NEW 4Runner Transmission Problem? Already?!

RPC

RPC

New member
New kid in need of serious help:

I bought a brand spanking new '08 SR5 V8 from a local Toyota dealership a week and a half ago am feeling the strangest thing at freeway speeds. I can only describe the sensation as "surging" and it only occurs, or is most noticeable, between 65 and 75 MPH. Feels like the transmission is jumping gears or something.

I am getting really disenchanted by this whole experience. The six-disk changer blinked out on me literally 25 minutes off of the lot so when I went back a week later for them to put the new one in, I told them about what I was feeling on the freeway. I get the feeling they just brushed me off. The tech they sent me on a drive with was saying something about "the vehicle self-adjusting speed to maintain optimal gas mileage" but what I am feeling just can't be normal. I owned a bare bones '91 Toyota pick up before I bought the Runner and, without cruise control, I could keep that thing at 70 -with a blindfold on- until the cows come home.

This 4Runner though is simply impossible to keep at a steady speed above 65. Ya' get it where ya' want it and it'll surge forward a couple of miles an hour, then drop back one or two. I thought it might just be my inexperience with the drive-by-wire system so I set the cruise @ 70 and could still feel it jumping around. It is definitely most noticeable without the cruise though because of the "feedback" from the pedal (you know you haven't moved the pedal but the truck changes speed up & down anyway).

Can anyone please tell me what might be going on? The test drive with the tech was at 8:30 am and the freeway was packed with commuters so he wasn't able to recreate it with me in the truck. I kind of doubt they went out again without me later in the day, and I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle trying to describe the issue.

I am taking it back to the service manager on Friday (3/06/09) and I would like to feel better armed this time than I did last!

Thanks all.
 
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i don't think i have a solution for you, but i just bought an '06 SE and have been having problems since the day i bought it.

i also feel like the dealer has been brushing me aside. maybe it's because i'm younger. it's very discouraging.
 
No, but that's exactly what it feels like! Wow, could it be coming on without me knowing? I definitely don't have it set on the control panel though (no defrost, ect.)

If one were to set the cruise control at say 65 and give it a bump up/down with the cruise wand on the wheel, what I'm feeling would be about half of that acceleration/deceleration.
 
I don't have any intention of getting brushed off on this one. I would consider myself savvy on California's Lemon Law and won't hesitate to pursue remedy through it. I think it's important to give the dealership every opportunity to address the issue themselves however.

The biggest issue might be an residual lack of trust this experience is likely to leave me with. So lets say they correct this problem- with what I've been through with this thing in the first a week and a half, all I can think is, "What's next?"
 
quote:Originally posted by motion732
ECM Reset - Disconnect battery and wait 20-30 minutes or so?




Yes... There's also a fuse in the underhood block labeled Fuel Injection or Engine Computer or something real obvious. It's on the row closest to the battery. I think it's a 20amp fuse. You can pull that for 20-30minutes and avoid re-doing the radio, clock, windows and sunroof.

this was given to me by CJ3Flyr
 
I imagine the battery was disconnected when they changed the head unit... No difference from day before and day after.

I'll definitely take a look at the fuse possibility too!
 
Raise a stink! Contact the salesman involved and the manager. They are hoping for referals, not the bad vibes you are getting. SCHEDULE a test drive when you can go the needed speed. Good Luck.
 
It's possible that the trans is hunting between 4th gear and overdrive, although I'm surprised it's happening at that high of a speed. (Assuming you have the trans in "D" and not "4" - the "4" position is just like "D" but has overdrive disabled.) Are you going down a flat road, or are there inclines involved?
 
rpcowan said:
No, but that's exactly what it feels like! Wow, could it be coming on without me knowing? I definitely don't have it set on the control panel though (no defrost, ect.)

If one were to set the cruise control at say 65 and give it a bump up/down with the cruise wand on the wheel, what I'm feeling would be about half of that acceleration/deceleration.
Click to expand...

If the HVAC is selected to Auto, A/C or any of the defrost settings the compressor does run.

IIRC there's been 2 people with '08's that had A/C systems that were over filled and had similar issues.

:cheers:
 
So, a couple of you geniuses mentioned the HVAC being the possible contributor and I think you're right!

On the way to work today I switched the HVAC controls on & off and the truck exhibited the issues only when the air was on. Confusing though because it would act up even if just the fan(?) was on, even if the "AC" light wasn't on. What's with that? Shouldn't the "AC" light glow if the compressor has cause to come on?

Also, while idling at a stop light I clicked the AC on & off and it is shocking how big an effect it has on the idle and RPMs. This isn't the '80s- how could the AC in a brand new vehicle impact the performance so drastically? I mean, you can feel the effect at freeway speeds. Can this possibly be normal?!

You guys rock- so glad I kept trying to register to participate in this forum. I was ready to walk into the dealership ranting about a transmission problem when it now seems to be the AC! Thanks!
 
The terrain is flat, more or less. A couple of fellows in the 4th Gen forum mentioned that it could have something to do with the HVAC- any thoughts?
 
The A/C being the cause both makes sense and also doesn't.

Why in the hell would an 08 produce so much drag when having the A/C on and why dont we all experience this then?

The stuttering effect, I thought would have been a torque converter issue, but way too new to be that problem.
 
Well, even if the tail isn't entirely pinned on the donkey here, at least I'll have some ideas I can suggest to the service department.

Most people who know me consider me a pretty adept guy but it totally sucks to try and explain this issue to some one who is (assumingly) doing their damnedest to convince me "it must be normal." I knew that service tech was full of it, just don't know why.

Thanks for the input and I'll definitely pass on whatever they find. I'm going to leave it with them over the weekend and if they insist they can't find anything, what is my recourse? Hell, my wife took it out today and even SHE felt what I'm talking about!
 
You're not kidding! I could've called a pal to come over and take it for spin but I must say I felt a little vindicated when she explained it just as I do!
 
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