2013 Tacoma Automatic Trans Rough shift into 5th gear.

Smooth shifting is apparently harder on AT than harder shifting. That being said my 07 does not suffer from this.

 

I would think if that was the case since 2006 it's just the way it shifts, mine is the same way it's not really rough just noticable. But I drive different rentals every week for work and they all shift different...some feel like butter some are more pronounce...

 

4th? My truck loves the D, so I never take it out. No harsh shifts here on a 2009.

I'd be checking my transmission fluid level first off, there's been a lot of talk of them being low from the factory. I would even do a drain and fill just to be sure. If anyone does toast one, they're only $1200-$1500 on avg from a junk yard. An easy afternoon job if you have any mechanic friends Never heard of one failing though.

 

What you feel as a shift into the final gear is actually the torque converter locking up. There's no slipping especially when being easy on the gas that's why you feel it "kick into gear". When this happens at a higher speed you are in a better power band with more torque which slips slightly before locking up the torque converter and therefore you won't feel it "kicking" in. Slipping causes friction and this causes heat which hurts the trans mission fluid. The TC is the hottest part in the trans when slipping it can reach temps that burn the ATF. Even if your fluid in the transmission pan seems to be at operating temp it's a lot hotter in the TQ since the fluid in the pan went through the cooler already.

Toyota wants to avoid/lower those high temps and therefore programs the trans to lock the TQ early on. This helps to reduce maintenance and increases the life span of the transmission.

You can compare it to a manual clutch if you will, if you let it slip too much you'll burn of the friction material and need a new one very soon. A new clutch generally will grab a little harder if driven the same as a worn out clutch, therefore I think we see that a lot on newer, lower milage tacomas with brand new TC. It could be programmed to engage OD later but that comes with lower MPG and the disadvantages mentioned above.

 

I checked my transmission fluid today, warmed up the truck for a few minutes, opened the overflow plug and expected it to be well under filled, but mine was exactly the opposite...it was spitting out about 3/4 quarts, closed the overflow plug and drove it down the street and it shifts a lot better now...don't know the procedure for filling the transmission at toyota...but something is off there

 

Update: after adjusting the trans fluid to the right level it seems to be a little better, it still happens from time to time under a specific speed, throttle in the 35-40 mph range. I noticed it only happens when the tarns fluid is up to temp and the truck shifts and locks up the TQ completely at the same time. I see a sudden drop in RPMs when it does vs a smoother shift at higher RPMs where the TQ locks up slower with some slippage and I see the RPMs drop in 2 steps...

 

Does anybody have this problem I don't know if it's me but I have a 2013 TRD sport manual transmission 6 speed and when. I shift into 2nd gear it's kind of hard it doesn't make no grinding noise just sort of a clunk noise kinda .. I don't know if I got to push the clutch in all the way or what but there be times it doesn't make a sound I guess I just get rite . I tend to stall too not all the times or is it I'm shifting to early

 

Complete changeover to amsoil synthetic atf ,clean pan etc....and it shifts completely different...no more banging into fifth !

 

Did anyone ever got that fixed?

Here's what I tried so far:

Checked level - OK
Added Lubegard Platinum - didn't change

happens about 75% of the time when I'm on the gas getting up to speed at around 40-45 and it shifts @ ~2000rpms, it feels like it goes from no lock-up to full lock-up in a split second. If I'm really easy on the gas it won't, if I'm on the on ramp it won't either, and there it looks like it locks up in 2 stages which makes it smooth...

My next step it to bring it to the dealer and get it at least "recorded" so I have a case if it breaks after the 60k/5Year...I'm at 10K...it's doing it since new

 

Gently Tapping the brake pedal at highway speeds with your left foot while holding your right foot steady on the gas pedal should confirm you have a converter lock up issue .
When you tap the brake pedal gently , you manipulate the brake switch ,it turns the converter lock up function off . Holding your foot on the gas pedal while you try this allows the converter to re-apply shortly after your foot is removed from the brake pedal . You are already in fifth gear when performing this test so the only conclusion at this point is an issue with the lock up function .
After performing this test at highway speeds , do you still feel 2 applications when the converter locks up ?
The lubeguard should have taken care of any kind of converter clutch chatter .
Did you check the trans fluid with the engine running ?
Have you tried cleaning the Maf ? Understand its a new truck but worth a try ?
Have you disconnected the battery and tried a re-learn ?
I will edit this shortly ...brb

 

Thank you for the reply,
I did the test a while ago, it worked fine and once in 5th gear it will unlock and lock without any bump (I don't remember if it did the 2 application lock up but I will check again - maybe I shoot a video of it).
I can also switch from 5th to 4th with the gear selector and back and it won't bump into gear. Other than that every other shift is fine.

 

Hmm , you are not supposed to feel two applications of the converter when it locks up . Just trying to rule out the converter as the problem . If you already did the brake test and the converter unlocks and locks as it should , I beleive we can rule out the converter as being the problem .
I still havnt found any info on the TSB and have been looking for a long while now .
Did you check the trans fluid with the engine running ?
Have you tried cleaning the Maf ? Understand its a new truck but worth a try ?
Have you disconnected the battery and tried a re-learn ?
At this point in time having it documented by the dealer is a great idea

 

Thanks for the reply,

I did check the trans fluid with the engine running and in temp mode
I did unhook the battery and tried the re-learn 3-4 times but it didn't change.
I didn't check on the MAFS yet, but will do before I head to the dealer.

