Surging during light to moderate acceleration

I and others are having a surging/pulsing on light acceleration in my 2021 Rav4. Feels like a bucking sometimes. Give it harder throttle it goes away. Dealer was worthless-said it's normal. No codes. Maybe related.

 

Might be, though I think this might've been more prominent on 2nd tundra fuel pumps and/or flex fuel models.

On my search, those symptoms seem to be a common enough occurrence across the board but for different reasons depending on the truck's gen.

Looks like there's a TSB out for 3rd Gen trucks now with similar (not identical though) issues that I believe may be more related to what you're seeing in your Rav than I experience with my tunny.

 

Interesting. Would you know what that TSB number for the 3rd gen is?

 

I have a 2008 TRD with 100,000 miles. I have owned it since new. I recently experienced this problem and looked to this site for help. I replaced the fuel pump, cleaned the throttle body, replaced the torque converter and a couple other items. Still the same annoying surging. No codes or engine lights. Finally got a check engine and was able to figure out the problem. My Bank 1 VVT solenoid. Replaced this and it fixed the problem. I assume they were going out which was causing the problem but not bad enough to throw a code. I wanted to post this in case someone else is still chasing the ghost.

 

Thanks for the info. Having same problem.

 

Where did you figure out how to replace it? A video? Shop manual?

Thanks!

 

I think this Bank 1 VVT solenoid is Code P0013.

According to the website below:

The Tundra uses the Oil Control Valves to adjust camshaft timing and facilitate variable valve timing. This allows it to have a more aggressive camshaft profile when the engine is under heavy load, and a tamer profile when cruising for improved fuel mileage. Bank “1” is the side of the engine that contains cylinder 1.

Wiring Issue– A great place to start would be with the wiring itself. Since P0013 means that the ECM is reporting that there is a short or open condition in the wiring that is coming to/from the oil control valve, wiring often ends up being the problem. You’ll need to lookup the specs for your particular year and model. Here’s a pretty good video on finding a short (YouTube).

Bad OCV Valve– After checking the wiring harness for the proper voltage it may be time to get a new oil control valve. They aren’t that expensive. If money is tight, you can check and clean it to see if that’ll solve the problem.


https://www.700r4transmissionhq.com/p0013-toyota-tundra/

 

In a 2013 Toyota Tundra 4.6L V8, the Bank 1 VVT (Variable Valve Timing) solenoid, also known as the VVT oil control valve, is located on the passenger side (Bank 1) of the engine.

Here's how to find it:
✅ Bank 1:

• Refers to the side of the engine with cylinder #1.
  
  
• On the 4.6L V8, Bank 1 is the passenger side.
  

✅ Location of VVT Solenoid:

• The VVT solenoid is mounted on the cylinder head, near the front of the engine.
  
  
• It is secured into the timing chain cover area, and you’ll see a small electrical connector attached to it.
  
  
• It’s typically visible without removing the valve cover.
  

How to Identify:

• Look for a metal cylindrical component with a 2-wire electrical plug.
  
  
• It will be near the camshaft gear/timing area.
  
  
• There is usually one solenoid per camshaft, so Bank 1 may have an intake and an exhaust VVT solenoiddepending on configuration.
  

⚠️ Tips Before Replacing:

• Disconnect the battery before unplugging anything.
  
  
• Check for oil leaks or sludge buildup; dirty oil can cause VVT issues.
  
  
• If you're diagnosing a P0011 or P0021 code, confirm oil pressure and cleanliness first.
  

 

Causes and Fixes Toyota P0013 Code: Exhaust “B” Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit/Open (Bank 1)

https://youtu.be/1Nriymw4CwU?si=F8bhAPgZcMP_44cJ

 

2008 Toyota Tundra Camshaft Sensor Code P0013 Bank 1 OCV VVT Engine Light
https://youtu.be/kohMRR1YHZA?si=kExRrXEZJ3ch4wYl

 

From that last video, I think the bank 1 exhaust VVT solenoid is the one on the driver's side. The exhaust is the one on the right and the intake is the one on the left.

But poster
Rmarsol

Did not tell us yet what code he got, or which one he replaced. I'm just going off of other findings on the web of code P0013 which is the exhaust VVT solenoid on bank 1 here:

 

I went to my truck and examined the wiring on both VVT solenoids on that side and it looked fine. I removed the connector, and put them back on.

If I still have surging when I drive later today, I will probably order the exhaust VVT solenoid.

I am having no codes, but neither did Rmarsol for quite some time he had surging.

 

After checking the wiring today on all 4 VVT solenoids, and unplugging and plugging them back in, the truck was still surging.

So I figure I want to replace all 4 of them. To me, these are important performance parts and I have 122k on the truck so it seems like time for me. And when I got my truck, it was a salvage, so it had been sitting for a while and the oil was really dark. So they may have gotten clogged/ruined.

So then I went on Toyota parts searching for them and I'm trying to figure out if they are all the same. Are all 4 the same part?

Because some places they are marked "LH" and some places it says "left, right".

Here it says "LH". This is the original part number I guess. And it says "Replaced by 15330-0S010"



Here it says "Left, right". This says it replaces the one above.




When I search ebay using my specific vehicle filter, for VVT solenoid, and look for OEM, I get all these hits for the original part number in the first screen shot (15330-38010), for about $50-60 for a set of 2.

Like this one:
https://ebay.us/m/Qpmdbk

Nothing on ebay says anything about right or left, and it has specific vehicle fitment detail, and says 4 per vehicle.

I see no other part numbers on ebay for OEM VVT solenoids.

Can anyone confirm that they are the same part for all 4 VVT solenoids?

Thanks!

 

I called my local dealer parts and asked him about these. He confirmed that all 4 are the same part.

15330-0S010 is the current part number for my truck. And at the dealer it is $186.

15330-0S010 replaced old part number 15330-38010.

Ebay has OEM of 15330-38010, 2 for about $50-60.

So I ordered 4 of the old part number for around $100 rather than spend $186 x 4 =$744.00 at the dealer.

 

I replaced all 4 VVT solenoids. It was pretty easy. It did not solve my surging issue.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-ZL_yaMGGps?si=Sglmap95ZsyI3NwW