ECT and driving in traffic experiece ..

Hi All.
Like a lot of you.. I've been trying to find that sweet spot to drive this new engine/transmission....
Even do.. after their last software update.. (that dealer failed to mention they did on my hard earned money toy) the truck has been running 100% better..
Is still far from perfect. .. for the past 2 weeks.. I have made it a point to not forget to push that button....
Los Angeles traffic .... is just that. Los Angeles traffic.. .. so that button is pushed and I'm driving in stupid stop and go traffic..
so.. in this scenario... there is no right or wrong timing.. when you need to let go of the gas.. you let go of the gas.. and all of a sudden you need to press that gas a little extra than usual and than let go of it again... now to my issue..
And I will try to be as clear as possible.. this transmissions/programmings or whatever seem to be set for surtain values.. so..
I'm letting go of the gas because I need to.. but than I need to push that gas again... and a 1970's trans comes into places and clunks as it grabs whatever it has to grab to continue...
I know, I know.. ECT sucks in traffic .. but this behavior is just screaming lawsuit.. 1970's feeling.. for a 34000.00 plus tax and interest truck... is just barbaric.
Anyone experienced the same sad mechanics ? Or is it just mine?

 

So you always feel like it's not holding gears?

I once read the tans learns your drving habits and I dont know how true that is but...

I also live in the LA area and drive in stop and go traffic. I haven't noticed anything bad but this is my first truck so I have nothing to compare it with.

 

I don't think is about holding gears.. I think is more about going back to the gear that was just released..
is hard to explain because of all the shift changing that goes on while driving in traffic.. specially not been a mechanic or anything alike...
But the idea is... I'm going at whatever mileage.. and I had to slow down.. usually.. just by letting go of the gas.. and than I have to push that gas in again.. .. it feels.. (keep in mind I'm not a mechanic but have a picture idea of gears..) like the teeth of the driving gear was far from the gear teeth that it need it to push.. so you feel that grabbing clunk..

 

Well it's not going to win in a case. I mean toyota is going to say that you don't need power in stop and go traffic, and that button is designed for times when you need more power.

 

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Thanks for the reply. But that is not my question. And believe me.. if I do choose to have toyota listen.. they will listen. It wouldn't be the first time I get something done. I can be a pain in the a$$.
For now I'm just trying to get some user feedback .. that's all.

 

Sometimes, my life seems to need an ECT button, but only when I'm pulling a trailer. Otherwise, using a bit less gas is a good thing.

 

Seriously... I mean seriously...
I mean really...? Do we always have to go through all this BS.. ?? Bbb

 

Sorry- ok, seriously... I really have only used it when pulling my trailer. Having driven a manual 4Runner for several years during commute time on So Cals 91 freeway, I learned the big rig drivers trick of leaving it in a gear that allows for crawling along with traffic at a close to idling speed while keeping a lot of car lengths ahead of me- this also works well in my new auto transmission Tacoma as we were mired in stop and go for several hours in Idaho after seeing the total eclipse. I hardly have to press the brake and my truck shifts a lot less. I suggest saving ECT for the hills and trying to leave more coasting distance ahead of you when driving in traffic, your tranny will shift less and not having to stop and go like everyone else will change your driving experience too.

 

My life has changed since installing Shift Sense Pro. Now I want to keep the truck. It's a little odd using "S" for regular driving, but the way the truck shifts (and doesn't shift) is amazing. It works with ECT and cruise control.

 

Lol..

 

Lawsuit LOL!

 

This transmission sucks dicks in traffic. It's one of the more obvious exposures of it's deficiencies.

Also shift up leaving you with next to know power. When you need a burst of power to change lanes it's unpredictable. Maybe it will go, maybe it will lug, maybe it will thump 2-3 gears down and clunk to life.

The shift sense pro fixed this though. It holds you where you need to be.

 

Stop and go traffic, just put it in 3rd gear and bump to 4rth when needed.

 

Hey, OP... I think I know what you speak of.... I've run in ECT and S mode and when giving or backing off the gas, it seems to be "sloppy", in that the tranny feels like it grabs and then lets go when you back off....then grabs when you get on it.

Am I close to what you are feeling..?? I don't like that either..... I no longer use ECT in slow stop n go traffic.
That was MY cure...

Cheers.

 

Yep, don't run ECT all the time. Your case against Toyota would likely end with the same ruling.

 

+1

Since installing the SSP, I never even need to use ECT...

 

I understand what you mean, I experience the same even when not using etc. When cruising low to speed to slowed down traffic on the freeway (without coming to a full stop) all of a sudden it starts moving so I step on the gas I get that clunk you speak of

 

Just drove in traffic in ECT and I think I know what your talking about. When you let off the gas going 10-20 mpg and between 1000-2000 rpm it jerks the truck.

That's all I noticed and it was annoying but by barely pressing trhe pedal it went away and without ECT it wasn't an issue for me.

Hope this helps.

 

lol...my wallet