The sport shift? What does it do

The owners manual is your friend.

 

Yeah well it doesn't work Toyota confirmed it and compared it to other trucks on the lot

 

so did you take that video yet?

 

Well let us know. Hopefully they can ID the problem and fix it quickly and posting the final resolution here will be good info to have as we start to see more of these in the wild.

 

This.
Pg 198
"Downshifting restrictions warning buzzer (S mode)"...

 

Yes I've read the manual twice particularly on the shifting... Mine doesn't buzz mine doesn't go up to fifth mine doesn't go down at all even at a stand still it does nothing .... That's why the dealership compared to other trucks on the lot and realized this mother effers truck is broke .... Don't worry they will fix it they are great people

 

where is the video

 

Actually, though that is a very good use, just as important is to keep the transmission from hunting and allow it to accelerate quicker by being in a lower gear. If you are traveling less then 40 mph, just keep the trans in 4 or 5 and it will be quicker when you need it. Up to 45. -50 depending upon terrain, keep it open 5 .

 

Since we're talking about page 198 .. does anyone know what AI-SHIFT is? On 197 it says when shifting to "S":

The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or 4 according
to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to 3 if
the AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D position.
(P. 198)​

I forgot that it will shift to 5 sometimes - I have not seen it do that yet despite shifting to "S" a couple of times at 70+ MPH - it always goes to 4 so far. But on page 198 they don't define AI-SHIFT they just say:

AI-SHIFT automatically selects the suitable gear according to the driver performance
and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates when the shift lever is in the D position.
(Shifting the shift lever to the S position cancels the function.)​

So, I am taking a SWAG that AI-SHIFT is some sort of "artificial intelligence" (hahahaha) shifting mode that is learning from or watching your driving and perhaps being more aggressive - thus if you are rally hammering the throttle and the transmission is downshifted it may decide to stay in 3 and more or hand over the transmission controls to the driver? just a SWAG an quite possibly wrong but would love to hear from someone that actually knows and is not speculating like I am.

--- EDIT ---
OK, Google is my friend. From the Tundra site/manual - so I guess I was on the right path. Hopefully this is the same. I found references in other site like Camry/RAV4 so guessing that it is much the same across the Toyota family:

In addition to shift pattern changes due to tow/haul control, AI-SHIFT control determines optimal
transmission control based on input signals and automatically changes the shift pattern. As a result, a high
caliber of transmission operation is achieved.
The AI-SHIFT control includes a road condition support control and a driver’s intention support control.
AI-SHIFT control is effect only with the shift lever in the D position, based on the accelerator and brake
operation data. AI-SHIFT control will be canceled when the driver selects the S mode.
You lose AI-Shift control and road condition support control when in "S" mode.
Road condition support control ​

 

The shifting of the lever does not alter the gear the trans ion is in, it alters the upper limit. Only if the truck were in a higher gear would a down shift occur and then only to 4 from either 5 or 6. It is false to assume that shifting to s always downshifts the truck.

 

I made a video it's on YouTube it's called 2016 Toyota Tacoma trd shift problems

 

http://youtu.be/gv5t92hfZnw
There is the link to the video

 

I'm not trying to say it will always downshift or alter the gear transitions. Sorry if that is how it reads. For me so far it has never downshifted from 6 to 5 when I move to "S", it always goes into "4" if it in fact downshifts. Probably it will go to "5" if I am going fast enough. Around town it has always set "S4" on the display but does not alway shift to 4, because often I switch to "S" before it needs to be in 4. So it is working as described - it is a 'gear' limit. We're in agreement.

 

It is designed to always go into 4 when you shift rom D to S and it's up to you to up shift by flicking up once for 5 and twice for 6 . Once it is in 6 in the S move, it is like being in D.

It always goes into 4 so you don't have to look down and see what gear you are in. Plus, for in town driving, you " know" the best position to be in just by sliding it over to S.

We have had this shifter on our Venza for three years. Read the manual and once you get used to it, you will see the logic in how it works.

Remember too, hitting the brakes will often down shift the truck as well...

 

Have you tried without ever being in "D"? Straight from "Park" to "S"?
Did you go straight from "Park" to "S" on the dealer trucks?

 

You can't. The shifter gives from p to n to d....than you move left to S. What does your manual say. Those are the only four notches or indents the shifter contains. I believes it's the same shifter for all their cars and trucks with six speeds, incl, Venza, Highlander, etc.

 

Understood - I think it was your post elsewhere that got me started on looking at how this works. I get exactly what it is doing and how to use it - the only discrepancy is that the manual for this Tacoma say it will sometimes change into 5 or 3 depending on AI-SHIFT or other conditions. I'll re-quote the manual again here for easy reference as I did above:

On 197 it says when shifting to "S":

The initial shift range in S mode is set automatically to 5 or 4 according
to vehicle speed. However, the initial shift range may be set to 3 if
the AI-SHIFT has operated while the shift lever was in the D position.
(P. 198)​

So, the Tacoma manual claims it might go to 3 or 5 - I'm just saying I have not seen that happen so far. That being said, I've only managed ~200 miles but I have been playing a lot. On the way in this AM I was going 85mph and went from D to S and it went to 4 not 5 - so I'm guessing either it wont actually go to 5 or you need to be going really damn fast! Time will tell.

FWIW - once you start using the S mode and getting the hang of it you will love it. It gives an excellent range of control and is a great driving experience for an automatic. I head straight up a big highway hill at 75mph as soon as I get on the highway every morning and I really like being able to lock it to 4th so I can get up to speed quickly and keep it from hunting in 5/6 - once I am up to 80mph I let it have 5 but not 6, this hill is just too much for 6 even at those speeds. (FWIW, my previous trucks used to hunt between their OD gear and the next down on this hill and they were V8's - '04 Tundra and '14 Silverado - it is just not an OD friendly section of highway.)

 

That it shifts to a gear other then 4 may very well be, as it is a different application of the same technology and that feature may be programed in. It is obviously newer then our car and ours delays shifting till it can safely shift to 4......personally, I never use S till speed drops below 55 regardless....But, for your use, it sounds like you are getting the hang of it. You are right.....6 is really a steep OD and seldom does it stay in it on any hill.

 

Yeah that doesn't seem right to me. Should be giving you feedback on the display when you are shifting. Take it to the dealer and have them fix it

 

What I'm saying is don't do any driving/shifting with AI; straight to S.
I realize you have to go through AI to get there.