Since a lot of people seem tha have this problem, I start to think it might be a design/electrical issue??

 

I still havnt figured out if your are having the same issue as the OP .

There have been many cases where the SLT solenoid has created the problem . The electronic pressure control solenoid is the primary contributor and they are well known to be faulty mechanically . Its unfortunate because you are not going to get a code for a solenoid thats worn out . The computer commands the SLT solenoid to perform a task and the solenoid works fine electrically thus making the computer control happy but the SLT solenoid loses pressure mechanically causing the B1 brake to slip .

With this said , the dealer would have to do a hydraulic test on the circuit in question and we know from expereince if there is no code , the dealer usually says the transmission functions correctly . Sounds like your in a catch 22 .
You dont have a P2714 malfunction but you can still perform the hydraulic test to verify solenoid mechanical wear .
Here is P2714 diagnostic http://www.moranbahweather.com/toyota/lc_trj12/rm/rm1151e/m_05_1113.pdf

and here is the hydraulic test that you or the dealer would need to verify
http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old.../06toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/027003.pdf

To add to this .....The reflash of the ECM may help . Wish I had more info for you

 

I dropped the truck off this morning, I got a loaner Prius right away, they are looking at 2 things right now.

1. Hard Shift into OD at certain speeds/rpms, also mentioned the sometimes hard 1-2 shift I get, but thats not as bad as the clunk in 5th
2. TSB for pinging, even though I don't have pinging, I told them to perform that anyway - I hope the reflash migth cure both issues?

I don't expect much, but will keep this thread updated. Can't complain about the service though, they took the time to uderstand what I was talking about and I was offered a loaner without even asking for one.

I will check if a hydraulic test was performed, that's some really good information there gearcruncher

 

UPDATE: they re-flashed my ECU, I have the feeling it shift better now (in all gears) it shifts firm, nothing compared to a chevy or ford, but doesn't bang that much anymore.

I will keep an eye on it and see if it stays that way

 

The software upgrade they did to your truck ..... did they explain to you what the purpose of the software upgrade would do ? We have all been looking for the answer for a long time.
Did you get any paperwork when they fixed the truck ? This software update was issued in June of 2012 and we are still looking for an answer to what it exactly does .
Did you get a couple new stickers under the hood showing the new ecm calibration?

Now scrollback to post # 63 and you will understand why we are all interested in this service bulletin .

And for anybody reading this that has a similar issue with your transmission like the OP ....Rough shift into 5th gear , contact your dealer and have them perform tsb 0044-12 .

!!!!!!!!!!!! Scream at the dealer that your truck PINGS bad in 5th gear and when the truck upshifts into 5th ,you notice that the upshift is very clunky . Reports are coming back that if your engine doesnt sound like a can of marbles when the technician test drives your truck, Toyota will not perform the TSB reflash and send you on your way without fixing anything saying this is simply a normal characteristic of the Tacoma. I can only imagine what your engine end journal bearings look like after driving with these issues for 50k



Did they perform the ping TSB as that may have taken care of some of the aggressive shift into 5th
OK -here is the EDIT . Toyota fixed your pinging engine by changing the shift points on the transmission . Your truck is now harder on fuel if you have this TSB performed . Got an Ultra guage or a scan guage ? Check your mileage before you get this TSB done and then check it after .
T-SB-0044-14.pdf


http://www.revbase.com/BBBMOTOR/

Check your service records using your Vin # and it should show you what the software upgrade did . Here is the link http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/home


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Gearcruncher / All,

I was experiencing the rough transmission shift into 5th gear as well. After countless times checking my transmission fluid (using the method provided on this website) I still had the rough shift into 5th gear even after making sure the transmission fluid was at the correct level. My next step was to flush the transmission fluid and replace it with Valvoline Maxlife ATF. After replacing the transmission fluid (used the full flush method found on this site) the truck seemed to shift a little bit better but then ultimately I confirmed there was no change.

I continued to do more research on this site and saw gearcruncher talking about T-SB-0044-14. I decided to drop my truck off at the dealer and ask them to perform the tsb because I was experiencing a rough shift into 5th gear and a knocking and pinging sound while going up an incline in 5th gear at low rpms. I am happy to say that the dealership performed the TSB without question and my truck shifts much much smoother. The truck no longer shifts roughly into 5th gear or overdrive. I believe all of you experiencing this rough shift should have this TSB performed. It makes a noticable difference.

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the update Philly .
I am sure 2012 and up owners will be happy to hear that the issue has been rectified .
Now Toyota has to modify the TSB so that older trucks with the same issue can get their trucks fixed . The rough shift into 5th also occurs on the older trucks. Not much pinging on the older trucks but definitely harsh upshifts into 5th

I added this post to A750E series information page
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...hift-kit-shift-recalibration-kit-2nd-gen.html

 

Shift points controlled by the ecu are set way too low from the factory. I don't notice it all that much now, but coming from a dakota where the shifts were at higher rpm, I thought something was off too. Just drive it.