Random rough idle while stationary.

[ckellyme3]

Hey guys

New member here, first post. Please excuse me if this is in the wrong area, but I believe this is the right spot. I have a 23 TRD off road. It sometimes idles very unevenly/ rough while parked or stopped (red light, stop sign, etc). Sometimes its a smooth normal idle, but then it just decides to get rough. Happens everyday randomly no matter what I am doing. The problem seems to get worse if I am stopped on an incline. I've had two separate dealerships take a look and they have absolutely no idea. Second dealer claimed they couldn't replicate the issue, but I was able to within 30 seconds of starting the truck and then had the manager sit with me.

He basically said, "this isn't an issue, must be sensors turning on and off". There's no way that's it as it doesn't do it all the time or with any regularity. There is no check engine light and the "health check" comes up fine. I get the vibe that if the computer doesn't tell the dealership what's wrong, they don't actually know how to fix anything, but that's just my read on the situation.

Any ideas?

 

[drizzoh]

Turn the AC off and see if it still does it, and put it in neutral or park and see if it still does it. Could just be different things kicking on and off. Pretty normal behavior for one of these fully stock. Tons of things going on with this engine and the Atkinson cycle doing Atkinson things.

 

[ckellyme3]

Turn the AC off and see if it still does it, and put it in neutral or park and see if it still does it. Could just be different things kicking on and off. Pretty normal behavior for one of these fully stock. Tons of things going on with this engine and the Atkinson cycle doing Atkinson things.

It does it regardless of AC being on or off, we actually tried that at dealer. Totally stock. This is basically what dealer said. I've never had a vehicle idle this poorly at random, I'd be shocked if its normal. Like the truck literally shakes. If you're outside you can see it shaking, then it stops and is completely "normal" i.e no shaking, harmonious smooth idle. Maybe if it did this all the time, I could see it being "normal". I don't see it though.

 

[drizzoh]

Yeah.. these trucks are pretty unrefined in fully stock form. A tune and some tweaking definitely helps smooth things out. Was pretty unimpressed with mine when I first got it too. For how popular these trucks are I really expect them to be a built a bit better. It's great now, but it made me work for it.

Try jumping in a few other trucks at the dealer if you can and see if they have the same behavior.

 

[ckellyme3]

Yeah.. these trucks are pretty unrefined in fully stock form. A tune and some tweaking definitely helps smooth things out. Was pretty unimpressed with mine when I first got it too. For how popular these trucks are I really expect them to be a built a bit better. It's great now, but it made me work for it.

Try jumping in a few other trucks at the dealer if you can and see if they have the same behavior.

Yeah I am actually pretty taken aback with just how bad toyota cheaped out on these. Drum brakes?! Wired android auto. No heated (and CLOTH seats). No locking gas door. Didn't even come with floor mats! It goes on and on lol. I won't be tuning or tweaking. Was kinda hoping someone would have a cause/ solution. It's too random and harsh not to be an issue.

Definitely having alot of buyers remorse. This will most likely be my last toyota. I'm not into the off roading deal. Only got the "off road" for resale value for selling. Which honestly may be soon.

 

[Tomahawk Dog]

You said you have a '23
Did you buy it new or used?
If used how many miles were on it, how many miles does it have now?
If new how many miles and how may miles now?

Who does the maintenance on the vehicle, you or different shops or always same shop?

 

[ckellyme3]

You said you have a '23
Did you buy it new or used?
If used how many miles were on it, how many miles does it have now?
If new how many miles and how may miles now?

Who does the maintenance on the vehicle, you or different shops or always same shop?

I bought used with 5k miles. Currently has 11k miles. Always have it maintained by dealers local to me. Only took in twice. First for 10k service where they did oil change and they had no clue, so I recently took it to another local dealership and they were also just as clueless.

Definitely seems like a mechanics excuse to not mechanic. "Computer says no issue, so there can't possibly be an issue"

I asked at first dealer to test drive a similar tacoma to see if indeed they all run like shit, and that one did not. At least for the 10 mins I drove it.

