Banging and clanking when accelerating from a stop

I have a 2016 tundra trd. The issue I have not been able to find an answer for. So when stopped and accelerating normally off the line, the truck makes a bunch of banging, clanking, random noise from frontend and I also notice a sluggish feeling in gas peddle like truck has no power little. This only happens at speeds between stopped to 20mph. It then goes away after that. It also is random, doesn't happen every time, can do it two times then may not happen again for several stops. occasionally like twice now, it flashed the traction control light for second then it would go out. I can not see anything out of place and or broken. I checked belts, fluids, and connections. No codes present. Engine idles fine in neutral and when taken to higher rpms and held there is no issues. Please help.....

 

What's the history of the vehicle? Mileage? Maintenance? Modifications?

 

2016 with 109k, maintenance is always taken care of by me. Everything is kept clean and new. No mods.

 

My first though is something to do with the 4WD engagement. Assuming you are in 2WD, cycle in and out of 4WD to see if this affects the symptoms.

 

So it is a 4WD, I have driven it in 4WD to see and could not duplicate sound and feel the two times but could not get it to make the sound and feel. But yes I am normally in 2WD when this sound and feel presents itself.

 

So your traction control light flashed every time this situation occurs? Have you added larger tires or wheels or a lift kit recently?

 

The traction control light only has done it twice out of the ten times or so. No lift and no tires changed. same setup have had for life of truck.

 

Throttle body / MAF ever been cleaned? You're positive the truck doesn't throw codes? Have you ever had any codes thrown?

 

Ok so failed to mention, has a K&N filter installed, but it has been for years. I did clean MAF at the time of install. I am not aware if ever had codes prior to this, this is the first time having a issue with truck. But when trying to check codes, no DTCs present

 

I'd start with the cleaning of the MAF and TB.

 

Could that explain the noise? Would it make the truck have such a random noise? Thanks for the input and help with this

 

Hard to tell - you said it goes away after about 20 mph and is random. If it was a constant banging and clanking noise all the time I would think that would be something else. The one thing that is unusual is the traction control light coming on, but not everytime. So I'd do the things that are easy and see what happens.

 

I agree this is odd. the fact it could happen 3 stops in a row and then go away for next 5 or so is what is confusing me. I called Toyota about this and for them to look at it they want 144.85 a hour. I could only imagine this could be hundreds to figure it out before the fix.

 

You grease and maintain the driveline support bearing?

 

yes but I been looking at the carrier bearing and play, I may change it soon. I still think that it is ok. the sound comes from way up front. Plus I feel no vibration like that would cause, at least what i think.

 

Might be worth looking at all of your abs sensors for damage or looseness.

The ABS makes terrible sounds from under the hood when activating. Also would cause the Trac light to flash as the truck believes a wheel is slipping.

 

Thats worth looking into for sure. I will give ABS sensors and MAF a look and see.

 

step 1
i think you need to determine is it engine or chassis..
how many miles? do you off road?

(banging and clunking) is a little vague....
might suggest you jack front end and shake wheels... see what's loose..

if your not getting any codes... might inspect mass air flow sensor, remove and clean.. especially if your using a oil based K&N or trd filter

 

I cant determine engine or chassis. it sounds like very front kind of right side when noise occurs. It also has a sluggish feel to it when starts with noise. this happens from stop to 20mph. doesn't happen every time. I dont off road truck. its well taken care of and maint. I jacked it last night and checked wheels, spun free, did not shaking when pulled on. this truck has 109k on it. I pulled MAF last night, looked clean, little lite haze, I cleaned and stuck it back in. Problem still there..

 

Does it feel like you’re going over a rumble strip? Could it be transmission related?

 

try turning on 4wd and see if it makes the issue go away.

 

drove with 4WD and got it to do it one time. So 2WD and 4WD does it, but its so random. drove it last night, got it to do it twice and then would not happen again and tried like 20 times. thats why I am at a loss.

 

does not feel like rumble strip, it smooth, when sound happens its just a clanky, banging noise thats inconsonant with a hesitation in power feel.

 

Bad CV joint?

 

CV joints appear to be good. No rips in boots and I dont hear or feel vib or anything.

 

have you checked your wheel bearings for play?

Edit: Just saw that you checked the wheels for play.

Maybe try torquing all of your suspension and chassis bolts in the general area? I saw a vid where there was alot of noise and play on the front of a car and 2 of the front subframe bolts were loose from a recent service and that solved the problem.

Also, have you checked your driveshaft for play/loose bolts? How does your carrier bearing look?

 

Any chance its coming from the rear? I had a braking noise, and I swore it was out of the front, turned out it was a rear disc that had cracked, and took my caliper with it... It was on the inside/backside, All I could see from the outside once it failed was the brake pad waving at me.

 

So i looked at all suspension last night, nothing appeared loose. drive shaft and carrier bearing look good as well, I checked play and I assuming in tolerance. But with that, its a noise that only comes up randomly. its not constant. so that is where I don't get this. Also all noise is right up front almost right side sounds.

 

Have you done suspension upgrades? If so I would check the sway bar. My brake issue was random, but all I'm suggesting is pulling your rotors and inspecting them... Nothing worse than losing your brakes in heavy traffic like it happened to me.

 

im wondering if it might be your steering rack or front diff? Do you use 4wd relatively often? Do you get any noise when you turn the wheels? Did you check sway bar links and bushings and skid plate hardware?