"S" mode not working

I've found, anything S4 or above(without ECT) still has a wonky slip feel between gear changes. I've never tuned...but my ShiftSense Pro seems to eliminate any slip; nice and firm, speed-based shifts with no slip. D is just horrible.

 

I don't notice that myself. I'm untuned as well.

 

It's like a weird dip or flattening in the torque; feels like a slip. I misspoke myself earlier; it's after the shift. It's Cenote Friday...
I'm pretty confident, it's flex lockup.
Who knows; what with all the different ECM I.D.s, stock tunes and recalibrations. Do they affect S-mode or just D?
I bought mine in 10/15 and had one(the first) recalibration performed.
All I know, it's not there with ShiftSense or in S4 or below(with ECT). S5(with ECT) brings it on a bit. S4 or above(without ECT) really brings it out.
I never use S6 or D.

 

I've always gotten the display numbers on my dash for changing the various S modes except there is no S6, only goes up to S5. I was told by the dealer its all working normal that you have an sr5.

 

Mine displays S2 through S6 inclusive. It doesn't seem to have an S1 though I've heard others say you have to be completely stopped before it will do S1. Tried that. Didn't work on my truck. Mine is a 21 sr5. There are times I wish it were a true manumatic (true manual shift mode) and other times glad it's a gear lockout mode.

 

Dang...I thought the "S" stood for "Stealth"....I thought I was invisible....now all those tickets it makes sense.

 

I've got S1, but like you say it's only from a stop. I can tell I have 6th gear once back in the D mode which I always use, just by the rpm drop vs other tacoma auto's.

 

Do you guys have a V6 SR5? I will compare to my SR 4 cylinder. You gents have me stumped! I was going off memory, I’ll go out today and verify what my S mode displays. Probably come back with my tail between my legs saying oops Lol!

 

Hilarious!

Apologies if this has been explained already.

Think of it as a "Gear Lock", the S (number selected) being the highest gear it will shift into.

You'll notice your RPMs increase the lower the gear, based on your speed (obviously).

Select S5 and see what differences there are THAN in "D" mode.

Select S4 + press ECT button and see what kind of acceleration you get. (Shift to S5 at higher speed)

Yes, the ECT is recommended for towing. (It's comparable to Sport mode--just my opinion)

Wait till you try engaging S4 + ECT + 4H on straight-aways. (Please do take it easy with the gas pedal in that mode)

EDIT: I have OTT 8.0 with Gear Lock

 

I've really got to read my owner's manual because I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I just put it in drive and go.

Since I'm here anyway--Off topic question: How do I change my profile truck info from the 2020 quicksand SR5 to my new 2023 TRD OR? I went to my profile page info but there's no way to change that info.
Thanks

 

Top bar select “You”, on the pop up select “Personal Details” and scroll down, you can change it there.

S mode is very helpful for when the road has a lot of little hills/grade changes and the transmission is shifting gears up and down annoyingly when in D. Also helpful at higher speeds on the highway when giving it a little gas causes gear cycling. Go to S4 or S5 as appropriate and you can stop that from happening. Do read the manual. 3 or 4 pages on S mode operation. Not well written though so try it for yourself after reading for a better understanding.

 

@zoo truck @vnix Ok I verified I can shift S1 through S6 so my old memory was correct. SR 4 cylinder.
While parked, foot on brake, switch in ON/ACC but not started, went from Park to S mode it defaulted to S4 as expected. shifted from S1 through S6 and back down just fine.
Foot still on brake, Back to Park, Started truck, same results shifts S1-S6 just fine.

Owners manual says there are six levels in S mode and your dealer is blowing smoke zoo truck. Somethings wonky, have you guys had a tune that could be affecting S mode? I wouldn’t think it’s likely but worth asking about.
If no tune and still under warranty though it seems like a small issue to not have an S1 or S6 indication I would insist the dealer find out what’s wrong. Take a copy of your manual pages to show there are 6 levels and let them know others have all 6 levels it’s not an SR5 “feature”
Take him out to the lot on other S5s and let him see for himself if necessary.

 

sounds like a fuse to me

 

My S mode goes from 1 to 6. Putting it in 6 is no different than driving it in D.

 

If you're doing hillclimbs with some momentum, you need to use s1 or s2 or the truck will keep shifting up and you will be in 4th as you slow down. Very useful feature for offroading

 

Using S is so clunky, slow and awful, in these trucks compared to basically any other shiftable automatic, I just leave it in D, unless going downhill or trying to slow down using revs vs brakes.

 

I drive mostly in S4 with ECT engaged.

 

That's the same as a buddies 2019 trd he use to have. Now this is strange, don't know what to think other than this truck runs exceptionally well. That's the way in got it. Transmission, and power were sort of wonky, and off till it had several hundred miles, then it was a much better/different truck after that. I gotta get to the bottom of this S6 deal, just hope I don't open a big can a worms that my truck performs like a pooch afterward.

 

That's what I thought with S6....same as D when in 6th gear. Logic told me why would there be a need for S6, that's why I never gave it much further thought. Is it possible Toyota just deleted the use of S6 in some trucks?

 

Your dealer is either an idiot or incompetent . All Tacomas be it a 6 or 4 cylinder have a 6speed transmission.