Tech problem - Toyota FJ Cruiser

petejeep · 01-29-08, 05:22 AM

Hello members,

I own a Toyota FJ Cruiserand sometimes two things happen that worry me very much. I notice that when I am going slow over speed bumps and braking I get this strange noise and chattering from the brakes and sometimes I feel that in damp weather when braking the brake pedal goes to the floor and it takes what seem. forever to stop.

Please let me know what should i do ??

Thanks !

Peter..

Brazenhead · 01-29-08, 04:03 PM

First off welcome to the forum.

I suggest, and i'm sure others will aswell that you take it to a dealer without hesitation.

PhilC64 · 01-29-08, 04:05 PM

It's the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system activating. You're fine. Put your truck in 4H and try the same bumps and stops to see the difference. The only thing I don't like about VSC is when I try to take a corner quickly it kicks in. Then again, it has probably saved me from a couple of accidents.

monniepoo · 01-29-08, 07:59 PM

I heard that too and a click when It started.

I took it to the dealer all was good

petejeep · 01-29-08, 10:59 PM

Hello members,

Ok. Thanks for all the replies and here I take my Toyota to dealer..

Peter

killerkoff · 01-30-08, 02:44 AM

That kinda freeked me out too when i fist heard it , sounds like that spring behind the doors at my old house.....something else you may or may not know is that your air recirc will not work unless you have it off the main defrost selection.
the first week i had my FJ some guy cut me off just before i went around this corner on i-5 and i slid out of control well that anti-skid came on and saved my A$$.

fatback · 01-30-08, 08:39 AM

I noticed something else a little weird. When you have come to a stop, like at a light, every once in a while you will get a little forward "bumped" feeling. Like when you get rolled into by the car behind you, not hard like they just pulled a dumba$$ and let off their brakes while talking on the phone and not paying attention. The first time it happened there was no one behind me and it freaked me out, then it happened again a few times with my wife in the truck and she was like "what jacka$$ just hit you?" and there was no one behind me. It seems to happen after I have been driving for a while and not stopping like on the interstate or streets when you catch all the lights green. Has anyone else experienced this? If so what do you think is causing it, or did you take it to the dealer? I am about at that point because I do not want my brakes to fail when I really need them.

Fatback

DEWFPO · 01-30-08, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatback

I noticed something else a little weird. When you have come to a stop, like at a light, every once in a while you will get a little forward "bumped" feeling. Like when you get rolled into by the car behind you, not hard like they just pulled a dumba$$ and let off their brakes while talking on the phone and not paying attention. The first time it happened there was no one behind me and it freaked me out, then it happened again a few times with my wife in the truck and she was like "what jacka$$ just hit you?" and there was no one behind me. It seems to happen after I have been driving for a while and not stopping like on the interstate or streets when you catch all the lights green. Has anyone else experienced this? If so what do you think is causing it, or did you take it to the dealer? I am about at that point because I do not want my brakes to fail when I really need them.

Fatback

It's normal for the FJ's with the 5AT. Some Tacoma's do it as well. Some say it's the transmission, some say it's the A/C compressor (even though it occurs when the A/C and defrost are off). Most everyone with a 5AT in an FJ has experienced this multiple times. Stopping more slowly and or holding the brake more firmly when stopped seems to minimize the effect.

DEWFPO

spaldam · 02-04-08, 01:31 PM

My 6MT did it for the first few thousand miles until the breaks got warn it a bit.

shane4x4 · 02-04-08, 02:09 PM

I haven't noticed this issue with my first AT or my current MT. It's probably just the VSC.

IBFJC · 04-14-08, 11:06 AM

I have noticed a clunk also...mostly at a stop...I get varying degrees of clunk...like you said the first time I thought someone tapped me...but it does it everyone once and a while...

ckline · 04-22-08, 09:48 AM

[quote=PhilC64;2990470]It's the VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system activating. You're fine. Put your truck in 4H and try the same bumps and stops to see the difference.

Dido this. I wasn't worried cause my corvette did the same thing. Spoke with the head tech at my dealership and he said it was the VSC.

kp66 · 04-22-08, 04:15 PM

I hear ya all on the clunk lol.

I get the clunk an lil pull forward all the time. Tech told me it was the tranny, i thought well maybe like it is engaging back into first at the stop light but still anoyes me.

