Poll: Transmission Software TSB (longer term) Feedback

I am pretty sure. I watch the shifts from a stop. Also, in ECT mode I get the same thing. It is easier to be sure in ECT mode.

 

Damn I hate this transmission

 

Toyota has some problems with this system, and at this point, it seems they don't have a way to diagnose the issue (I am sure they know what it is). This is going to get messy.

 

I have about 1000 miles on mine. It's definitely better than before and I want to say that the benefit has faded but I think it's really the shift map still doesn't meet my expectations. I've had many cars with automatics and higher revving engines that work seamlessly together to give perfectly timed intuitive shifts, this update is far from it.

Positives: The delayed engagement D to R and R to D is completely gone for me as well as the bump as it goes into gear. The transmission downshifts a bit sooner so it doesn't have to lug as much and feels a bit peppier at 30-35mph cruising.

Negatives: I have a 1 mile continuous downhill drive with two stops on my way out to the interstate in the morning. At both stops I get the flair on the 2-3 shift. It still needs to hold the lower gears longer when turning or when accelerating faster. Even with deep digs with the gas pedal it still likes to shift too soon.

Neutral: As far as I can tell shifting in ECT PWR mode hasn't changed. I'd use it all the time but it seems to keep the torque converter locked so when I left off the gas I get engine braking.

I'm with Brad. Toyota must know something is wrong. Either they have to sacrifice more MPGs than they are allowed to or there's a design problem somewhere. Either way the customer is screwed.

 

Agreed. I also believe Aisin Warner knows something as well. I am going to dig in deeper. I am an electrical engineer and work with electronic controls. I am sure there are some mechanical/hydraulics guys out there that can help as well. The problems need to be clearly defined. Perhaps it is really a valve body design issue or pump pressure modulation issue. Who knows. When my $0.38 micro controllers can perform 1,000,000 operations per second, I can say with great confidence, there is no way flair shifting should be an issue of processing power in Toyota's superior electronics hardware.

There is something else going on that Toyota's programmers are having a difficult time masking off with the TSBs and custom flashes.

 

Only bad thing I have noticed is a few (what seemed like) hard down shifts while coming to a stop. They werent loud, it just felt like I had a round water jug that rolled from the back of my bed and hit the front of my bed as I was stopped, making it feel like a small jolt. If that makes sense...

 

i get flare from2-3 pretty bad if i drive in ECT . but i havent had the trans TSB yet .

 

Howanic, I thought I noticed some strange clunk feeling while coming to a stop. Seth, I strongly recommend you call Toyota corporate, open a case, and get to a dealer. Tell the dealer the symptoms, and let them troubleshoot it. The TSB will improve some of the function, and you may be low on fluid as well. Mine was .5 quarts low at 315 miles. Calling corporate, and opening a case, gets your name in the system if you have 'out of waranty' transmission problems later.

 

I already have case open for multiple issues ..... transmission issues , all the adhesive has come undone under my hood. and a few little minor skifs that should be esy fix tho... hoping the trans check and tsb works out well for my truck

 

I too am having this same problem in morning, I even had a video of rpms and speedometer and took to dealership with complaint...and of course they said they found nothing wrong....happens EVERY morning in neighborhood when I leave my house...almost sounds and feels like engine goes into neutral split second before shifting...not sure if it is 2-3 or 3-4 but speed is always around 27 mph (speed limit on my road is 25 so no fast starts , I also have the annoying gear hunting all the time....I was pulling an unloaded utility trailer on interstate couple of weeks ago went approx 60 miles and I bet it changed gears 150 times just trying to hold 70 mph ....tried both ect and not...and I usually don't use speed control but after hearing others complain I tried it the other day on interstate (no trailer) and it would constantly up shift Hard up shifts like I was trying to floor it.....this is SOOOO agravating....I just want my 2010 back !! tsb was not out when I took to dealership a couple of months ago....but not sure this is pertaining to this tsb

 

You described my experience perfectly

 

Just drive around with the long skinny pedal on the floor. All problems go away.

 

Thanks for your feedback. You may want to file a complaint with Toyota (to get in the system) and have the TSB done. They should check your fluid as well. First, I filed my complaint with Toyota corporate. Then, the case officer had me drop the vehicle off at the dealer. The case officer managed the repair. At my local dealership, Toyota had the tech perform various tests and do various things to try to bandaid the problem. The band aids worked "pretty" well, but I can see there are other problems underneath. I think the TSB helps, though, so I would set up the complaint and have it performed while we wait for a more solid solution from Toyota.

 

Totally agree. I hope they can do something about the hard downshifts, especially right as I'm about to stop.

 

I got my TSB performed on 8-1-16. It was initially awful. Geared down to 4th on the interstate as the mere wiff of a hill after I had finally got it settled a bit from how it did when new. Cruise control is still pretty much useless at 70 mph+. ( Not useless, just stressful for me because of the high reving gear shifting.) It's gotten better after 600-700 miles and by that I mean it still hunts gears but just not quite as bad....Back to hunting like it was before I had the TSB.

The morning R-D delay is gone but the shift flare between 3rd-4th is more pronounced.

My gas mileage went down 2-3 mpg right after the TSB but I've managed to milk it back to normal it seems.

Overall it's just a very slight improvement and that's only because it doesn't delay or lunge in the morning P-R-D.

 

Thank you kilokato. Your feedback is valuable. Your observations are identical to mine. I am hunting the root cause of the 3-4 shift flair. At this point I think it may be a solenoid/solenoid command issue, though a poorly machined/manufactured valve body could cause improper pressures in the valve body as well and cause a 3-4 engagement delay.

 

The real question is, were these problems known or identified during testing prior to launch? I don't know what the engineering process is but was it a case of "fuck it, lets get this thing out there and figure it out along the way?" No matter what goes on here at TW, it doesn't seem that it is hurting sales in a significant way. If the car rags grab a hold and actually report the issues, it may get Toyota's attention. Until then, we are beta testing this truck and the only thing we get in return is hassle from the dealer and Toyota.

 

It's happened to me once, waiting to see if it happens again...

 

I got the TSB done about 2 weeks ago, my transmission fluid was also found to be about a quart low.. I never had any of the symptoms that the TSB was meant to fix, but I got it anyways to see if it would fix the horrible shifting issues I had while driving uphill - which it did (or maybe it was the added fluid?).

I drive up a curvy 4 mile, 1,600 foot incline on my way home every day at an average speed of about 55/60 mph. My biggest issue was that it always wanted to upshift into 6 when I reached my speed, but 6 did not offer enough power to maintain my speed so I was constantly downshifting which got very annoying and even a bit embarrassing when I had passengers jerking back and forth. Since the TSB this issue has disappeared, I can now easily maintain my speed in 5th.

 

This......when turning at low speed (25-35) the trans upshifts to like 5th gear then I have to really push the pedal for a downshift because I have zero torque. Very annoying. The system must be using accelerometer input for this and they simple need to apply a factor to the input if say .75.