ShiftSense Pro - transmission shift controller for Gen3 Tacoma

Installed a SSP on my 2018 DCORLB this morning. Took 20 minutes. Test drove it using the default MAP 2. Enjoyed everything except for:

Most of my city driving is at 25MPH, 30MPH or 35MPH. At 30MPH, in 3rd gear, the engine RPM is ~2000 and tolerable. However, at 35MPH, still in 3rd gear, the slightly higher RPM drove me crazy. I am sure this is fine, but didn't like it. To me at 35MPH, the truck should be in 4th.

Drove home and programmed MAP 1. So far I am loving it.

 

Try map 1.

 

No I am in hill / mountain country! I am hoping this will make me love my truck cause I'm not very happy with it right now. I know it's been said but Toyota really dropped the ball with this gen 3 truck. I loved my 4.0l gen 2 Tacoma, why didn't they just add a 6th gear to the 4.0l motor, power and torque were perfect on them....

 

I installed this on my 2018 Off Road. Not counting figuring out where to put it, it took 10.5 minutes, I timed it with my phone, and I wasn't rushing. That includes taking the console back off because I didn't line up the shift lever. I somehow got mine in the 3rd mode to start, and honestly, wasn't digging it too much. It was more aggressive than I wanted. Then I changed it to 1. I really liked that one, got better MPG. 2 is a good all around program, closer to stock, but doesn't try to rush to 6th gear like stock. So far, I am really liking this. I was seriously considering trading the truck before I installed this. The stock shifting was driving me nuts. This is soooo much better. 6th gear is pretty much nonexistent in my drive, and that includes interstate. I'm OK with that. Best money I've spent on the truck so far.

 

.....Cause that wasn't necessary either.
You're right, Power and TQ were pretty good ! I never ran out of 5th gear and as this guy from SSP will tell you, 5th gear is identical ratio in both these trucks.

I read somewhere here the opinion that the new engine and transmission are very good.... just not mated together. Time will tell, but in the meantime, I sure miss my Gen 2 / 4.O

 

SSP is the best bang for your buck on the 3rd Gen

 

I have had my SSP on now for a few days and determined Level 3 with ECT always on is a great combination for me. I have hated the way this truck drives since about the first week I bought it which was about 2 years ago. I can say that the SSP now makes this truck a lot more enjoyable.

 

I now have a sprint booster v2 (only has off, green & red settings) installed as well. I’m really liking green mode with SSP mode 2.

 

Another new one on me ! Looks Cool !

 

Just got mine in the mail today, can't wait to install it! Plowed snow all day, and I have to work a double tomorrow. Maybe this weekend if the weather holds out.

 

Sprint booster and pedal commander are throttle signal boosters. They go behind the accelerator and modify the signal to truck’s ecu, so it thinks you are pressing the throttle more than you actually are. Just makes accelerator more sensitive, and takes away some of the dead spots in the curve.

 

I'm guessing this is still even mo' bettah than ECT ?

 

ECT affects throttle a bit, and shift points a bit. SSP affects shift points a lot and Sprint Booster/Pedal Commander affect throttle a lot.

 

Sounds like a great combination. What happens with Booster + SSP + ECT ?

 

So I got a SSP when my truck had about 2000 miles. I noticed an immediate difference, I started using mode 2, then decided to go up to mode 3, worked great. After 5000 miles I decided to try driving without the SSP. It's been about a wk... I don't have the hesitation that was present before using the SSP. Accelerating to freeway speeds hasn't been a problem like before. Almost the same as mode 3. Has this happened to anyone else with a SSP? I didn't get the ECU reflashed, or OVtune.

 

Honestly the SSP alone made the drive good enough, and is imo a must-have.

I didn’t feel like ect added any benefit on top, and it overrode SSP’s shifts a bit, so I never used it.

The sprint booster improves the drive, but is not a must-have for me. It makes it just a little more pleasant, because pedal responds more easily, and you don’t get the feeling that engine is struggling.

I have not even tried SSP+SB+ECT.

 

Standing by.... .
I have SSP and it really does make things MUCH better. I am very impressed with this little black box.
+ ECT makes it feel all that much more aggressive in Mode 2 to me.

I haven't tried Mode 1 or 3 yet as it's only been a few (s)miles since installation. Too much new stimulation at once overwhelms my little mind so I take things in little bites and chew a bit.

I agree, SSP IS a must have.
I'm not an aggressive driver or a pedal masher.
0-60 ? Mmmm yeah, sometimes
But mid-fifties is my norm and I generally take my time getting there.

I appreciate your comments.

 

SSP sure looks like a good mod, unfortunately I do spend a lot of time with short drives mostly 0-45 mph. From reading prior posts, it seems like gas mileage does go down with city driving.

For those that do a lot of city driving, can you share your experience comparing SSP to stock gas mileage? I currently get between 16 and 17 mpg, probably still do the mod if the hit is not more than 1 to 2 mpg.

 

I saw no noticeable decrease in mileage after installing the SSP.

For in town, the SSP really helps the most by keeping the truck in 4th gear longer in speeds up to 48mph-ish (depending on what mode you are in)....without SSP, the truck would be in 5th or 6th gear by then and bogging down if you tried to speed up. I would argue that bogging down the engine in too high a gear is even worse for fuel mileage than driving in a lower gear with less/light throttle.

Moral of the story....driveability in town is so much better using the unit....it would totally be worth a mileage hit to use it.....but it didn’t reduce fuel mileage for me. Win win!

 

i noticed after using mine awhile, it will downshift from 5th to 4th but still shows 5th gear, doesnt always show the gear you are in