2016 6-cylinder 6-speed automatic erratic shifting and drivability problems?

ECT power seems to help a lot at highway speeds. I am getting higher mpgs when it is activated . Just did a 500 mile trip and used the ECT on the way back and the truck behaved a lot better.

 

That's what I do in town, with s5 on it drives great!

 

I wonder if using the ECT daily will do any harm or affect the truck overall performance in the long run

 

It won't do anything other than make it more enjoyable to drive. It will probably last longer using ECT since it won't be shifting as much and won't lug the engine as much either.

 

wish we could leave it on the whole time and not go off once i get out of the truck

 

I'm working on that but I'm not sure if I'll have complete success.

 

Keep in mind that the MT owners do not have an ECT button. The engines in those trucks run like ECT is on all the time. Up to the shifter to get to 6th for any mileage. They also have a 4.30 rear end, so if the owner adds tire size it can handle it.
The autos all come with 3.9 gearing, so they are already handicapped with high gearing (ratio-wise). Go up a tire size in height, and you add to that high gearing.
If you look at all the figures coming in, there are some trucks out there that are suffering horrible mileage numbers while others don't. I have no trouble getting 24mpg on the highway with my SR5 at 65mph. But I see a lot of the others, especially the TRDs, that are getting in the 15-16 mpg range. There has to be some differences going on somewhere.

 

I hear you. It's such a hard job to push that button. ;-)
I'm sure they want the Eco mode for the default positon. Other wise, Toyota couldn't brag about the improvement in mileage.

 

The difference in the rear end ratio alone is not as important as the final drive with both the gear ratio and the rear end ratio together in OD. I am sure Toyota has a different engineering scheme in mind then just throwing the same rear end ratio in each. Check out each for speed at comparibly RPMS between the auto and manual when both are in top gear to get a better idea if you don't have all the ratios available...or like me, just don't want to do the math.

As far as the OR is concerned, we talked about this before and at least on the highway, not having the front air dam should make a measurable difference regardless of the gear ratios.

Not having an ECT button on a manual is totally inconsequential and unnecessary. After all, it's the driver that decides when to shift. It may run like the ECT is engaged, simply because the driver is shifting it later by choice. I am sure if he shifted it at the same rpm as the auto, drivers would have just as much to complain about.

 

i thought i read on here that a few members that had exceeded 1200 miles were no longer getting the erratic shifting issue. That the ecu had already learned driving habits. any comment on that?
im getting ready to order a 2016 OR and am deciding between auto and manual.

 

LOL.... Same here. My 2015 Mustang GT Premium makes 435 HP from the factory, does the 1/4 mile in 13 seconds flat and gets 25 MPG HWY and 19 MPG around town. All that said, i still LOVE this truck!! Hope they come up with a programming fix but i am here for the long haul regardless.

 

As does a Vette with a big motor too. It has less to do with the size of the motor, then the drag on it. There are NO off road worth vehicles with high ground clearance and box frame that get good mileage. Any truck is not comparable to a car. Now, compare it to a Ford F-150 with similar HP and weight, it is a reasonable comparison.
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Took my 16 in today for it's 5k service. I had them address the shitty mileage 15-16mpg in town and highway, the erratic rpms (randomly pushing to 3500rpm for no reason), the transmission being kinda junky and all they said was everything was within range. The tech took it for a drive and said he was able to get 20-22mpg in town (my truck has never seen above 20mpg yet), but he magically was able to get it first try...? He reset my TCU so it will relearn now so we will see how it does in the next few days. 2016 TRD O/R 4x4 DBL Cab/Prem Tech JBL

 

665 miles on mine. I agree with many of you that the "baseline" computer mapping on the 6-speed automatic leaves a lot to be desired. Although it is "learning" my driving habits and getting somewhat better, I did try the suggestion to activate the ECT. Huge difference! The shift points are much better,...furthermore, I would suggest that this is where I prefer them to be, and probably where the factory baseline mapping should have been. Much smoother. No more hunting for gears. Mileage virtually unchanged. Better acceleration. It is much more enjoyable to drive. It really woke it up. 2-thumbs up for the ECT function.

 

Hey guys, I have around 650-700miles on mine and I too noticed this on my truck. It seem not so bad when I test drove it, then again like a lot of us I was to excited to really put lots of thought into it, "hey it's a Toyota!" Days after I bought it was when I started to notice it more and more, so I got online and see what I could find. First thing was low tranny fluid, so I called and made an appointment. Right away I was getting the "it's normal" "it's new" "give it time" "don't read too much what is said on the internet." So I told the guy look check it if nothing I pay for labor if anything warranty will cover it, just put my mind at ease. Turns out it was 3/4qt low, now take in mind this really didn't do anything. I mean it did feel a slight bit smoother, but that was really hunting for the change. So I finally drove a half/hr to see a friend who is a Toyota Tech. He drove around with me for about an hour and loved it! I told him don't BS me fool! He said, "it's fine man, it's a new car" I thought how text book of you. He says, "when I got my 2014 Tundra I thought the same thing, the fact that it was low on fluid that sucks, but give it time" he said, "let it break in and learn your driving habits." That was around 200miles and since then I've just been driving it normal. I do notice some days it's a lot peppier than other days but the sluggish hesitant response does seem to slowly be diminishing.

I love my truck and I understand the concerns, but it's like my friend said "just enjoy your new truck, drive it like you would any other vehicle and if there is something wrong you have 100K miles of warranty to let Toyota figure it out."

 

Folks are posting about ECT "always being on" in a manual transmission. I want to clarify something: ECT= electronically controlled transmission. In short the vehicle has 2 settings: 1) a base map + altered based on learning the drivers habits, and 2) an ECT mapping which typically holds each gear longer. Using ECT or sport mode constantly is going to delay your computer from learning and modifying the base map...which is likely why some people are "happy" at 1-2k miles and others who only use ECT aren't...

Not saying either approach is right or wrong- but that is how it works. Oh and ECT does not alter engine parameters that I'm aware of...

 

Turned on the ECT for the first time today..... Was hesitant before due to already under rated fuel economy. All I can say is WOW.... What a difference. Mileage difference was negligible. I am at 2k miles on it and I now am officially in LOVE with this truck!

 

my truck does this also,step on gas pedal quick and it will upshift

 

I hate the way this transmission shifts with this flex torque ...yes ect makes it respond like a transmission should ...but you shouldn't have to press a button everytime you drive... I went and tested a 2016 ford f150 with a 6 speed auto ..no problems at all ..in fact they give you 3 options normal sports and haul ...also Road tested a 2016 gmc 1500 6 speed auto again no issues with shifting ... I have been dealing with Toyota Canada since the first week of getting this truck ...they sent quality control engineer (fred) who doesn't know shit about this truck ...no check engine light it works fine ... I'm pissed and am telling everyone to NOT buy a 2016 TACOMA ...I will never do business with Toyota again based on this experience. ..

Oh Ya forgot to mention they changed the transmission and torque convertor at 1500 kilometers and same thing...

 

This is what i do... Works great. Anythin under 50mph i keep it in S4. Interstates i use S5..sometimes S6 if going down hill...lol.