Questions with the Transmission performance

OK, I have a soft copy (computer copy) of the manual and page 211 says:

Use when high levels of response and feeling are desirable, such as
when driving in mountainous regions or when pulling a trailer.

Press the ECT PWR button to select Power Mode

The guy was being comical about the description for sure!

He kept saying what he was reading in the manual: "higher levels of response and feeling"

I suppose it would help if you're pulling a trailer or driving through mountainous regions before the "Electronic Control Transmission" power begins to work.

 

My new SR5 was the same way. Almost makes you sick that a new truck drives that way. I suggest that you get the KD Max Pro + tune as soon as possible. @PapaRee or @TWTaco can help find a tuner. It is the best $400 you will ever spend. Search KD Max Pro in this forum to read about the tune. It eliminates throttle lag, increases rpms and corrects shift points, provides top end hp, and reduces downshifts. You need a tune to make you happier.

 

The shifts in my truck just seem delayed in the higher gears if that makes sense

 

KDMAXX tune Do it

 

It does. You have to wait on the tranny. Part of that is the throttle lag problem. You might have dealer check tranny fluid as some are low from factory. The tune will amaze you and cause you to lose confidence in Toyota for selling a truck that runs like that.

 

I could remember the toyota head service tech, telling me my 2001 tundra had like 3 computers in the truck while this gen3 tacoma has 15 controlling the entire truck. Said there's lots to go wrong, but if their all commuting together your truck will perform like intended. Thats when the finance guy came over to sit me down any discuss all my extended warranty options. Didn't take me long to see that one coming.

 

OP, I find pushing the truck a little seems to help out the shifting business on city streets and around country roads. The Interstate works better if I put it into S5 and just leave it there. The loss of fuel efficiency is almost negligible as far as I've seen. That seems to calm this shifting down a bit. One thing I noticed on the interstate is if I use cruise control, it shifts more than if I just "foot" it myself. To be quite honest, I suspect Toyota took the 2nd gen 5 speed auto, threw another gear on top, and totally rewrote the software controlling it and then coupled it to an engine that doesn't make a lot of torque in the lower revs. Driving it like a under-powered 80s compact truck with an i4 seems to calm down the shifting the most.

 

That sounds different then what happen when my truck was very new. It upshifted too early and hunted constantly. I questioned myself what i bought. This transmission didn't behave like the one i took for a test drive months before. At any rate i put up with it for a short time and around 1200 miles it just got better and better almost overnight. Today at 17k miles it runs perfect, just like my older tundra. I couldn't be happier.

 

Mine never improved. Seemed to get worse but we have had a lot of wind. Got my tune at 1800 miles. Now it seldom downshifts for wind, hills, or even passing cars. I was not going to be happy with my truck without the tune.

 

The truck already learns you pretty quick. It's more like you have to learn the truck and that takes a while

 

You are a perfect match for a tune. They help the standard cruise, not the distance braking one.

 

Drove mine for 60k miles stock. It wasn't that bad but finally decided to pony up for a tune. It's better but not really a new truck like some say. Just drives a bit better.

 

There is the reality that these trucks are not for everyone. I purchased my 2020 sight unseen by phone. No test drive solely based on my experience with my then new 1992 that I owned for 14 joyous years and the general, largely positive, Tacoma enthusiast community. There was definitely an adjustment to the new truck overall as our last vehicle was 18 years old. Shifting was different from what I have experienced in the past. Understanding why and how this truck is programmed helped a lot (Think "Force Value").

Bigger issue for us was solved with the addition of the 10 way power adjustable seat making it comfortable for both me and wife to drive.

After 1.5 years later we still absolutely love the truck, meets and exceeds our expectations. My wife & I still can't wait to drive it everyday.

Is this truck for you?

https://youtu.be/b6tRAQ_r0Ms

 

The 2022 stock tunes have gotten worse over the years. My 2019 Sport wasn't terrible either.

 

You can use the S mode on the shifter, but you then have to do the work of shifting.

 

Thank you. Every complaint I hear I bet comes from someone pressing the skinny pedal less than 1/3 of the way down. Mash it and go. Worry about getting a second job to pay for the gas later.

 

Dont listen to him his tacoma is a 2X4

 

So is mine , that is why I said it on a Friday.

 

I was talking about yours