S mode finally used

OK, dont flame this old guy too bad for this.
After over 2 months of owning the truck, I finally got around to playing around with S mode.
Fwiw, Ive never had this feature before as most of my previous vehicles were manual or from the 70-80s. With that said, Ive had plenty of "3 on the tree" vehicles in the past where I drove my automatic manually so I realize the idea is the same, but the way of achieving the function somewhat different.
I understand its basically just a gear limiter and thats why it "starts" in 4th. Basically to keep you out of the OD gears while towing or mountainous areas, etc.
But where I think it shines is using it in the 2-3 and 3-4 upshifts. The one thing Ive noticed in the short time Ive owned the truck is that I cant seem to anticipate the upshifts in the low gears. Its not so much the shifting sucks, as much as it seems inconsistent under steady throttle. Of course it does upshift too early as we all know, but the inconsistency is what really bugs me. Seems to me, that the S mode will absolutely solve that as I have control over it.

So is it ok to use it this way? I feel like thats not the intended purpose and thats not how most people use it. Get the feeling most leave it in 4 while around town and just pop it up to 5 while on the highway to stay out of 6 to keep the truck from lugging.

I realize its my truck and I can do whatever I want with it, but I dont want to do anything that can prematurely wear the tranny.

Also tried the ECT button and it seems pretty much the same. Yes, it holds the gears longer, but its still inconsistent, so using the S mode as Ive described above seems to be the best for me.

No need to tell me to just get a tune and be done with it...LOL. Id be perfectly content with S mode, just want to make sure Im using it properly.

Thanks for the help.

Edit...Owners Manual doesnt give much info about it, so thats why I wanted to dub check with you guys.

 

i have a pretty similair experience. I live in hilly highway areas. on long hills, the truck would downshift but eventually shift up while still on the hill and then would downshift again try to keep the speed. this kind of gear hunting behavior is well known to these trucks almost to the point where people consider getting a different truck. S mode helped me with this situation somewhat. it helps me keep the truck in proper gear for the whole way up the hill, making for a much smoother experience and less wear because no harsh gear hunting the transmission is doing. i havent really experimented with the ect mode really so no comment on that. im pretty sure ect is more over for towing.

 

It basically works how you think. You're fine using it how you are. Part of the inconsistencies you're describing are also the torque converter locking and unlocking(feels exactly like a shift, but isn't).

 

ECT to me is like an auto version of S mode.
I know in ECT mode exactly where it will shift. S mode is alright but I had a manual Tacoma once. Not again.
For example In ECT mode, it will shift from 3rd to 4th at 57 mph as long as you let off the gas. It is predictable.

 

Its far from a manual, as u well know. Ill play with ECT though. 3-4 at 57 is too high for me in normal driving. But I get what youre saying...the predictability is there.
As long as I can control my upshifts with S mode, Im good.

 

I have a tune so it’s treats s mode almost like a manual. I haven’t used anything else for the last 20k. I cannot stand using drive.

 

Unless you have one of those weird shifting transmixers that just won't learn your driving habits after 1500 miles, or so, i would avoid using the S, and ECT modes much as possible. I never used mine till over 1500 miles. The truck shifts perfectly now, not a single glitch like others here keep whining about.

 

You can use S-mode however you like, but the intended use according to the user manual is engine braking to prevent the brakes from overheating and keep the alternator putting out juice on long descents, especially when towing.

Some people believe it is also intended to prevent the transmission from overheating while towing, but I think that is dubious and possibly an anachronism. I have not seen anything mentioned in the user manual stating such a thing nor found an authoritative explanation online.

Older automatics (at least the ones I am familiar with) had the same thing, but it was in my limited experience limited to first and second gear (1 and 2 on the shifter).

https://www.cars.com/articles/what-...-automatic-transmission-shifter-1420690417141

 

S-mode is an electronic equivalent to the older PRND321 / PRND32L AT selectors, just with all six gear options. If on the older types, putting it in '2' would limit the AT to Gears 1 and 2. Putting it in '3' would limit the AT to Gears 1 through 3.

For the Taco AT using S-mode, putting it in S4, the transmissions will be limited to Gears 1 through 4. Although, there are different shift maps in the ECU depending on whether you are using ECT or S-mode.