New Tacoma, crap transmission, sorry dealer. Shoot me now.

I have a 2019 DCSB TRD Off Road AT6 and at first I thought I had made a mistake buying the truck as I was not impressed with the transmission. Now that I have 5100km (3000ish miles) on the truck the transmission seems to perform much better and I am now quite happy with it. As a side note, my wife drives a 2015 Mazda3 with a 6 speed AT and at first it behaved very much like the AT in my Tacoma. That car now has 45,000km (27,000ish miles) on it and the transmission now performs very well, so I am hoping the same will apply to my truck and it will only get even better with time and use. Short answer to a long story: give it some time.

 

When I was looking at the new Tacomas, I noticed that there was a new 3.5 liter atkinson cycle power plant. I steered clear of that one and bought the rock solid 2.7 with a 5 sp manual. Have you tried the ECT button yet?

 

Would you be willing to show a video clip of you using cruise control to see if it shift like many are describing. (Hunting) Make some video of Inclines would be great. Just want to compare it to my 2018

 

Drove one with the tune and yes, it is a mild improvement as long as you don’t have your truck loaded, towing anything, or have oversized tires. When we put my tires and wheels on it and tried towing our boat it was hard to notice much of a difference.

When we picked up our truck after having the gears installed I couldn’t stop grinning the whole way home. There is a HUGE difference between the tune and the gears. Not even in the same ballpark in what they do for it. Go test a Taco with the 4.88 gears and I guarantee it will put a huge smile on your face. You wouldn’t even consider the tune if you were able to try one that is geared right. Yes, more expensive but worth every penny. And I’m convinced after driving both anybody who test drives one with 4.88 gears would wait and save up the money to regear rather than do the tune.

Think about it. If fixing the transmission complaints was as easy as a software update then don’t you think Toyota would do that? Well they kind of did and tried after all the complaints with the TSB006218 they issued. When I had that done it seemed like it did almost as much as the tune and would highly recommend everyone have that done at a Toyota dealer for free before doing anything else as if your running a 31 tire and don’t tow or load much it might be the fix your looking for. But if you got the money the gears are worth every penny.

Don’t trust my word on it. Go try one yourself. I’m in central Oregon if anybody wants to see what 4.88 gears can do to transform your Taco into a whole new rig and driving experience. And big shout out to Mikes Custom Toys in Grants Pass. Mike was great to work with and they did a great job!

 

I installed the 1.05 91 base tune and it made a difference. Then I regeared to 4.88 (on top of the tune) and... BOOM.. the improvement was huge, from the moment I first stepped on gas.

Let's assume, for the sake of the discussion, that regearing would cost as much as the tune, $700, and all I had was $700. Which one would I get, the tune or regearing? It would be regearing, hands down. (Unfortunately, regearing is 3 times more expensive than the tune).

Yes, those two are expensive, and yes, the truck should come like that from factory. But they don't...

The way I see it, it's a small investment, overall, in order to transform the truck into something totally different.


EDIT: I see alternatives were mentioned, and the Gladiator was one of them. As a former JK owner and big times groupie, all I can say is that personally I don't want a solid front axle for daily driving, especially on the freeway. No matter how cool the drive might be... no doors, no top, wind in my (thinning) hair on the Coast Highway in SoCal... no, thanks.

 

Did this help your mpgs?

 

I didn't read thru all 6 pages of posts so maybe someone has already suggested taking it to a different dealer, I would try that and also call toyota and let them know how unhappy you are with the current dealer. I agree with the poster that said you shouldn't have to buy ovtune to make your truck run correctly. Best of luck to you.

 

Yes! I should have mentioned that. Best MPG on a tank I ever got before the gears was 18.3. First tank with the gears was 19.7. It seems like it’s stayed at about a 1.5 to 2 mpg gallon increase with the gears with normal driving and not towing anything or loaded up. With towing our boat or when we’re camping with a loaded truck (roof top tent and gear) we’re seeing closer to a 3 mpg increase.

Amazing what happens when 6th gear is used so much more.

 

TSB First.. still not happy? go with OVTune. Still not happy? Regear.

I went in for a TSB on my 17 Tacoma. Felt a little smoother. Purchased Ovtune months later and it drove much better.

Next mod is to regear. I heard that makes a night and day difference.

 

Try another stealership.

 

Thanks, folks, for talking me off the ledge. It really is a fine truck, it’s just...different? from anything else I’ve driven. Technology is changing fast, that’s for sure. I’m going to have to be more open minded, I suppose.

 

Another TW happy ending.

 

MT swap

 

Doesn't the TSB that's been mentioned also add some power in the middle of the power band?

 

I know "you'll get used to it" sounds so shitty, but it's really true. First of all the thing really does tighten up after a few thousand miles and by that time you really will be used to it and your foot will know what to do to make the truck respond the way you want. Sadly though, it will never respond the way other vehicles do. My wife's Rav4 has more "pick up" than my truck does, but it's a tiny vehicle so it's kind of logical. I'm on my second 3rd gen Tacoma (because I wanted to switch to a V6 w/ tow package), I tow my boat regularly and I have no complaints. It's still the best midsized truck on the market. Good luck to you, give the old girl some time before you decide to ditch her.

 

I told him that as well, and to call toyota. Even if he does get used to it, at least he will have more documentation in case there really is a problem.

 

“Tacoma is know for its off road prowess”
Truth.

 

I'll have to agree with most of your points, but - I don't drive a slushbox so my axle ratios are fine the way they are! I will NOT be going to try one myself!!!

The problem with Toyota's calibration (the early versions, anyway) on the V6 M/T is mostly centered around throttle response and power delivery. Go try a '16 with factory code and get back to me.

Normal SOP for ppl who want to drive their truck off a cliff due to slushbox antics:

1. Get latest ECM calibration from Toyota via TSB at the dealer.. OR.. do it yourself with Techstream and the appropriate .cuw file. (FREE)
2. Buy OVtune ($700);
3. Re-gear ($thousands);
4. Trade for a manual (take a bath - maybe);
5. Get rid of truck (take a bath).

Just sayin. Lots of ppl are re-geared AND tuned. They have REALLY big smiles on their faces I guess?

 

I see the gaslighting troll patrol is in the house.