Apparent Petrol Misfire

[maltingsmike]

I have a 2011 1.33 Verso S T Spirit which has done about 6,000 miles. When driving at a steady speed - say 40 or 50 mph - on a level road or slight down gradient, and maintaining my foot in a steady position on the accelerator, the vehicle develops a type of hunting movement where it feels as if I am putting my foot on and off the pedal. This does not occur if I remove my foot from the throttle or press to accelerate. This is very irritating in that it is not possible to drive smoothly in traffic in these circumstances. Reported this at the last service but was told there was nothing wrong. I am an experienced driver used to driving 50,000 miles per annum in company cars, so I am sure that this is not right. Any ideas please?

[Red Yaris 54]

Not had any similar symptoms on my Verso S.......Is yours a manual or a CVT Auto?

It could be that you have picked up some inferior quality fuel, which may cause stuttering.....Do you always refuel at the same filling station?

Is your car reaching its "normal" operating temperature......or are your journeys short?

Maybe you need to be a bit more assertive with your Toyota dealer and request a full check.......Perhaps you could take the technician or workshop supervisor out in the car to demonstrate the problem

Hope that you get a satisfactory answer to your problem........Don't forget to keep us informed of progress :)

[maltingsmike]

Not had any similar symptoms on my Verso S.......Is yours a manual or a CVT Auto?

It could be that you have picked up some inferior quality fuel, which may cause stuttering.....Do you always refuel at the same filling station?

Is your car reaching its "normal" operating temperature......or are your journeys short?

Maybe you need to be a bit more assertive with your Toyota dealer and request a full check.......Perhaps you could take the technician or workshop supervisor out in the car to demonstrate the problem

Hope that you get a satisfactory answer to your problem........Don't forget to keep us informed of progress :)

It's a manual - yes it does reach it's operating temperature - it does mainly longer runs - 40 miles or more. And it's not a fuel issue - this has been happening for quite a time (but recently getting worse) and I do not always use the same filling station or the same brand of petrol.

The dealership has sent a technician out with me who agrees that something is wrong. The vehicle is going in tomorrow for a couple of days. Will respond when it comes back. If it can't be fixed the vehicle's days are numbered - it is not comfortable to drive as it is.

[maltingsmike]

Been back to the dealer and, to be fair, they have done as much as they can. Took the vehicle on another road test and reproduced the phenomenon - but could find no cause back at the garage. They then road tested another Verso S - same problem. They then road tested a new Yaris - same problem. So this has now been referred to Toyota. meanwhile, I still have a stuttering Verso S.

[Red Yaris 54]

Been back to the dealer and, to be fair, they have done as much as they can. Took the vehicle on another road test and reproduced the phenomenon - but could find no cause back at the garage. They then road tested another Verso S - same problem. They then road tested a new Yaris - same problem. So this has now been referred to Toyota. meanwhile, I still have a stuttering Verso S.

That is a strange and disturbing phenomenon

The Verso S is made in Japan and the New Yaris in France so it is not that all the vehicles are off the same production line

It will be interesting to see what Toyota make of this!

My Verso S is the CVT Auto version and is very smooth in its driving.

Please keep us informed of any developments :)

[CG74]

Hi, my 11 plate verso is just over a year old with 9k on the clock at has this same problem.

I notice it when I'm cruising at around 40 to 50.

I'm interested to see what Toyota makes if it.

Matt

[Red Yaris 54]

Anything further to report on this Michael or Matt?

[maltingsmike]

Have heard absolutely nothing more. I am reducing the problem by changing my driving method i.e either accelerating slightly or taking my foot off the throttle. Steady progress at a constant speed on the flat or a slight down gradient doesn't seem possible. If I hear anything more I will post it straight away.

[Adam C]

Strange . . what gear is these misfires occurring in? How much fuel is left when the misfires happen? Do the cars get treated to some hard acceleration from time to time? Very wierd problem

[maltingsmike]

It normally happens in 4th, 5th or 6th gear because that's when I would normally be driving at a steady speed, but it could happen in 3rd gear in town traffic. Fuel is never allowed to fall below about a quarter of a tank. The car is driven very normally - a mixture of local and motorway - and a mixture of gentle driving and heavier acceleration. For the record, I am an ex company car driver who used to cover in excess of 50,000 miles per annum, and so I am fairly well accustomed to driving.

