2016 Transmission T-SB-0077-16 Shift Feeling Enhancments (PDF)

Just called the service desk at my nearest dealer - it took him a while to figure out that this specific TSB actually exists (even after repeating the exact TSB number for him perhaps 5 or 6 times).

He was originally in denial that any TSB would ever be issued for the transmission mapping because he has never once heard anyone have anything but praise for the V6 Taco's buttery smooth transmission.

I tried holding back, really, I did... but then laughed a bit at that.





He probably will scratch my truck when I take it in for the update.

 

Same here. And multiple other people have said their truck drove better after the transmission learned their driving habits.

I'm not trying to be negative but your experiences are not the end all normal average experience.

We are aware you have had issues and are not happy but i doubt it's necessary to tell everyone else they are basically wrong or their positive experience is a mental factor.

 

your observations are in the minority from what I've noted in the feedback

 

Smitty, with all due respect, it's almost common knowledge in this forum that the truck's performance improves after about 1k-2k of driving.

Now as to whether or not that's placebo I can't say. It certainly didn't seem like it to me. I guess it could be related to the break-in period... I know I didn't really push the truck much beyond 4k RPM until after 1000 miles (as the manual recommends). So, maybe my driving habits just changed... I felt like it was OK to punch it after 1000 or so miles...whereas I was driving like a grandpa before I hit 1000 miles.

 

Quite the opposite actually. A common practice was to reset the ECU when refilling the transmission fluid and we know that many folks here have been through that practice due to the low trans fluid issues. It came to the point where several members were searching for ways to pull the battery terminal to reset the ECU or if there were ways of doing it from home because the driving experience was better with a reset ECU. Can't remember if it was @Sbpark or someone else who was involved with starting one of those threads. Don't have time to search forums for it right now. But go back and read through this thread. At least a handful of folks agree with this point that resetting the ECU actually led to better performance but it was only a temporary fix.

 

In response to the "learning" transmission I will say mine has performed basically the same for all 5400 miles. I was waiting anxiously for the learned miracle that never happened. Mine has never performed until my TSB was done a couple of days ago. It could be that mine was sluggish because it was 1 qt low on atf until 5200 miles. The bottom line is I feel more confident in the way it performs. No hesitation and improved throttle to downshift response. It feels like I expect it to. I believe, for my particular issues, this was a flash and was not a reset. It was reset once before with no noticable changes. I give Toyota credit for getting this corrected.

 

Since this update was covered as an Emissions Control Update (see page 1 of the TSB) it may or may not be required by law to have it on the hood. The labels are generic and details are supposed to be written in permanent ink by the dealer who installed the update (see page 4). Whether the stickers are applied or not, the ECM updates are visible with Techstream by any dealer performing other service in the future (or by those who have Techstream themselves if they want to verify the update was installed). I seriously doubt any dealer would record on an invoice that the update was installed but in fact was not.

 

I don't think they're in the minority either.
My truck drove like crap at first also and then started to drive a lot better after about 900 miles in, definitely saw a difference in shift points and responsiveness, not as great as with the TSB now but better then it had been from the start. So I'm not sure how the opposite has been happening to you.

 

I wasn't paying close attention when I left my house this morning but I don't *think* I heard the first shift through the gears have a flare between 3-4. I'll pay closer attention tomorrow. Has anyone else noticed the flare after the update?

 

Well plenty of people had low.fluid got it filled and the dealers reset the ECU the trucks drove better right off the bat. You can't make this stuff up. Then folks were looking for ways to reset their ECU from home pulling battery cables etc.

 

yes!

 

FWIW, my experience was this: I checked the fluid level myself (3/4 qt low) and did not see any difference in shifting. A week or so later I reset the ECM with Techstream to force relearning and I did experience different shifting after that. I didn't baby the throttle after the reset and it appeared to learn my slightly more aggressive acceleration pattern after a 100 miles or so.

After the TSB update and corresponding reset, I still have to drive it a bit more before I can comment on better or not.

 

Scheduled mine for next week. No major issues except constant hunting and 4k revving in cruise control. However, I feel like taking it in will be a pain. Tried to offer them the TSB number (over the phone), but the response was that they'd just hook it up to the computer to see what it tells them. I suspect that would only show recalls and not TSBs. I had similar challenges trying to get them to check the fluid 2k ago, but just did it myself to ensure it was done (took 20 oz)

 

For those of you that haven't done it yet, make sure you bring the PDF that OP attached to the dealer. My service advisor could not, for the life of him find it. But considering that I had the actual printout he said it must be there. long and behold after 20 minutes of 2 guys looking they found it. Apparently they can't just search for it but must look through all the bulletins.

 

You should take a print out of the TSB and show it to them and ask them if they can do it there.

My dealership didn't want to do the TSB and was trying to have me schedule it for another day and saying they had to do all these diagnostics etc.


But then I told him " I'd really appreciate it if I can get this TSB update, I called Toyota corporate and they told me to print this TSB out, they said my VIN number matches the TSB"

And with that they decided to do it there on the spot, once I mentioned corporate it seemed to work. And I doubt they would call Toyota to verify, and if they did call corporte I would think they would push for the customer being right.

 

Has anyone that does not fit in the VIN numbers get it done?

 

X2

 

following...

 

The tech didn't put a sticker on mine after the ECU calibration (reflash). He said my paperwork would show it was done and the date. I really don't want more decals under the hood except what is necessary.