Weird Shifting on New Tacoma

Never had an issue with my new 21 SR5. Drives like a dream. Steady as she goes for 2000-3000 miles....

 

The learning process only occurs when the engine is at normal operating temperatures. So if you're one of the few that start the truck, immediately drive off, and only drive a mile until you're at your destination, then it will take much longer to settle in. Try allowing the truck to warm up a bit (5-10, minutes) before taking it for a spin to learn.

Also, the learning process will never "end", it's always learning and adapting while the engine is at temp.

 

Trying to squeeze every mpg possible by keeping rpms low. Best thing to do, for the first few thousand miles is drive if like you stole it. I mean first few gears on acceleration bring it up to 4k-5k rpms. The computer will learn how you drive and adapt. Then when you go back to driving normal, the transmission will behave like it should. If you already have a lot of miles, you can reset the battery too to reset the computer.

 

there is nothing wrong with it,,, it's just different, thank your big GOV for that.

The characteristics should have been noticeable enough to realize on a short test drive,,, if there even was one. I know, shortages, strange times.

 

I did take a test drive. It’s driving similarly now but I was told they would get better with time… just didn’t realize the time frame was longer than a hundred miles. I feel a lot better if it’s just an ECU issue. My primary concern was transmission itself.

 

With only 200 miles this is the learning stages of your automatic in these gen3 tacomas. Mine did the same. The dealers service manager told me at all costs to try to avoid using the S modes or ECT, and no towing for at least a 1000 miles. Doing so screws up the learning process, where you'll end up with a transmission that doesn't know when to upshift. I did so, and my truck runs perfect. Takes at lest 1200-1500 miles before these trucks run normal. I couldn't be happier with mine how smooth it operates.

 

As lots of people have noted, the transmission learns your driving habits and the shift points will change in a 1000 miles or so. Some people still find it quirky. Personally, I have no issues with mine.

 

Just drive it.

When you want it to go faster, hit the gas pedal harder.
When you want to go slower, let off the gas pedal some.
If you want to go more slower, hit the brake.

 

Yep, its called driving your truck.

 

Brake it in slow. Don't race the engine too much.

 

If you dont want to go the tuned route, use S4 in town, and speeds below 55, then D for above 55. it is the only way, unless you buy a manual transmission, where you choose the appropriate gear, for what you want, need. Ski

 

Exactly as others have mentioned. I found this video series from TCCN helpful.

 

Fair warning, it will never be consistent.

 

Good feedback. I will have to tow before 1000 but not before 500. Truck took forever to deliver and I have to move soon. Boat (16 foot, only 1500 lbs with trailer) is coming with and I’m not going to push past 50 until I hit 1000 miles… worst case, I’ll disconnect the battery cables for 30 minutes and go through the learning process again.

 

This is my second 3rd gen and I agree. While it does get a bit better, if it bugs you now, the "learning" will not help it completely. On both of ours, they continued to hunt. Around town the most annoying part is it shifts 1-2-3 back to 2 back to 3 to 4 back to 3. This happnes quickly and it can be annoying.

 

All aboard the band wagon!!!!!


• Drive it, it’s still learning!

• If your unhappy with it now, you’ll hate it forever!

• ECT mode, Toyota made it so it only drives right in ECT mode!

• Tune it! You need the KDOV Bang-shift 3000 tune. My brothers mailman has it and its the only good one.


Happy Friday.

 

There's no doubt the transmission on these is a bit wonky. However, it's not THAT bad. I live in CO with plenty of mountain driving. It will sometimes want to spend too much time in 5th or 6th so I just put it in S4 and not worry about it. Just because it's an auto trans doesn't mean the driver doesn't have to make decisions from time to time. I rarely use the ECT button. It doesn't really do much. Might help a bit towing or in the mountains but I wouldn't bother trying to use as a fix for daily driving.

I put about 60K miles on mine and never really had too many issues. It wasn't perfect but overall it really wasn't that bad. However, I did finally get a tune. It was more out of curiosity and it did make a noticeable difference. I think it's worth it.

I'd suggest giving it a few thousand miles for the truck to break in and for you to get used to it. If you still find it annoying suck it up and get a tune. I did KDMax and now my ECT button actually does something useful.

 

Everyone has an opinion whether it’s ok or unacceptable. I’m in the unacceptable camp as many know.

I’m also in CO, running 4.88s and KDMax on 32”s. It’s… still not great. I can understand someone thinking it’s ok with nothing to compare to. But my Pilot also has a 3.5 V6 and 6 speed auto, and it’s SO much more predictable. It really shows how poorly the Tacoma’s transmission works for the application.

 

Wait as long as you want, it will never get better and always gear hunt. Tuning is the only way to ensure it will drive the way you would expect.

 

I have a 6 cyl outback so I have something to compare to. The taco doesn't drive even a bit close to the outback. That thing is practically a race car (of course I've never driven a race car so probably not really close at all). It would be nice if the taco drove like my outback but it doesn't. I accept that since they are different and have different uses. If a Ford Ranger drove like my outback I'd still pick the Tacoma. Everything is a compromise somewhere.