2016 Transmission T-SB-0077-16 Shift Feeling Enhancments (PDF)

Saw a post that a tsb was released earlier about shifting on the 2016 4 cyl, would like to print it out but can't find it anywhere

 

Page 1 homie. Pdf link in first post

 

Thought that is for the 6cyl ?

 

My bad. You're right, it is for the 6

 

Got the update this afternoon. Took 15 minutes. Very happy with it. No more delays in shifting. Like others have reported.... smooth shifting from R -> D and P -> D. Much smoother shifting pattern throughout. My MPG on drive home were right in line with what I was getting before. IMO the original "bad" shift patterns were actually worse for MPG/EPA because people are trying to drive it like a normal truck/car. To get the best MPG with original shifting patterns, you had to baby it everywhere you could. But when you hit any slight incline, it would upshift, lose power, and force you to step on the gas more. This caused the MPGs to drop a ton and you get zero power in return. So you give it even more gas until it finally downshifts and then gives you high revving power, and MPGs went even further down.

All that is now gone. Now you go up even a steep hill (I had 2 on the way home from dealer) and it shifts quite normally with no absense or loss of power. It doesn't waste gas by having you flood the engine with your foot while the computer ignores your request to actually burn it. My ride home which was about 30 miles up and down hills I got 20.5 MPG without even trying to baby it. I wasn't a lead foot either, however I did floor it a few times to test the shifting patterns.

First overall impression is this is big WIN. I had grown accustomed to the old shift patterns and was learning to accept them slowly. But this is a no brainer. Go get it done if you have one of the listed vehicles.

 

My second update after driving to my Granny's in Hayward.... Much Much better. Holds the lower gear longer when going up the hills without mashing the gas petal or manually shifting it. Responds quicker and smoother. I still use 4th gear when driving in town or stuck in traffic like I was on the way home. My gas mileage seems to be improving, I couldn't get out of the 16's and now I'm 17-19, I'm not exactly light on the gas petal either
I still feel like it uses the higher gear more than I would like but I am comparing it to my 08 which, in my opinion, was a better performing truck.
Overall, the update was a big improvement and I'm very happy with my truck

 

Well I will say the TSB transmission software update is a bit of a love hate with me now after towing a 900 lb trailer with a 230 lb motorcycle up to Flagstaff from Phoenix, about 180 miles or so, I drove with ECT engaged the entire trip and quite honestly the tranny felt like it was pulling a trailer with the trailer brakes applied, I don't have trailer brakes, it struggled to say the least. It was constantly searching for gears the whole way up. I hate to see how this thing does towing it's capacity at 6700 lbs. I honestly don't think it could do it unless you are going down a hill. The truck towed the same trailer with my 1500 LB SXS to the same location far better before the update. It does go from park to drive quicker, and from drive to reverse. I'm loving the look of the truck, but get right down to it I would rather have towing capability like a RAM. Tradin' time might be near.

 

That's good feedback. I wonder if such a light trailer would do better with ECT off, especially after the TSB. Were you in S4 or D for this trip?

 

I had mine done about a week ago and have put about 1500 miles on it since. The TSB make a world of difference. Much smoother shift, and it stays at a higher rpm longer before downshiftings. Over all I'm very happy. One downside is, I believe that it will cost some MPG. If you're having any issue with shifting, get it done.

 

Got it done yesterday and the R to D lag was gone this morning. Shifting isn't a world of a difference but definitely noticeable

 

At the dealership right know. Brought in the TSB and printed out my case numbers and replies from Toyota Corp. we will see how things go.

 

I kept it mostly in Drive, only when agitated enough did I slide it over to manual mode and stomp on the gas to get it moving, granted some of the hills are pretty big heading up to Flagstaff from Phoenix, but even on flat areas it seemed to just struggle far too much. With ECT off it was changing gears every few seconds. I'm thinking that there is a tradeoff with improved shift feel and what that does to drivability while towing.

 

I have a 4x2 OR. I live in New Orleans and we don't have snow or anything so I didn't need 4x4 but our streets are horrible and i wanted the better shocks that come on the OR. I do also agree about the looks.

 

Longo Toyota took my truck in. I had to call a friend of a friend in the service dept. they found the TSB and will perform it. Let's see how it goes.

 

Had it done today, feels like it "coasts" more, stays in upper gear longer. Didn't really romp on it. Give it a week or two and will report back. No sticker. Dealer didn't have any. They are going to mail me one later.

 

Living in this city, owning any vehicle with less than 6 inches of ground clearance is risky. Btw nice profile pic. That must be on breakwater drive by the point

 

Called to make an appointment for my 5000 service today. I don't understand why every time I call my dealership I have an experience like this one. First, the service writer told me an oil change was not included until 10,000 miles. I asked if I could go ahead and get it done because I thought I had at least two free ones regardless of the mileage. He said it would not be covered. I then asked about getting the TSB done and he acted like he had no idea what I was talking about. I explained what the problems were and what the TSB addressed and he told me that it would be something that they would address if they saw a problem. Is my complaint that the P-D and R-D delay and the erratic shifting not enough for them? I also told him about my squeaky rear leaf springs and actually got a response that they would take care of that for me.

Why do I always feel like an idiot every time I get off the phone with my dealership?

 

They have a tendency of doing that. Sometimes you just have to treat them like assholes to get what you want. Hate being like that..

 

True. I didn't know the guy I was talking to so I feel like he may be new. He was about to get off the phone with me and I had to remind him that we still hadn't set a time and date for the appointment.

What are the actual details on oil changes and when they are covered? What happened to the two year/25K mile free thing that Toyota does with other vehicles?

 

Well...I must say I had a completely different experience towing after the TSB transmission software update. I had the TSB done 7/21. The next day my daughter called and asked me to bring my trailer (enclosed 5 X 10 Wells Cargo Cycle Wagon-curb wt. 1120 lbs.) to where she lives to move some of her household goods from storage to her house. I towed it 125 miles (empty) and averaged 15.9 mpg over moderate hills. I never used the ECT (actually have never used it as I'm not sure what it even does). After loading it to the max it still seemed to tow fine w/out searching for lower gears albeit the terrain was relatively flat. On the way back (again empty) the mpg inched up to 16.5 running 60-65 on 2-lane highways. The enclosed trailer is lower in height than standard enclosed units and has a bubble front end to reduce drag. I have yet to tow it with my Harley which weighs approx. 700 lbs. The max GVWR iof the trailer is 2200 lbs. and I don't plan on towing anything heavier than that. My previous vehicle was a 12' Tundra TRD w/the 4.6L V8. The Tacoma pulled my trailer just as well as the Tundra. However, I always felt the 4.6L V8 was not a good fit for the Tundra (although it ran fine on the highway) but I would LOVE to have that engine in my Tacoma.