First gear

I just bought my first Toyota a 09 Tacoma TRD sport. I got it at a local Toyota dealer. Its a one Owen and was was just traded in on another truck. Just under 150,000 and super clean. What scares me is when I slow for a speed bump or heals sign it is slow shifting into first gear and some times it will bang into gear. This only happens sometimes and other than that it shifts normal. The dealer tells me it is normal because of the split driver shaft. This is my first Toyota and my first 4WD.
Are they thing e the truth? Is it my driving causing the problem?
The truck is perfect other than the first gear thing!!!!
Thank for any advice
Harold

 

I'm no pro but I don't think it should ever really bang into gear with automatics. Shifting should be pretty consistent when it shifts up and down.

 

Most of the time it is fine. It happens when I slow almost to a stop and then accelerate. I have been watching the way I drive and I've gotten better. I'm just wondering if it is normal.
Thanks for the reply

 

This sounds like axle wrap.
It is noticeable more when coming to a stop. You are likely feeling it more due to pressing the gas right as it’s happening.

The “weak” leaf springs on these truck from the factory don’t help it.


Only other thing maybe be low Trans Fluid. But you probably be seeing the same problem while cornering slowly.
As in going into a turn at slow speeds.

 

Fluid level is good and fluid is fresh!!!!

 

Typically they shift hard on UP shifts when the fluid COLD.
However, I have experienced a few hard down shifts, but the fluid was COLD then as well.

It’s possible, maybe, that your timing from -brake to gas- is timed just about the when your
axle “catches up” (axle wrap).

If it weren’t for the “bang” right when it shift, I’d be almost positive it was axle wrap.

BTW, if you are ever at a stop, and feel a “tap” or “lurch” forward.
That’s normal, it the A/C compressor kicking on, it bumps the RPM up.
Just figured I’d let you know.

 

I thought they had a transmission reflash that took care of this issue....

 

Only one for the TCU that I know of is for 2012+
And it was for spark knock.
I always found it “strange” that those were the years when they added the Air Injection.
The guys that had the issue, and couldn’t get it to go away, later reported that the 3 degree cam gears were the only fix they found.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/MC-10132709-9999.pdf

 

I think you are right (Hoping) about the timing getting back in the gas. If I pay attention to it shifts perfectly. The bang only happened once and I was a little to hard in the gas. I think that was the day after I got it.
What do you mean by axle wrap????

old habits are hard to change. I've been driving for many many years So this is very new to me!!!!

 

Just to make sure we're talking about the same thing, you went through the whole ordeal of jumping the OBDII ports and making sure it's in the correct temp range, etc?

 

It’s not axle wrap

 

I told the dealer I thought I might be low on fluid so they checked it for me and said everything is fine and that the shifting was normal because of the two piece driveshaft

 

This sounds like the sort of problem @gearcruncher could shed some light on.

 

Sometimes if you push on the accelerator peddle at just the right moment you give the truck more gas at exactly the same time it changes to a lower gear. It feels like a hard shift, but in reality is just bad timing.

I've also had moments where I was cruising along and for whatever reason needed to accelerate quickly. I've pressed hard on the gas pedal at the exact instant the truck upshifted from 3rd to 4th, then it immediately had to downshift to 2nd to get the power I needed to merge or pass another vehicle. It creates an awkward shift, but once again is just unfortunate timing. It doesn't hurt anything and only happens under specific, but rare conditions. I've had the same thing happen in other vehicles too, not just Tacoma.