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Erratic shifting in cruise control only?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by offthewallsurfer, Jun 5, 2016.

  1. Jun 5, 2016 at 2:10 PM
    #1
    offthewallsurfer

    offthewallsurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Let me be clear, I don't own a 3rd Gen yet, I'm solely doing my research.

    With that being said, from all the threads I've read about owners whom experience the constant shifting, majority experience this in cruise control over different grades? Correct me if I'm wrong but is this the only time Auto owners experience this? I have a 2014 DCSB Prerunner 2.7L Auto, and shit if I put it in cruise control it will shift constantly if I roll over as much as a damn 2x4 laying in the road. Otherwise on flat ground it maintains proper gear. I guess my real question is... are the 6 speed auto owners experiencing these erratic shift moments under normal driving WITHOUT cruise control engaged?
     
  2. Jun 5, 2016 at 3:36 PM
    #2
    bulldog

    bulldog Well-Known Member

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    I would say mine isn't erratic under normal circumstances without cruise. I live in the Ozarks, so it's hilly and it does shift a lot. The first 2K it shifted a lot more. With cruise, it shifts a lot on the interstate and stays in 4 gear a lot, so I don't use it anymore.

    I also get only about 20 or 21 on the highway and 22 to 23 in the city, which is weird but most speed limits are 45, so that's the sweet spot to be in 6th gear running about 1000 rpm.
     
  3. Jun 5, 2016 at 3:41 PM
    #3
    bensonxj

    bensonxj Well-Known Member

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    Mine seems to shift more than the other cars and trucks that I have owned in the past. Likes to drop to 4th gear quickly and doesn't like to go back to 5th gear. It doesn't really have "erratic" shifting per say but different than other vehicles that I have owned. Maybe it is just from the 6 speed transmission. I have only been on one freeway trip though, and on a road I had not been on before.
     
  4. Jun 5, 2016 at 3:42 PM
    #4
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    The 3.5 makes all of its power high in the rpm range. And 5th and 6th are overdrive gears. So yes, it's going to shift a lot.
     
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  5. Jun 5, 2016 at 6:45 PM
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    baron55

    baron55 Well-Known Member

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    Yep in cruise is where the switcharoo happens. When cruise is off it behaves normally
     
  6. Jun 5, 2016 at 10:19 PM
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    splitbolt

    splitbolt Voodoo Witch Doctor

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    S-mode disables AI; anyone tried cruise in S5 or S6?
     
  7. Jun 6, 2016 at 6:52 AM
    #7
    baron55

    baron55 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, still likes to shift. Cruise control basically wants zero MPH loss, so its very aggressive in doing so, that is what causes the AT to shift so much. Plus the higher gearing of the AT trucks doesn't help either.
     
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  8. Jun 6, 2016 at 8:05 AM
    #8
    Norm457

    Norm457 New Member

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    Yes cruise is aggressive when down shifting but not much different than other vehicles I've driven. Here in hilly Vermont it will shift to
    4th to maintain speed and up shift on the level, but it has no problems hunting gears like some describe, going 4th to 5th repeatedly.
    Gas mileage is good 22+mpg.
     
  9. Jun 6, 2016 at 8:27 AM
    #9
    smitty99

    smitty99 I also bought a 4Runner

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    Mine shifts erratically just driving through the neighborhood. For instance lets say I turn the corner, speed up to 35 mph then a dog runs across the road so I have to take my foot off the gas, barely ping the brake then the dog clears the road (so at this point I've lost maybe 10mph by barely braking and just taking foot off accelerator) when I go back to accelerate the RPMs jump up to 3000+ yet no feel of acceleration for about 1 to 2 seconds, then it finally switches into gear and RPMs drop. It's like the tranny out-thinks itself and downshifts but then will not shift back up in a timely manner once throttle is applied.
     
