Solara Sport 2004

[stevieray]

I have a 2004 Solara Sport. At various speeds and situations when I go to accelarate I notice that the car will hesitate and then lunge foward. It is almost as if it slipped into neutral and then back into gear. It happens several times a week. I was wondering if anyone else has noticed the same problem? The service manager at my dealer is going to inquire about it with the regional mgr. The mechanic that checked my car said he was aware of this problem and that it had something to do with the programming on the chip and the emmission system.

[Cam3R]

Similar problem but on a Camry V6, it happens mostly in stop and go driving conditions. According to what I could find from the internet, this type of problem is most likely associated with the so call "drive by wire" design, because it appears to be a design issue, not a manufacturing defect, therefore, your dearler may not have a "Fix" for it.

Hopefully, Toyota can come up with a better programming soon for the control computer. In the mean time, I have basically re-learned my driving habit, after decades of good driving experiences.

The gas paddle will not respond to your input like the older (but more reliable) "drive by cable" design does, the throttle is now controlled by the computer via a servo motor, very likely, this additional "decision making agent" is causing delay or hesitation problems.

Good luck with your new car!

[DJinTN]

My wife's 04 Solara SLE V-6 a/t falls on its face from a dead start. Terrible throttle response. I have really noticed it lately when I almost got hit because it wouldn't get out of its own way. If you give it more gas, it hesitates and then jumps forward.

Another problem is a rattle that seems to be coming from the passenger side A pillar.

Of course, the dealer couldn't find a thing wrong.

Any help with these would be appreciated

[DJinTN]

3.3 v6 with 5 speed auto seems to be the problem, it affects multiple Toyota models and Lexus