The dreaded 3rd gen auto trans quirks

this - that's why I'm going for the OTT real soon

 

Well, OK, but is it really a problem? Seems fine to me...

 

Don’t use cruise on the steep climbs on the Coquihalla highway. It will be at 3K rpm, and it will instantly slam to 5500rpm.

Just use the pedal. You will find you can get up those same hill stretches at 3K rpm and maintain the same speed as when it hits 5500 rpm. So that baffles me, why it just slams to 5500rpm when it cam cruise up at 3K rpm using the pedal.

Other than that, I am fine with the transmission. I have put about 95,000km om it the last 4 years, with around 25,000km offroad. Retired, so a lot of time driving in the bush and fishing.

With a 1,000 pound load in the pickup, there are some long stretches from Kelowna to Pennask summit where I can only manage 90kmh at 4,000rpm. Definitely travel that stretch early in the summer days, it beats setting the truck on fire as many do on that hill.

I have seen even brand new Mercedes, BMW, etc broken down mid day at 95F temperatures when pushing too hard up that hill.

 

I'm here in BC as well, I've got about 3500 kms on my 2023 Sport now. My fuel mileage in the last few weeks has improved from around 13.5 l/km to 12.3 l/km as of today . The tranny shifting has improved a bit as well, but I do use the ECT PWR mode often when commuting into work during the day (radar cruise and no ECT PWR on the way home on the hwy at night). The 2GR-FKS V6 definitely makes most of its power in the upper half of the rpm range..not much down low unfortunately

 

Getting old has it advantages - like wearing mis-matched socks, who cares right?
Or t-shirts with food stains -
3 day's not bathing or shaving - it's great right?
Hair ( what's left of it ) all out of place ?... who gives a damn 'eh ?
The latest fashions... pfffft.
Driving slower with your mouth half open and head tilted slightly upward so you can see.
Not having to worry if 'she' is gonna give you a second look, because no, she isn't.

Getting old ain't all daisies and roses but it has its advantages.

 

After reading all the transmission posts on the forums I was hesitant to by a new Tacoma. My 23 shifts just fine and I don't see an issue with the one I have. It doesn't constantly seek like a lot of posts claim, maybe Toyota changed something I don't know. Had the manual trans on a tacoma years ago and it was fine but wanted to try an automatic this time around, so far no complaints.

 

What does distance or frequency have to do with it? If you can adapt to the performance over a 20 mile tow you can tow 2000.

 

Idk, I had a 01 tundra 4.7, and now this 3.5 tacoma. I don't see a huge difference between the two. Yeah, the tundra had a bit more bottom end, but the 3.5 has more on top. It was easy to get use to either. The fuel mileage was a huge difference going from the tundra's average of 14.5 mpg to over 20 with the tacoma.

 

My 2020 shifts perfect. They just try to get you to buy some buddies tune on here saying it has issues.

 

my 2019 shifted like crap but i knew what i was buying and i knew i would be getting it tuned. The little pickup has a purpose and that is to go camping far away from others.

 

Agreed, I think Toyota may have made a tweak to the 23’s shift software because I have zero complaints with mine.. and I tend to nit pick a lot of things on vehicles in general. I do have some slight driveline vibes on not happy with … but that’s another topic, but as far as how the auto trans shifts and works . I am completely happy with it.

 

try it,,, driver comfort has a lot to do with the trip. Towing requires more attention, the heavier, longer, taller the load, the more attention it requires. The more attention dedicated to the trailer, the more tiresome the trip becomes.

 

Just use S4 or S5, “problem” solved.

 

Yep I’ve done 1000s of miles of towing at the limits of the truck I had. That’s why I said if you can adapt. Some drivers may be out of their comfort zone and by all means, shouldn’t do a pull they aren’t comfortable with, but it’s not a question of distance. It comes down to the driver. There’s zero difference going 20 miles or across country as far as operating goes. In fact the more experienced you are with a load, the more at ease you become and the more you’re aware of your own reaction time and limits. The first time I pulled a really heavy load with my f150 I thought no way I’m going anywhere far with this. The next year I pulled that same load 4000 miles with ZERO issues.

 

The latest trans TSB was in 2021, so they’ve all been the same for the past 2+ years. My ‘21 shifts fine too. I work regularly at 6500 ft. elevation and live at 1100 ft. and I’ve never had any issues with it staying in gear when it needs to, or shifting to the proper gear when it needs to.

I’m sure many on here will think this is pure craziness, but the only issues I have with shifting is with our ‘17 4runner Limited. Despite it having the beloved 4.0 and 5 speed auto, it has always done these ridiculous double downshifts at freeway speed just to casually pass someone… Like I’ll be doing 65 at 2K RPM or whatever, and give it like 10-15% more gas and I’m instantly in 3rd gear and pushing redline. It feels completely unnatural and just plain weird. I’ve had passengers be like, “Woah, slow down a bit turbo!”, and I’m like, “No it’s this stupid car!!!”.

\On the other hand, the Tacoma has never done anything remotely like that the in 2 years and 20K miles I’ve had it. In the Taco, I’ll be doing 65 (at more like 1500 RPM, and getting better MPGs than the 4runner), and when I give it 15% more gas to pass someone, it just shifts to 4th like you’d expect, and then I’m passing at 3500 RPMs with plenty of power to spare. The Tacoma is far quicker than the 4runner in every gear after 1st. The 4runner is quicker off the line only, then becomes anemic after that first upshift. I will take the 3.5/6 speed auto over the 4.0/5 speed auto hands down, all day everyday. I own both of them and I formed my opinion by driving them, not based on what I read from strangers on the internet. YMMV.

 

Never low rpm lug these 3rd Gen Tacoma V6 engines.

 

Plus that sweet 'Senior discount' ... LOL

 

welcome glad you like it

 

Oh - I got the Lifetime Pass for national parks - got my Medicare Card - get a check every month ( so-so-security ) -
I can dig it.