Semi-Shifting an automatic Tacoma

So the 2nd gen Tacoma’s are probably the only truck out there where you can shift from 1,2,3,4,D on the automatic. I’ve been driving around town and wanted to test what would happen semi-shifting it. I was switching between 3, 4, and D and noticed way more power as driving in D is sluggish at most times. Obviously I would shift no higher than 4K rpms, and it helps a lot off-roading as well to just drop it into 3rd and get way more torque to the pedal. Could long term use of this damage the trans? Am i putting any wear on a certain part of the trans? I’ve heard Tacoma transmissions are bulletproof but was just curious.

I’d appreciate anyone’s opinion on this and thank your for the help

 

It shouldn't cause any undue wear and tear. BTW whenever you have it in 2,3, or 4 the transmission still goes through the subsequent gears prior to the final gear you selected. Why be in 3rd offroad unless you doing some high speed stuff. I always ride around in 2 and 4lo unless i'm going down hill then it's 1st and 4lo for that engine breaking. I don't notice any difference in the way my truck drives in those gears other than the shift point tuning but that can only be overcome by either a retune or completely manually shifting starting in 1st. It may be the way you drive the truck also when you have it in the lower gears or placebo affect

 

You can't upshift like a manual, but you can downshift. It may not do any damage, but I don't think you're helping anything by trying to drive it exactly like a manual Think of it as locking out the higher gears so it won't shift above whatever gear you're in. And you can downshift for more power, or for engine braking as needed.

I don't understand why more people don't do this. Around town where I'll never get above 45 mph I put the truck in 4th gear. If in D it wants to shift into OD at speeds too low and has no power. Staying in 4th makes a huge difference in performance and improves fuel mileage at those speeds.

In mountains I do the same and if necessary go to 3rd or even 2nd gear as needed. If the trucks engine starts struggling the transmission will eventually downshift. But I can see the road and anticipate. It works a lot better to downshift before the engine struggles.

 

Totally agree, I just started using 4th as my around town option. The gear ratio of 4th in the A750 is 1:1 so I've been treating "D" as basically my highway overdrive setting.

 

I’ve been doing this for a long time.

 

Do any of you guys experience a sort of shutter/rough shift in to 5th/OD when letting off the gas a little prior to when the transmission would have finally shifted into 5th? It’s really only on hills or something where the engines working a little harder and it’s getting close to that shift point but I let off due to something in front of me or don’t need to go any faster. It’s almost like it’s shifting up a gear while also decelerating so it just grabs really hard and also isn’t smooth.

Don’t know if this is something I should be concerned about or just the result of how the tranny is programmed to shift into OD probably a bit too early/too low of speeds as you guys have been discussing.

I’m planning to get a flush done soon as it’s at 81k miles and I haven’t found records of it being serviced yet but just wonder if there’s anything else I should be concerned about or looking in to. Or if I should just do what you’re saying and drive in 4 rather than D when in town.

 

That would be the torque converter unlocking/locking. Normal symptom. The torque converter has a clutch that locks. Tapping the brakes will make it unlock, as will letting off the gas abruptly. The converter locks up for better fuel efficiency.

Shifting manually will not cause any problems. You may not get the best gas mileage, but the trans will shift just fine without doing any damage.

 

Ok cool, I appreciate the response! I had already been toying with just driving in 4th unless I’m on the highway and consistently going 45-50+mph so I’ll prob just keep doing that. I don’t love how in the city it goes into 5th and is basically always on the verge of downshifting if I barely let off the gas. Staying in 4th avoids that annoyance.

anyway, just thankful that I don’t need to be concerned there’s some issue.

 

I find myself doing the same.

 

remember R stands for Really fast.

 

I just found this out like a week ago as well. per the owners manual is specifically stated you can shift through the gears just like you would on a manual however do not shift while your foot is still on the gas cus that could cause some problems. I’ve been doing this just fine and if you want to be extra safe and the smoothest ride you can also rev match to the next gear or down a gear, so gas shift match and the slowly ease into the next gear up or when shifting down off the gas shift down blip the gas and that’s it. You could even heel-toe when downshifting. Ever since it’s made driving even more enjoyable.

 

If you're doing it for fun.. go for it. But those shifts are all electronic so it isn't quite the same thing as shifting a manual.

 

sheeeeesh i figured, makes me want to pick up an x runner with a stick. also you know any windy roads up in gainesville, there’s like nothing around dfw and i have a focus i want to take to the twistys.

 

flat and straight for miles, just like everywhere else around here. western Arkansas is supposed to have some nice winding roads.

 

It's time for me to upgrade from my 99 Taco. Been evaluating 2nd gen vs 3rd. This thread has been very insightful to find that both gen have the same "sifting" function just implemented slightly different.
Wish me luck on snaging a 2nd gen

 

snag a nice low mileage 2.5