else.

Every
  1. Change tire diameter
  2. Install winch
  3. Adjust coilovers
  4. Install lift
  5. Replaced stock upper/lower control arms, steering rack, spindle
 
one more bit of help...

The DCL3 location. Is it under the steering column, over to the door side? Want to make sure before I go poking wires into outlets!
 

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