NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear

Author Topic: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear  (Read 3827 times)

Offline femtnmax

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NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« on: May 26, 2010 - 11:18:04 PM »
HAD a 2008 tacoma with the 2.7L 4 cylinder engine and 5 speed manual trany.  If you parked it on any amount of hill/grade it would slowly lurch thru the compression strokes of each cylinder and move along down the hill. 
So took it to the dealer we bought it at, they did leak down and compression test which matched the compression test I did before taking it to them.
At the dealer, with shop forman in the truck with me, we parked on a slight hill, and sure enough we started to lurch along slow but sure.  Then we parked at top of curb, let engine compression hold the truck or prevent it from moving too much off the top of the curb, instead the truck rolled off the curb and started across the parking lot lurching along thru the compression strokes.  The only way to avoid hitting the building 20 yards away was to put on the brakes.  We tried it with the truck in 1st and reverse gear, same result.   We tested a new tacoma off the dealer lot, same engine/trany, had no problems.
End result was the leakage/compression figures were in the lowest 10% of the "acceptable" range".  Toyota's response was "within factory specs" and they included the tidbit from the owners manual that says to "always use the parking brake when vehicle is left unattended".    Maybe factory specs but I consider the truck a lemon.
I have a old beat up Nissan Sentra with 302,000 miles on the car, and 110,000 miles on a cheapie rebuild (rings, valve job w/o new guides, rod bearings, and timing chain)  that does not move when parked on a hill in gear with no park brake.

So I sold the truck, had only 19,000 miles on it, and won't buy another one.  MY wife says no more toyotas.
I always buy manual trany,  guess I have to park all new cars on slight hills from now to see if the engine compression is any good.   Never expected it to come to this.
Phil




Offline 1BADFISH™

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2010 - 11:27:43 PM »
I still think Toyotas are one of the best little trucks on the market for a 1/4 ton, I can honestly say I have never parked a manual tranny vehicle without the E brake on so I wouldn't know if I ever had a problem. Would you park your cuda/challenger 4spd with no ebrake on? lol I personally wouldn't sell a truck based on that fact.   :crazy:

Dave
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Offline Changin Gears

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2010 - 06:49:26 AM »
The only time I use the e-brake on any of my vehicles (all are sticks) is at the boat ramp.


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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2010 - 10:43:51 AM »
What do you expect ... you bought a Toy truck

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline 1BADFISH™

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2010 - 02:20:37 PM »
What do you expect ... you bought a Toy truck

 :smilielol:  I was waiting for you to chime in....lol.

Dave
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1970 Dodge Challenger 340-6 4spd.
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Offline ntstlgl1970

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2010 - 03:31:54 PM »
 :2cents: This doesn't really surprise me, all automakers are eliminating friction any and everywhere they can, meaning there are less engine and drivetrain parasitic losses which in turn equals better gas mileage. I hope you find something you like.
No, I don't own a toyota either..
70 Cuda, 7.0L Gen-III Hemi, Viper T56 w/9310 gearset, 3.91's, Megasquirt MS3x v3.57, Innovate wideband, Firm Feel upper arms, torsion bars, springs and strut rods, QA1 DA shocks. I did everything on this car except the fancy paint stuff and I drive it...and I can't seem to stop messing with it....

Offline 71chally416

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2010 - 05:35:38 PM »
I've never ever heard of that  :grinno:
Once we had Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope & Johnny Cash. Now we have Obama, No Hope and No Cash!

Offline Slotts

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2010 - 06:07:33 PM »
Toyota - Moving Forward

Well, at least their slogan speaks the truth.

Sometimes real fast, too! 

Slotts

Offline Road_Runner

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2010 - 09:54:12 AM »
If we're parking on any kind of a hill we put the e-brake on in our automatic vehicles and always put them on vehicles with sticks even on flat services.  Too much can happen not to.  The compression being in the bottom of the acceptable range wouldn't make me too happy but as others have said here I wonder if its on purpose to reduce friction.  Either way, I've driven all brands and i have to admit that my current Toyota Tundra has been one of the best vehicles I've ever purchased.  It was built in Indiana so in a lot of respects its more of an American vehicle than the GMC Suburban made in Mexico was.  I would still strongly consider an American mark when shopping for a replacement.

Later, Jim
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Offline dustrag77

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #9 on: May 29, 2010 - 08:37:09 PM »
Consider where all the profits go....back to JAPAN.

General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler never bombed Pearl Harbor.

Offline 71chally416

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2010 - 09:02:16 PM »
My problem with the Japanese is their unfair trade practices. Why do they tac on massive surcharges to everything American to keep their people from buying our stuff? Why do they flood our market with stuff like Minivans that they sell for very little profit, just to grab more market share? They are snakes. Nothing to do with the quality of their products. Our government won't do anything about the trade inbalance so we're the only ones who can by not buying their stuff. If they ever man up and do the right thing I'll reconsider buying a Japanese car but I'm not holding my breath.  :grinno: 
Once we had Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope & Johnny Cash. Now we have Obama, No Hope and No Cash!

Offline lemming303

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #11 on: May 29, 2010 - 09:44:28 PM »
I have a Nissan altima, but it was bought used. Don't know if any of the profit from a resale goes back to Japan. I bought it at the GM dealer.

As far as the Toyota truck, I myself would never park a manual transmission without putting the parking brake on. It just seems kinda crazy to me to rely on the compression of the engine to keep it from rolling away......I even use the parking on my car and truck, which are both autos, on any kind of slight hill. Its real easy to push the foot pedal down for the parking brake; it's not easy to have to replace a car or somebody's fence or something just because I didn't want to push a pedal down.
Kevin

73 Challenger Rallye - first project

Offline torredcuda

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2010 - 05:41:41 AM »
I would use the parking brake anytime a manual trans car is left on even the slightest incline and it`s not a bad idea even if its`s dead flat.I set my cudas 100% of the time(4 spd)-even when it`s in the garage.With an auto trans I set the parking brake on inlcines before puttin it in park as it takes the pressure of off the pawl in the tranny and it`s an extra measure of safety.
Jeff
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Offline 71chally416

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Re: NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2010 - 09:14:16 AM »
I heard Toyota is recalling all their stick shift trucks to install a set of these in the trunk.


Once we had Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope & Johnny Cash. Now we have Obama, No Hope and No Cash!