2017's have updated Auto Trans Software?

Hey guys,

This forum has been inundated with threads pertaining to the automatic transmission issues of the gen 2016's. By viewing the TSB sticky thread, it seems the update is alleviating a lot of the issues with new engine/transmission combo.
I've yet to test a gen 3 in which I am sure it has new software but I am assuming all 2017's will have updated software? Also, how does the updated 3.5 compare to the 2015 4.0? Has the gap closed in a bit as far as performance goes?

 

Curious too. Subbed.

 

Not sure you could get a straight answer from the dealer. Test drive a '17. If there is a delay going from R to D then it has the old software. I really suspect the '17 will have the updated software. Maybe wait to see if any '17 buyer complain about the delay.

 

Funny this thread came up. I just got back from test driving two 2017 trucks. One is was 4x2 off-road and the other was a 4x4 sport. They didn't have the 4x4 TRD off-road that was listed in the dealer's inventory that I wanted to test drive but mentioned it was en route.

After test driving a 2016 a year ago, both 2017's shifted noticably smoother. The lack of low end torque was still present, but I felt these 2017 models felt a bit more responsive than the 2016.

It seems like Toyota is taking steps in the right direction. If they get a handle on the CPS, rear diff, and frame issues, they might win me back.

 

That is good to hear. I have been toying with getting a 16 (until my furnace blew up and took my down payment) for a while. All of the 2016 issues made me glad I have waited a bit.

 

2016 drives noticeably better when trans is still in learning mode. I've decided this after putting over 1200 miles on new TSB. So with 2017 hard to tell from a test drive. And without first driving a 2016 for several thousand and then a 2017 for several thousand it would be too hard to discern between the two. So in short too many factors and we won't know unless we can get a definitive answer from a Toyota tech that can somehow verify software versions from one model year to the next. I test drove a 2017 for 20 minutes on Highway and city streets. Could not tell much difference if any at all.

 

This is not accurate. The items the TSB addresses can be noticed immediately (or at least with a cold transmission in the case of the R to D delay) and having nothing to do with AI ("learning") software.

 

Not entirely true. It isn't necessarily black and white as to how the software affected the behavior of the transmission. Just because they were symptoms listed on the TSB does not mean the software update only resulted in impacting those behaviors alone. the perception from many drivers is that the shifting experience while driving was improved with the TSB.accurate or not this is the perception and general feedback. Also you can't in fact rule out that there wasn't some sort of side effect from the software update that would affect or impact shifting behavior in the transmission.

 

Do the three items listed on the TSB have anything to do with the AI function? The answer is no. Regardless of any other affect the the TSB has on shifting those 3 items can be verified without a lengthy test spanning many miles and those 3 things don't change after going through the "learning period".

 

The TSB completely solved my issues. I don't buy the "learning mode" bullshit. When my truck was brand new I noticed the uphill gear-hunting with less than 100 miles on the clock. The truck was still in learning mode. Now the uphill gear-hunting has been completely eliminated immediately after the TSB.
Comparing apples to apples (pre-TSB learning mode with post-TSB learning mode) there's clearly a major improvement.
I wouldn't be surprised if this TSB was a major tranny overhaul disguised as a simple update to fix some minor, annoying problems. This way you can fix the tranny without ever admitting you got it wrong the first go round.

 

You're oversimplifying the internal operation of the transmission and it's components

 

For those of you who are not familiar with software, what I will describe is standard practice and I assume that Toyota would do something similar... Any time you make a change to software to fix a problem you open up the possibility that you might introduce a new problem. Software undergoes extensive testing to try to uncover as many issues as possible before it is released. Sometimes when problems come up that don't appear to be universal the software developer will create a "patch." To minimize risk the patch will make as few changes as possible, the minimum needed to fix the issue. If the changes are small enough they will not go through the entire re-test of the software but only do a subset (a full test may take an unreasonably long time). Because of the possibility of introducing new problems, the fix will only be applied for people who specifically complain about the problem (this does not apply to safety issues). At some point, once they feel comfortable that enough customers have used the new software for enough time and no new problems have been introduced, they may release the new software into the production line. It a risk management issue. When a completely new release of the software comes out they may incorporate a more extensive fix and many other updates and fully test them, but the operation of the new release may not be exactly the same as the original patch.

So, a few points: 1.If the problem isn't bothering you, don't ask for a fix just because you want the latest and greatest. 2.If there is a new software release associated with the 2017s it may have many more changes included and therefore may or may not behave the same as the original fix. It is doubtful that they would just incorporate the original TSB software just because the model year changes.

Another observation from experience... sometimes changes made to fix one problem seem to make other problems go away with no real technical explanation. Bugs the crap out of software developers. And yes, sometimes the placebo effect is in full operation.

 

Tacomas produced from July, 2016-on have the updated software. So late-2016 (very late) model year and all 2017 model year Tacomas will already have the latest software.

The newest calibration that is coming from the factory is the same as what the TSB updates the older trucks to.

TSB Updated 2016 = same as 2017.

Jeff

 

Thank you.

 

No, I'm not. If I got into a 2016 truck and found it had the R to D delay or hanging 4th gear in cruise I could say with near certainty that it hasn't had the TSB done.

 

I pick up my 17 next weekend I'll keep you guys posted have 220 mile drive to get it home. I can post pictures or answer questions first thing I'm gonna do is see if it has the same brand/part number for the crank shaft sensor.

 

Good to know! My brother just bought a 17 4x4 double cab sport today. I will have to wait until next month for mine. Have to sell my 08 Tacoma first.

 

You can not prove the Software TSB had no side effects on other internal transmission components.

 

@swimmer read and learn

 

My R-D delay took longer to manifest where it was noticeable, didn't really have the other symptoms and was at 6.5k miles when I finally got the TSB done, within a week of it coming out.

Some symptoms may take longer to become evident if shopping for a 2016.