 

[ckellyme3]

Also it did not run rough ever the first month or so I bought it.

 

[MikeB]

Yeah I am actually pretty taken aback with just how bad toyota cheaped out on these. Drum brakes?! Wired android auto. No heated (and CLOTH seats). No locking gas door. Didn't even come with floor mats! It goes on and on lol. I won't be tuning or tweaking. Was kinda hoping someone would have a cause/ solution. It's too random and harsh not to be an issue.

Definitely having alot of buyers remorse. This will most likely be my last toyota. I'm not into the off roading deal. Only got the "off road" for resale value for selling. Which honestly may be soon.

Sounds like you are unhappy.

 

[Tomahawk Dog]

10K is changes are not a good idea unless you drive A LOT every day and never have a drive shorter than 50 miles.
Stay with 5K.... trust me on that.
The issue.... someone traded it in very early, Why?
Either it had a problem, or they just did not like it, ........ both happen.

It's most likely an electrical problem,...but this is not always the case.... these are "drive by wire" vehicles,........
gas pedal is connected to a switch that tells the computer how much fuel to deliver.
The idle is set by the ECM (engine control module) even the alternator output is a set voltage by the ECM.
If it is a VVT issue it may be a solenoid / connector / sensor or even a mechanical part These engines have VVT (valve variable timing).

You need a GOOD mechanic that is certified by Toyota. What state do you live in?
This could be a connection - device - a programming issue or even a wire / intermediate problem.

Does engine temperature make a difference in the problem?
Does this happen in gear and in neutral?

Mechanics experience matter, just because it's a dealership does not mean your quarterback (dealer mechanic) is an all-star.......

 

[Tomahawk Dog]

Problem reported. rough idle,.. and slow acceleration
1st image - is plug in data reader note the numbers
2nd image - bad spark plug carbon build up
3rd image - data reader note the numbers

Experience matters when "reading the code / data reader"


causes - dirty fuel? bad injector? .................. a good mechanic used the data reader to locate the problem
The repair was to clean the fuel system and replace the injector,,,,,,,,, told client to run better gas like a "Top-Tier" fuel that has proper detergents.

Owner said he chased cheap gas prices at stations and neglected the vehicle by stretching service schedule.

 

[ckellyme3]

Sounds like you are unhappy.

Definitely wouldn't have bought it if I knew then what I know now. For now I'd just like to get the idle fixed. I mean, it's an almost brand new toyota. I've read nothing but how bomb proof and awesome these things are. Hasn't exactly been my experience.

If anyone has ideas about the idle, or has had the issue themselves and know what to do to fix, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[ckellyme3]

10K is changes are not a good idea unless you drive A LOT every day and never have a drive shorter than 50 miles.
Stay with 5K.... trust me on that.
The issue.... someone traded it in very early, Why?
Either it had a problem, or they just did not like it, ........ both happen.

It's most likely an electrical problem,...but this is not always the case.... these are "drive by wire" vehicles,........
gas pedal is connected to a switch that tells the computer how much fuel to deliver.
The idle is set by the ECM (engine control module) even the alternator output is a set voltage by the ECM.
If it is a VVT issue it may be a solenoid / connector / sensor or even a mechanical part These engines have VVT (valve variable timing).

You need a GOOD mechanic that is certified by Toyota. What state do you live in?
This could be a connection - device - a programming issue or even a wire / intermediate problem.

Does engine temperature make a difference in the problem?
Does this happen in gear and in neutral?

Mechanics experience matter, just because it's a dealership does not mean your quarterback (dealer mechanic) is an all-star.......

There may have been some confusion. I took oil change in at 10k miles for oil change. That was a 5k oil change. I stick to maintenance schedules on all my vehicles religiously. Engine temp doesn't make a difference. It will do it while cold and when up to temp and in between. It will do it in park or in gear while not moving.

Trust me I found out the hard way that just because they work at a dealership means absolutely jack shit.

