2008 Tundra sudden random loss of power & then recovery

I started having a weird issue today. I did a search, but all I could come up with was people saying they didn't know what was wrong....no solutions. Two posters suggested the dealer had never seen the issue and didn't know what was wrong.

At varying speeds (seemingly while shifting through the gears) the truck just has total loss of power. You can floor the accelerator, but it's totally dead. Then after about 2 seconds, it just picks right back up like nothing every happened. There are no lights when this happens and otherwise runs and shifts fine. 126k miles on it, and it's the 5.7 liter. Others reported that they had their codes read, but that it wasn't throwing any. I assume this would be the case here as well.

Thanks for any help!

p.s. I do have the secondary air injection valve bypass on this, if that helps.

 

I think I may have found the problem. I found someone who said the following:

"Problems with brake lights or a miss-adjusted brake light switch can cause the ECU to cut all throttle - that’s the brake override programming meant to solve the “unintended acceleration” events that were a big deal on multiple Toyota vehicles around 2009, with recalls, etc.

Basically, if the ECU is getting a signal that that brakes are applied after the throttle pedal is pressed, it will ignore the throttle pedal input and you’ll get idle, and no fault codes, since it thinks it’s working as it should.

Check that all three brake lights are working, are not aftermarket LED bulbs, and that it takes more than a wiggle of the brake pedal for them to illuminate."

I did just replace the brake light switch, so this struck a chord. Fascinatingly, when I went out to look at the adjustment on that switch, the brake lights were on. What's crazy is that I just drove the truck 6 hours with a large trailer with zero issues. So, it's kind of weird that it all of the sudden was extra sensitive. Regardless, I adjusted it and I'm feeling confident that this was the problem. Trusting this helps someone else in the future.

 

I was just going to post something like this after reading your first post, but you’re already there.

 

I was just troubleshooting the same situation. Just bought this 2010 Tundra and it started doing what you were describing. I’m hoping that’s all this was. thanks for posting this.

 

She drove out fine yesterday, so I believe we got it.......just in case someone was waiting on confirmation. Thrilled it was something small!

 

Drove mine as well everything working as normal. Simple fix, $0. Thanks for posting the solution!

 

Glad it worked out. Yes, you have to love $0 solutions!!!