2009's - do you have engine braking going down hills?

OK, this is now my second post on this subject because it is frustrating the hell out of me. I live in hilly Western PA and have never seen a vehicle act like my Taco does. It's a 2009 Double cab TRD Sport. Anyone else experience this???

If I am accelerating to the top of a hill and begin to descend, without touching the brake, the truck will downshift and the RPM's go up. Going downhill, it will begin to slow. What's worse is that it doesn't do it every time and usually kicks in halfway down a hill. Other times it doesn't kick in at all. It makes the ride choppy and will shift your weight forward becuase you are not ready for it.

While going downhill, if I give it gas, it will SOMETIMES kick out of it and coast freely again. Other times, it will accelerate while throttling but immediately begin slowing when I let off (in too low of a gear).

On steep hills, I have watched my RPM's go up by 1000 or more while coasting. It NEVER upshifts because of the hill.

I know the truck has brake assist but this does it when I'm just coasting...not touching the brake. My 2004 1st gen (and every other vehicle I have ever ridden in) did not do this.

 

I have not been on any hills "yet", but I have noticed it not coasting has far as it should when approaching a stop. It does seem to want to down shift and slow down faster. I don't know how this affects the mileage or if it is a bad thing, I'm curious what other members think.

 

Yes, it's made like that. Mine does it too and it's an 07.

 

I have felt it on coasting to a stop, but nothing harsh enough to be worried about, or bothersome. I haven't noticed it revving the rpms or anything. Kinda' like it actually when I am in hyper-mileing mode. It is really helpful when coasting in to stoplights and timing it so I don't have to come to a complete stop. Minimizes riding the brakes for that.

I will pay attention on downhills to see what I observe.

 

You know this is the one thing that really bothers me. Every other car or truck I had just goes into coast mode when you let off the gas. I would suspect it makes your mpg worse, it would have to the way it revs up. I am just wanting it to go into overdrive, I have even caught myself popping it in nuetral to coast sometimes.

 

Slap'er in N

 

my 05 does this also. Sometimes it kicks in at just the right moment and other time it is a jolt.

 

Those that do not live in hilly areas will not notice this the way I do. I notice it when coasting flat terrain as well but that is not too bothersome.

What sucks is when a hill is long and steep and the RPM's just keep going up and winding out the engine. On some hills, I'll let off the throttle at 2500rpms and it goes up to 4000rpms while coasting. That DEFINITELY affects my gas mileage. It makes the engine LOUD!

So it's nothing that can be reprogrammed or turned off??? That sucks!

 

And coasting in neutral with an automatic is not good for the tranny. I believe it stops pumping the oil or something. I dropped a transmission in a Ford Tempo while coasting down "Four Mile Hill". Got to the bottom, popped it back in drive, gave it gas and clunk...clunk...clunk.

 

mine does it too. Freaked me out the first time and still catches me by surprise from time to time. No big deal though.

 

Well it was a Ford after all

 

This is one of the things that I like best about this transmission. It drives much more like a manual where you rev-match and downshift when coming to a stop or coasting up to a red light. One of the biggest gripes I've always had with slush-box trannies is that they offer no engine braking.

 

My 08 does it too and I hate it. If you can keep your foot off the brake pedal going down small hills it will not do it. You just need to think ahead and give yourself additional room in front of the vehicle ahead of you.

 

Haven't experienced it yet (I pick up my truck very soon) but engine braking is a great thing in a truck IMHO. There's nothing I hate more than having to ride the brakes going down a hill with my boat attached, in order to keep the speed reasonable. If the engine braking can do that on its own (or at least help) that is great!

 

x2 It actually SAVES gas by doing this. If you were just coasting (like a manual with the clutch in) it would have to burn gas to keep the engine going. By downshifting it gets the engine in an RPM range that it doesn't need gas, and thus saves some.

Many newer cars are doing this to save gas and brake wear, since you don't have to ride your brakes down the hill. Hondas have had this programming for awhile, as have most Toyota cars. Same theroy as "hill decent" technology.

 

i haven't experienced this in my Taco yet, but I have it in my Sequoia and I actually like it now that I'm used to it.

 

Downhill assist? It does it on mine, I like it personally, you can manipulate the gas to do it. Its no different than me normally downshifting to save the brakes.