Software Update

I live in CO so have a lot of mountain driving. My 2016 continually hunts (shifting) between gears on the uphills - as reported by many owners. Yesterday when I took my Taco in for it's 1 year service, they told me there's an engine software upgrade available. I took it in this morning and had it done.

So far things seem much better. On my local "test" hill, I use to get 10 or more shifts. This morning, I got about half as many. I tried it again engaging the ECT button, and that cut the shifts in half again. I drive about 40 mph on this hill, so engine rpm are in lower end where there is less torque.

The real test will be when I go high in the mountains for some off-roading.

 

Thanks for posting the info for others! And WELCOME to the forum!!

 

The software updates seem to help in the short term but the transmission relearns over time/miles and does not learn well in my experience. I can usually get about 3k to 5k miles until it goes to shit again.

 

Are you talking about resetting the ECU? If so I concur with your experience. But this is a whole new software update. I think it's only been out for a month. But time will tell.

 

Ive had two software updates. They always feel better at first (likely more due to ECU reset) then truck reverts to crap shifting.

 

The Wifes had the trans tune TSB done and what a world of difference! My first thought when taking it for a test drive was how it never shifted when you felt it should, since the TSB and 10k KMS its still very enjoyable to drive, does not hunt on the highway, shifts when it should and is closer to having the ECT button on.

 

Excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by "trans TSB"?

 

Transmission Technical Service Bulletin -- TSBs are released officially by Toyota as an engineering approved "Field Fix" or resolution to common issues that they see in the field (dealer service)....Transmission was getting a TON of criticism so Toyota has released several TSBs addressing the Transmission via software updates to try and improve and resolve flaws. There have been mixed reviews on how effective the TSBs have been. Obviously they aren't hitting home runs as they've had at least two versions of updates now.

 

Transmission technical service bulletin

 

Thanks. Sounds like I had that from what the service guy told me.

 

Check the sticky out man: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/t-sb-0077-16-rev-1.457782/unread

 

Agreeing with Smitty on this one.

 

I'm still waiting on that homerun TSB.

 

It's not the transmission. It's the engine's hockey-stick power band.

I know cuz I have a manual. If I climb a hill, I have to stick it in a lower gear and rev the engine way more than I'd like to retain speed. If I try to upshift, there's no power lower in the band and we lug out. I have to stay in a lower gear to retain power. The AT wants to save gas, but it can't. The engine won't let it.

 

Yeah, I know. It's just my opinion. But I think it's the reason the 6MT gets such bad MPG. You just can't keep revs down unless you're on flat, windless ground. And even then...