Help or Info from any Toyota Technicians

Hey Fellow Techs,
I just wanna let you know up front I'm a 30 year Auto Tech looking for help or info. I actually worked for GM and presently working at a Dodge, Jeep, Ram Chrysler dealership. Yeah, I'm my second Tacoma and luv it.
I own a 2018 TRD PRO 6 speed automatic. I have a trany shifting concern since the truck was new. Overall the trany shifts fine except for one annoying concern. When highway driving the trany has a considerable "hang in gear" or very very long to-take upshift (back into cruising gear, 6th). This occurs after cresting a hill and/or on up hill grades where the trany should only require a short downshift. The trany just hangs in what feels 4 or 5 and won't upshift. The RPM's stay around 3200-3500. I have to "force" it to shift by throttle input.
I am aware of trany and OBD adaptives and how they can affect drivability. They have been cleared in the past. No DTC's. Fluid good. As far as software, no clue my Toyota dealership doesn't seem to want to discuss or go that route. It seems it could very well be the issue.
Any help, advice or info would be greatly appriciated.

 

There is definitely a drivability update for the 18 model year for shifting.



https://www.tsbsearch.com/Toyota/T-SB-0058-18

 

Need a dealer or a laptop with techstream to update. Warranty is 96 months or 80,000 miles. So you may be out.

 

I have the update and mine still does that at times. It hunts less, but will stay in a lower gear if it thinks it needs the power. Wind direction seems to make a big difference. If you are just trying to go 65-70 against the wind, sometimes it wants to stay in 4th/5th. Speeding up to 75+ will usually get it to shift into 6th, but that's not always possible. I think a lot has to do with the calculated LOD value. Maybe someday I will get a new Scangauge and monitor it.

 

Thanks for the info. It sure seems like it needs a software fix.

 

Yeah, I wish I could use Stellatis WiTech to flash it. lol.

 

My 16 does that and I have the latest update for my trans. I live in a very hilly area, so I will down shift to 4th climbing slight grades, and hold it longer then what I think it should. Usually a slight lift of throttle, will get it to upshift. I'm pretty sure that it is just a normal operation. Short of an aftermarket tune, I don't think there is any fix.

 

I either have to let up which looses momentum and causing more long shifting to get back up to speed or accelerate and than let off which works but is bull. I am not a fuel mileage junking but this is no way to save or maintain fuel mileage. The truck is definitely up to speed and cruising fine. It just sits in 4 or 5th. RPMs winding out.

 

I bet you stay covered up in warranty work at Dodge, Jeep, Ram Chrysler ....

 

Over engineered junk. I am in the process of getting out of this racket. GM wasn't bad in the 90's to mid 20's. But Stellantis, or who ever owns this car company sucks. It's ridiculous what there expecting us to learn and do. Over engineered doesn't ever begin to describe these vehicles with absolutely no quality control. It gets dumped in our laps and told to fix it. My 2 Tacoma's since 2012 have service, tires, insurance and registration. oh, gas to. That's it. No brake or anything.

 

I just slap it over to manual mode, it defaults in 4th. Bump it up to 5th and then go back to normal drive. Inconvenience...yes, but I don't have to listen to the engine rev out.

 

I feel for you...Ive been with Honda a few years now..and they have alot more issues than they use to..And you being up north there probably rusty to boot..

 

It's hard to recommend honda, if they were priced accordingly it would be fine, but there's such a premium for a smaller vehicle with more issues than is acceptable for honda.

I feel like the dream engine was a huge mistake for their reputation.

 

They all do that, even tuned. Has to do with ACIS system. I use S mode to upshift to higher gear and return the shifter to D.

 

I Totally agree...Headgaskets,turbo's and Direct Injector issues..but most customers are only worried about the Apple Carplay..its doing well

 

The dilemma, as I saw it explained by one of the aftermarket tune devs, in how Toyota schedules the shifting. They seemed to focus solely on emissions and fuel economy, with very little consideration for the driving experience. The transmission is able to select higher gears at lower RPMs, and this ends up translating to poor drivability.

Add to that the trouble Toyota got into with the EPA for not properly reporting emissions related failures from 2005-2015, and it's not too hard to see how we ended up where we're at with the factory tune on the 3GT! Details of that trouble and resulting $180M penalty can be had HERE.

Have you considered trying an aftermarket tune? Any one of the 3 big ones would be a big improvement to drivability of your truck! Toyota definitely left a lot on the table with the factory tune.

 

Definitely a High Corrosive State with all the salt.
I don't know about you, but this is what we are required to diag electrical and some driveability concerns. Scopes. If we use a Fluke they can bounce the claim. Ihave a little training with it but still use my Fluke and an 1157 bulb.

 

I spent 16 yrs with VW before going to Toyota 5 yrs ago. The quality at VW started to severely decline around 2012. The europeans love to over engineer their cars. Last year I finally got out of the wrench game, and now run the Express Maintenance shop for my dealership. 12 bays. Now I mentor and train the next generation of techs. The stress level is different, but the pay far makes up for it. And no longer having to worry about turning flat rate hours is gold.

 

lol, yeah. Uconnect, that's a hole nother deal. ugh

 

Cool. That great.
Did you have to deal with the big OBDII law suite. I saw a really great doc on their little scam and how a few college kids figured out what and how the vw was running their defeat device.