Snowman1967 · 05-10-08, 10:17 AM

My wife was the unfortunate one who experienced the shock. She was on her way to class and while stopped at a red light the FJ lunged forward almost hitting the car infront. Fortunately she was far back enough to avoid that. Next when she took the offramp and went to slow down for the intersection she took her foot off the gas and then the FJ accelerated was she touched the brakes. That was her excitement on the way to class. On her way home from class she was coasting at approx 20 mph through a school zone with a daycare that just let out and she went to slow down because of the kids running around and the pedal went to the floor, No Brakes! She coasted into crosstraffic before the car stopped due to the street being at a slight incline and at the crossstreet there was a dip for drainage so it stopped there. All this during rush hour. Fortunately my wife was not hurt nor any kids from the daycare but my wifes nerves were shot. 2 weeks later the FJ is still with the dealership and has been sent to the manufacturer for an engineer to inspect. The only reason for it making it to the manufacturer is because I've told them straight out that I will not pick up the car and neither me nor my family will set foot in it until they find and fix the problem or exchange it for an identical vehicle. It was only 1 month old and bought brand new when this happened.
The sad part is up to this point we received the typical "we can't replicate the problem so you can come and pick it up anytime" and from our case manager with toyota corporate office had the nerve to ask my wife "are you sure you didn't imagine it?"
Fortunately the dealership has a rep for doing whats best for customer relations and hopefully will make it right. Afterall we are not asking for anything unreasonable.....new car should not have a problem this severe. All we ask for is find and fix the problem or trade it for an identical "safe" FJ

Brock · 05-10-08, 12:18 PM

My sister in law had that problem...not saying it is the same but n her toyota tacoma. found out it was her sandal/flip flops.....the way she put her foot on right side of brake pedal also hit top of gas pedal and caused her to simultaneously hit gas and brake...and gas always wins early in the process.....it was not the vehicle at all after my brother raised hell up and down and it could not be repeated by any technicians or even my brother. So they went driving downtown with her on three different occasions sitting and watching speed adn when she hit brakes...when it happened they saw what it was. Brother was embarrassed for raising so much hell when nobody else was having problem in area....but glad they figured it out. He threw her shoes away and told her to go buy a different style. LOL

Hopefully yours is something simple as well....rather than a safety or recall item. I just drove mine through Wash DC traffic with air conditioner for a week...never a problem...lurch....or even feeling like it was going to do anything. Good luck.

TOPOman · 05-11-08, 07:06 PM

I still recheck my rearview mirror when the little lurch happens, thinking someone touched me. I have never experienced anything other than the little lurch, though. I hope you continue to bug the dealer and solve the acceleration problem. That's serious! And, when you do get some resolution, please share....

Brock · 05-12-08, 05:29 AM

I have yet to experience a lurch...are all of these in earlier models or include 2008 as well?

NoHandleBars · 05-13-08, 06:48 AM

Sounds like fluid in the brake lines? My FJ when I first got it had a "lunge" after I did a hard stop\sudden stop at a light, then let off, it would kinda "nudge" almost as if I got tapped from behind by another car. It barely does it now compared to before, so I guess it's something that goes away in time. Whenver it happens I always pop up my rear-view cam just to make sure >.< because IF SOMEONE hit me, it's either hitting the steel bumper guard, or my poor camera...which I really gotta mold into the bumper.

Kokopelli · 05-13-08, 08:44 AM

My brother did the same thing with his truck. It was wet and he had to stop rather quickly. He said the truck wouldn't stop and when it eventually did, the rear tires were spinning. That's when he noticed his foot was on the throttle as well as the brake. He was rather embarrassed. Ron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

My sister in law had that problem...not saying it is the same but n her toyota tacoma. found out it was her sandal/flip flops.....the way she put her foot on right side of brake pedal also hit top of gas pedal and caused her to simultaneously hit gas and brake...and gas always wins early in the process.....it was not the vehicle at all after my brother raised hell up and down and it could not be repeated by any technicians or even my brother. So they went driving downtown with her on three different occasions sitting and watching speed adn when she hit brakes...when it happened they saw what it was. Brother was embarrassed for raising so much hell when nobody else was having problem in area....but glad they figured it out. He threw her shoes away and told her to go buy a different style. LOL

Hopefully yours is something simple as well....rather than a safety or recall item. I just drove mine through Wash DC traffic with air conditioner for a week...never a problem...lurch....or even feeling like it was going to do anything. Good luck.

GRSB · 03-18-10, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatback

I noticed something else a little weird. When you have come to a stop, like at a light, every once in a while you will get a little forward "bumped" feeling. Like when you get rolled into by the car behind you, not hard like they just pulled a dumba$$ and let off their brakes while talking on the phone and not paying attention. The first time it happened there was no one behind me and it freaked me out, then it happened again a few times with my wife in the truck and she was like "what jacka$$ just hit you?" and there was no one behind me. It seems to happen after I have been driving for a while and not stopping like on the interstate or streets when you catch all the lights green. Has anyone else experienced this? If so what do you think is causing it, or did you take it to the dealer? I am about at that point because I do not want my brakes to fail when I really need them.

Fatback

I just wrote a post on the transmission/ shifter about the same problem.
I feel it too, and I am pretty sure its the transmission, it feel like it's when it engages into 1st gear. I think it could be low transmission fluid, but still speculating.
I have a FJ friend and he feels the same. I will keep asking.

If anyone with an answer, is well received.