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  10. Jun 6, 2016 at 10:31 AM
    #10
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    That's normal. My 99 does that. Takes a bit for the computer to figure out what your current load is and what gear would be best.
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2016
  11. Jun 6, 2016 at 11:13 AM
    #11
    smitty99

    smitty99 I also bought a 4Runner

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    Normal for Toyota Tacoma maybe. Never was a problem in my 2011 Sierra Denali, 2003 Ranger, 2011 BMW 335D, 2001 Honda Accord, nor my lady's 2016 4Runner
     
  12. Jun 6, 2016 at 11:32 AM
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    TejasTaco

    TejasTaco Grab a taco

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    My 2013 Prerunner holds 5th nicely in cruise at 70 or 75mph. It only shifts when pulling 2000-2500 pounds.
     
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  13. Jun 6, 2016 at 2:49 PM
    #13
    catfish37

    catfish37 Well-Known Member

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    Yes it does shift a lot. The truck seems to have a zero tolerance before it shifts. Then it likes to hold 4th gear once you get up to speed.
    My 15' wasn't as bad as the 16' but it still shifted unnecessarily as well.
    They really need to reprogram the downshift/ throttle input tolerance.
     
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  14. Jun 7, 2016 at 1:22 AM
    #14
    smmarine

    smmarine Well-Known Member

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    Every vehicle I've driven with an auto trans takes a bit to find the gear if you gas it, get off, then back on quickly.
     
  15. Jun 7, 2016 at 2:56 AM
    #15
    moab4x432

    moab4x432 Well-Known Member

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    Mine will shift erratically whether it's in cruise or not , the video I posted was with the cruise set on a 4% gradual grade . The only reason I had the cruise set was to try to be consistent so the dealer couldn't claim I was messing with the throttle to make it look worse than it really is .
    Mine is currently in the shop for round 3 of transmission related issues , the high trans temp light has come on several times , the last of which I said f it and just kept driving hoping it would blow up
    With no such luck .
     
  16. Jun 7, 2016 at 3:42 AM
    #16
    Mach428

    Mach428 Well-Known Member

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    Exactly! I think a lot of people are not used to a transmission with double overdrive (A very high gear) matched to a V-6 with a high power-band. Add cruise control to the equation and of course it's going to shift a lot because you told it to maintain a specific speed. It can only do that by selecting the proper gear.
     
  17. Jun 7, 2016 at 4:01 AM
    #17
    fxntime

    fxntime Well-Known Member

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    GM had that figured out 20 years ago. [or more]

    I will say that most manufacturer Cruise control does seem to drop out of OD more then if a human is controlling speed manually but Toyota is a notch below most of them.

    Now, once you change the drivetrain by using lifts, larger tires, added weight and drag, then that is all on you and blaming the manufacturer is a fools game. Really bad part is that it takes barely adequate CC and makes it's pretty much unusable because the computer just can't compensate for what has been done and Toyota isn't going to do a thing about it. [I doubt they could anyways unless they could add 50HP or regear and that wouldn't be on their dime]
     
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  18. Jun 7, 2016 at 9:09 AM
    #18
    offthewallsurfer

    offthewallsurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Of course it wouldn't blown up, it's a YOTA, these run off PFM. (Pure Fucking Magic)
     
  19. Jun 7, 2016 at 6:08 PM
    #19
    over60

    over60 Over70 & still a "Grumpy Old Guy"

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    I had this issue as well....where I'd go up a hill in cruise and the tranny downshifts to the appropriate gear, but after topping the hill and goind down hill, it would NOT shift back up to 6th.....

    I checked my tranny fluid, cuz the dealer refused to do it..... Guess what, I was 3/4 low on fluid..... I filled it and that issue has not happened again..... I've driven up that same hill many times since and it shifts down then back up flawlessly..!!

    :thumbsup:
     
  20. Jun 20, 2016 at 8:09 PM
    #20
    jeff_taco_4x4

    jeff_taco_4x4 Well-Known Member

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    the cruise control is allergic to hills (downshifts constantly up the slightest hill). I simply quit using it, unless I'm on flat roads. Gas mileage is way better by not using it anyway.
     

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