The 10k service/ oil change was done by Sloan toyota in Malvern PA. See Google review for how that went. The problem was happening before this mishap so that isn't the issue.

Sloane Toyota of Malvern https://g.co/kgs/zbQzeDX

Anyway after finding out that they can't do proper oil changes I now take my car to a dealership in conshohocken PA. If anyone recommends an actual toyota mechanic that could look into this I'd appreciate it. Preferably in the philly region.

I'm not sure why the truck was sold so new. I asked the dealer and he said it was a woman's truck and she wanted the 24. Carfax is clean and truck was CPO. Super clean and unmodded. Seems plausible but who really knows, dealers aren't exactly known for their honesty. And for the first month or two after me buying and driving it, it didn't do this.

 

[Sr5fenz]

Good luck dude…. You and Toyota will never figure it out. I had a 2023 I bought in September of 2023 and from day 1 the idle in gear was so rough the entire truck would shake. It was BAD, plus horrible vibrations in steering wheel and floor board. Traded the piece of shit in for a 2024 4th gen tacoma. It’s smooth as glass

 

[Sr5fenz]

There may have been some confusion. I took oil change in at 10k miles for oil change. That was a 5k oil change. I stick to maintenance schedules on all my vehicles religiously. Engine temp doesn't make a difference. It will do it while cold and when up to temp and in between. It will do it in park or in gear while not moving.

Trust me I found out the hard way that just because they work at a dealership means absolutely jack shit.

The 10k service/ oil change was done by Sloan toyota in Malvern PA. See Google review for how that went. The problem was happening before this mishap so that isn't the issue.

Sloane Toyota of Malvern https://g.co/kgs/zbQzeDX

Anyway after finding out that they can't do proper oil changes I now take my car to a dealership in conshohocken PA. If anyone recommends an actual toyota mechanic that could look into this I'd appreciate it. Preferably in the philly region.

I'm not sure why the truck was sold so new. I asked the dealer and he said it was a woman's truck and she wanted the 24. Carfax is clean and truck was CPO. Super clean and unmodded. Seems plausible but who really knows, dealers aren't exactly known for their honesty. And for the first month or two after me buying and driving it, it didn't do this.

You live in the same area as me. I bought my 2023 from conicelli Toyota of Springfield and traded it back to them for a 2024. 7 trips to different dealers and Toyota field tech and was told it’s a normal characteristic of the truck.

 

[ckellyme3]

Yeah I am basically accepting the fact that it sucks. I'll just deal with it for a couple years and then trade it in. Will 100% definitely be my last toyota. Between this, completely inept dealer support, rear drum brakes, and the death by 1000 cuts of cheapness I found after owning this truck completely killed the brand for me.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help. I've just come to accept that it sucks and I'll just have to live with it for another year or two.

 

[Sr5fenz]

Yeah I am basically accepting the fact that it sucks. I'll just deal with it for a couple years and then trade it in. Will 100% definitely be my last toyota. Between this, completely inept dealer support, rear drum brakes, and the death by 1000 cuts of cheapness I found after owning this truck completely killed the brand for me.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help. I've just come to accept that it sucks and I'll just have to live with it for another year or two.

3rd gen Tacoma was all hype, absolute pile of shit . You couldn’t give me a 3rd gen Tacoma…

 

[Boomer]

I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD OR access cab. change the plugs at 155000 klms and they were still in good shape. Although after changing them it does run a bit smoother at 650 rpm.

I suggest changing the plugs and air filter, clean the MAF sensor. then put good fuel in it and add a can of Seafoam to a full tank of fuel.

 

[Bandido22]

I have this exact same issue. I have a 2017 SR5 with 48K miles I started to experience this about two months ago, took it to Toyota mechanic they cleaned my throttle body and told me to put in a higher grade fuel as well as a fuel cleaner. I also cleaned out the MAF sensor, and still have the same problem. I don’t lose any power or have any other issues. It’s just the same rough idol at the same times you are also describing.