[Notebook]

Hi

Have a 55 plate rav4 and mine does exactly the same - been in to toyota 3 times even through head office, and they cant find anything....

Looks like you will have to put up with it. I usually get it with the aircon on if I remember - so winter ok

[averageuser]

Hi!

Let me offer some suggestions. Firstly little bit of modus operandi. As I know, your modification of vehicle has got accelerator position sensors (dual), throttle operation servomotor as well as throttle position sensor (feedback aka TPS), vehicle speed sensor, MAF, two O2 sensors, engine detonation sensor and PCV and EGR valves. Each of them can become unstable, thus can oscillate fuel injection quantity. ECU in vehicle responsible for correct output command signals which drives injector pulse duration and all of that is in accordance to that bunch of sensor information. Most probably one of the first enlisted sensors failed partially and looks like they are simply dirty. This kind of malfunction is most difficult to isolate, in contrary when sensor dies irreversibly. It is not easy to find real fault for dealer who follows instructions written plain. Only one way is one by one unplug wires to these sensors and look for reactions.

[Devon Aygo]

I have a 2011 1.33 Verso S T Spirit which has done about 6,000 miles. When driving at a steady speed - say 40 or 50 mph - on a level road or slight down gradient, and maintaining my foot in a steady position on the accelerator, the vehicle develops a type of hunting movement where it feels as if I am putting my foot on and off the pedal. This does not occur if I remove my foot from the throttle or press to accelerate. This is very irritating in that it is not possible to drive smoothly in traffic in these circumstances. Reported this at the last service but was told there was nothing wrong. I am an experienced driver used to driving 50,000 miles per annum in company cars, so I am sure that this is not right. Any ideas please?

I work for Toyota and today they released a technical service bulletin (TSB) for Verso-s which may be of use. I cannot post the bulletin but it basically reads:

DESCRIPTION OF PHENOMENON

Some customers may experience engine jerking while driving on vehicles with Manual Transmission

PRODUCTION CHANGE

The engine ECU software has been changed.

Implementation date

09/10/2012

REPAIR PROCEDURE

Check / update the “Computer, engine control” software to the latest calibration ID

The TSB reference is EG-0097T-1112, give your dealer a call and get them to carry out the software update, hopefully this will be

the fix for your issue.

Regards

Devon

[maltingsmike]

Thanks very much for the tip. Have contacted my local dealer and the vehicle is booked in Friday 23rd November. Will let you know what the result is.

Regards - Mike.

[Devon Aygo]

Any news? how did the appointment go ?

[maltingsmike]

Well - I have only driven about 10 miles back from the dealership and I did my best to reproduce the problem on the way home but so far I have to say that the car seems much smoother and that the jerkiness on downhill stretches seems to have been eliminated. Fingers crossed but I am optimistic that the fix seems to have worked. Thanks for the tip. M.

[G6-R]

How is your Verso-s driving now ??? no jerking of the motor ????

[James.C]

Have any others had this update applied and if so how are the results?

I asked about the update at my local dealer last week as my 2011 Verso-S is exhibiting the same symptoms.

I was however told that the TSB relates to Diesel Yaris D4Ds and not a petrol Verso-S so am no further forward.

Thanks.

[G6-R]

I have and it runs fine now

[Adam C]

Lately I've noticed the same 'hunting' sensation going on in my Yaris 1.33 (mk 2 with Stop/Start) in the same surroundings (cruising at 40ish mph in 4th, 5th or 6th. Happens sometimes but I am aware of it & starting to feel it. Have not noticed any patterns to it occurring. Comes and goes

[mike36]

On 11/1/2012 at 6:39 PM, averageuser said:

Hi!

Let me offer some suggestions. Firstly little bit of modus operandi. As I know, your modification of vehicle has got accelerator position sensors (dual), throttle operation servomotor as well as throttle position sensor (feedback aka TPS), vehicle speed sensor, MAF, two O2 sensors, engine detonation sensor and PCV and EGR valves. Each of them can become unstable, thus can oscillate fuel injection quantity. ECU in vehicle responsible for correct output command signals which drives injector pulse duration and all of that is in accordance to that bunch of sensor information. Most probably one of the first enlisted sensors failed partially and looks like they are simply dirty. This kind of malfunction is most difficult to isolate, in contrary when sensor dies irreversibly. It is not easy to find real fault for dealer who follows instructions written plain. Only one way is one by one unplug wires to these sensors and look for reactions.

Is there any way to clean these ?