Grinding noise when starting uphill?

2020 Tacoma TRD OR- if I’m stopped at a light, with the truck pointed uphill, the truck makes a SCARY “ratatatatatat” when I take off. Normal? I know the trans can make some freaky noises in crawl control mode, but I’m in 2wd on dry pavement.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wuV29yFOcyy75v5N1NRvUBNOmeevqWy_/view?usp=sharing

 

It is all in the owners manual.

I'll throw you a hand here it is called hill assist. Keeps from messing up your transmission.

When this happens look at your gauges it should have a light flashing letting you know this is happening. Look inside the manual to confirm the symbol

 

That's the traction control/abs pump firing... It's not a grinding noise and more of the sound just the pump firing, it is either caused because the car thinks it's tires are slipping or because the pump/tc is malfunctioning (had this happen on my 2020 OR.). The few questions I would ask is if you go really slow onto the power does it happen? Do you have a lot of weight in the bed (500+ pounds), and how steep the grade is. The reason it makes these noises in crawl mode is because that relies on the ABS pump to work, the first time I used crawl mode in the snow I thought mine was broken and just did it manually.

Edit: I would say it is probably okay, but if it is happening excessively, go ask your dealer to go on a drive with you for like 5 minutes. It's a 2020, they can tell you if it's normal or not, even the sales representative who sold you it would be able to tell you more.

 

Thanks for the replies all!

 

Good. It's working well then.

 

My 20 does the same in the driveway with the addition of the Traction Control light illuminating on the dash when it does.

 

I didn't realize hill-start assist used the ABS brakes (I have a 6MT which does not have hill-start assist). I've never had a problem starting on a hill with an automatic transmission. They seem to hold their position on a hill at idle without any help needed. When does ABS hill-start assist come into play?

 

On a hill that is too steep for the truck to “hold its own” and begins to move backwards. Which BTW is not good for a vehicle to do this on a hill anyhow. But for those not quick enough to hit the gas on a hill it’s there as a safety feature I guess.

 

I experience that all the time with a manual transmission but not with an automatic. Thus I am curious why the AT has hill-start assist and the manual does not. Originally I thought it was it because it was easy to implement in the auto transmission, but it sounds like that's not the case. Could the ABS-based hill-start assist not just as easily be implemented with the manual transmission where it seems more needed?

Ditto for multi-terrain select and crawl control. Why are those deleted with the MT? I can understand crawl control could present challenges because of the clutch vs torque converter, but I can think of no extra challenges for MT-select. My only guess is that Toyota thinks that a buyer who selects a MT is not going to miss those features because that buyer is more DIY-oriented.

I enjoy my manual transmission for the most part, but starting on a steep grade with a cliff behind me is a time when I wish I had an AT. lol

 

I don’t have a good answer for that. I had a 2010 Rubicon that was a MT and I am pretty sure that had it. I know the 2012 Wranger Sahara did but that was an automatic. I don’t like the way Toyota works though using ABS. The Jeep you just took you foot off the brake and it held for up to I think 3 seconds or until you put on the gas.

 

Why do you find it “god awful”? Rolling backwards off a cliff seems less desirable to me. To each his own!

 

You mean hold the brake while applying the accelerator and then releasing the brake to prevent it from rolling back on a hill? Yeap, I do it all the time. Works just fine, just be gentle with it.
You can also use the hand brake similar to the way you'd start an old manual uphill.

 

I hear you, I hate it. And I rarely use crawl control foe the same reason. Only if I am going down a very steep grade while 4-wheeling. It must be new to 20+ maybe? This is my first Tacoma so dunno. I can make it happen though so I know it’s just the Hill Assist. The FJ never did it that’s for sure.

 

I know, also so many “features” use the ABS system in these new trucks that it will probably be one of the first things that goes out......I just tend to drive more and worry less!!

 

I agree, I think it's a dumb feature. Plenty of manufacturers do "hill assist" correctly. Honda, Chevrolet... by engaging the normal brake for X seconds until it senses an application of the accelerator.

EDIT: Also a shame since we know that the Tacoma CAN perform a brake application on it's own (evidenced by brake assist and adaptive cruise braking). That's a bit of speculation on my end though.

 

If it’s the same noise I hear on my 2020 TRD OR 6MT when traction control is operating, I don’t find it god awful but it was certainly disconcerting the first time I heard it. The ABS system on the OR/Pro is louder than the one on the other trims presumably because it’s beefier.

 

The first time I ever attempted to use crawl control, I thought my transmission ate itself.

 

I was about to ask that question. Most of the traction control stuff can be disabled via a button push. I disable TRAC/VSC on a regular basis, but I’ve never found a need to disable ATRAC. If ATRAC is making a racket it means I’m having fun.

 

My eyes are always glued to the inclinometer, thus the other lights don’t bother me.