I own a Scion xb rs02 (yellow) and have just under 11,000 miles on the vehicle. lately I have been having a problem and would like to know if anybody else has had this happen to them.
When the engine is cold and I start to drive the following happens.
(The vehicle is a 5 speed stick.)

While bringing the vehile up to highway speed at around 40 miles an hour and in 3rd or forth gear while feeding gas, the tach revs up (between3 and 4 RPM) and the vehicle seems to lose compression. Another words the vehicle hesitates to accelerate. It only happens when the vehicle is cold, usually mornings. As the vehicle warms up, this does not seem to happen.

I am 54 years old and have been driving standard transmissions my whole life, so I know this is not a clutch problem.

Seems to me either something to do with the TRD muffler or maybe even some sort of cold engine sensor.

Anyway I will be calling Sunrise Toyota this week to set up an appointment.
Any idea from the forum group would be helpful.

Thank you.
Al

 

Hi codycat.

I used to have a similar problem with my 1st gen automatic. The best solution when I installed my alarm. My alarm has the auto start for the enigine, so I can start the car before I'm even in it. This way by the time I get in to the car it's already warmed up. :o) Just a thought, but I know of others who have had similar problems when the car is cold. Hopefully this input helps a bit.

 

Thank you for the feedback. Although your solution might work in an automatic, it won't with a stick. (can't start a vehicle in gear unless there is a driver in the car...LOL)
Still, the problem needs to be addressed by Toyota, especially if it's happening to many people.

 

I work at a dealership(Nissan) and I think it sounds alot like a clutch. This is my guess but I can be wrong. I'm thinking about anything else in a vehicle that would cause this and this is what I came up with...
Are you the original purchaser of the RS2?

 

Yes, I own it from day 1. Also I have 2 other vehicles that have standard transmissions and over 80,000 miles without any clutch problems.

Another note.
If the vehicle is stopped and I release the clutch slowly, it grips fine, very low to the floorboard and with plenty of meat.
This is why I dismiss the clutch as a problem.
Seems more like a compression problem to me.

 

With a manual transmission if you are attempting to accelerate and the RPMs go up but the car doesn't go any faster, your clutch is slipping. It's simple science. The transmission is connected to the flywheel by the clutch. When they are engaged and not slipping there is a predictible amount of speed per RPMs depending on the gear. This can't change because they are mechanically linked. The only part in the entire chain between the pistons and wheels that can slip without breaking is the clutch.

My XB1 used to slip on cold mornings under relatively hard accleration. Once it warmed up it stopped slipping.

 

So if it is slipping only when it's cold, and the vehicle only has 11,000 miles on it, will it be covered by the manufactures warranty?

 

Only if they consider it a problem. I'm pretty sure if it only does it when it's cold they will not attempt to fix it. They'll just tell you to drive easier until it warms up.

 

Only 11,000 miles? Oh snaps. But here's a simple solution IMO, let your car warm up if you keep it outside. My auto acts funny if its cold. But everyone says not to go over 3K or 4K if the blue light is on.

 

if your car is doing that only when it is cold, i could be a vacume leak somewhere. i know it only has 11k on it and that seems weird, but it happens. check all the vacume lines for cracks, and or holes. another thing it could be is the spark plugs. what brand of gas do you put in it?

 

I can't believe some of the post I have read about clutches slipping with 5,000 miles. That's nonsense. If that were true, Toyota would have plenty of angry people and many lawsuits to contend with. I will be bringing my Scion to the dealer sometime either this or next week, and I will guarantee that the problem will be fixed with no charges to me.
By the way, the answer to your question is Shell regular. that's what I use most often.

 

Ok here is the deal you can do a search..it is known problem with the Xb in cold weather start ups. I have experienced it many times since new.... and now 75,000 plus miles clutch is still fine....your not crazy it is just a quirk the box has... every year someone asks the same questions

 

Thank you Sciond.
Now, what does Scion say about the problem? is there a fix? Is there a TSB posted about it? If so, can you please supply me with the links.
Thanks again.

 

Sciond is exactly right. Either the disk has some hard surface, like some break pad, that needs to be warmed up to work properly or ith presure plate needs to be warm.... Weird, but true. When the blue temp light is out mine works fine. And, like you, I'v been driving standards for more years than I care to remember.........

 

just watching.

ive got a 5 speed also, cant say ive ever notice the cluch slip, but.... im interested in what the dealer tells you.

 

More likely it has moisture on it or a little oil that thins out when it is warm and grips but when cold is more slippery. You might try a 2nd gear takeoff with a lot of throttle to heat the clutch up and dry it out. If you dump the clutch and the rpms drop right down then the clutch is grapping ok - the fact that it is grabbing low only indicates that it is not worn out - you still could have contamination on the clutch surfaces or a weak spring. Mine grabs and chatters like crazy after a little rain or damp weather until I dry it out with a 2nd gear takeoff or get it really warmed up.

 

your not crazy my RS4 does this too but only when cold and damp until its warmed up probably first 2-4 1st gear shifts. feels like its chattering and ready to implode.

 

So, I called up my dealer and set up an appointment for next week. I will leave the car there overnight, so when they test drive it the engine will be cold.
I also called up Scion support at 1-866-707-2466 to lodge a vehicle complaint. The rep took all the information, gave me a case number and asked me to call back after the dealer diagnoses the problem.
I asked the rep if many people were calling concerning clutch issues. His reply was no. I would suggest that everybody who has stated they are/were having clutch issues to call the toll free number and file a complaint. This way there is a history record which could come into play down the road if a recall or TSB is issued.

 

lol, i know this is really bad, but has anyone with an auto noticed how much better the the box sees to accelerate, shift when its cold, it picks up faster, and shifts harder for me when its cold, i just tried it a few ties to test, i dont push everyday when its cold, that ould be a serious no no lol. but just wonderin, i have 89k miles, and i wish it would run like that al the time, the quicker accel, and harder shifts like i put a valve kit in the tranny, or shift kit whichever youd like to call it.

 

Get your tranny fluid changed!