2017 3.5L Limited not shifting into 6th gear on freeway?

Any guesses on why my Tacoma isn't shifting into 6th gear when on the freeways? It'll typically stay between 4th gear at about 3.5k rpm, and 5th gear at about 2.5k rpm, but won't ever shift into 6th. Freeways where I'm at are 80mph, so if it's not shifting into 6th gear here, where/when would it ever??? MPG city driving is usually between 19 and 21, but when I get up to speed on the freeway it's typically closer to 15 or 16. Seems like it wouldn't be that big of a drop if it'd shift into 6th, right?

Common issue? Is this something for OVtune to fix? Should I be getting with the dealer?

 

Dealer

 

"Wind" it up in S4, then S5 finally go to S6.

 

?? I can't get it into 6th, that's the issue.

 

Is there an overdrive button somewhere thats turned to keep it outta 6? Not familiar with 3rd gens, just throwing it out there

 

Good question, not that I'm aware of. Though I'd love it if it was that simple, even if it'd make me look pretty dumb, haha!

 

There is prob a 10 mph head wind.
Weak

 

On any autos with an od shutoff i have driven, its usually a button on the shifter itself. But i thought a light would turn on the dash, indicating od was off.

 

Manually via S-mode?

 

Will it go to 6th at 65? 80 is pretty damn fast, and the Tacoma has lousy aerodynamics. Drag increases as a cubed function of speed. The AT is quite overgeard. Any signoficant head wind and it will struggle.

 

Common complaint, I find if there is any head wind or any incline it just will not use 6th gear

 

I agree , this is the reason I found this forum a year ago . I've gotten used to the unusual shifting characteristics since then , and now just enjoy my truck for what it is . Maybe look into ovtune or shiftsense eventually ......

I've kicked around the idea of trading in on a manual transmission taco , or even on a tundra but don't want to take the financial hit . I've got 21 months left on my lease and will reevaluate at that time .

 

ECT button on

I don't have this issue. On the contrary, it tends to shift into 6th too early, IMO.

 

If you’re saying it NEVER shifts into 6th then that’s certainly an issue that’s worth addressing with the dealer. If you’re saying that it doesn’t shift into 6th as often as you think it should, that’s probably due to the grade of the road and the throttle input.

I take a daily 20 mile commute to work at 65mph and I’m in 6th almost the entire way. This is a very flat road though

 

Let the "Guy" look at it.

 

Take it to the dealer. No OD button. Try bumping the gas pedal (quick hit). I have to do this using cruise control after a auto-downshift, it hangs at about 3.5k, I bump the pedal & it goes into 6th

 

Take the truck down to 65 -70 and see if the rpms drop to about 1800, if so you're in 6th.

80mph and the trucks aerodynamics might be too much for it to transition into 6th to maintain that speed.

 

Is everything as it was when it came new from the dealer? No lift, oversize tires and the like?

 

I have also seen this
Even at 60 to 70 MPH with any kind of slight grade or minor head or side wind the truck will keep downshifting back to 5th gear. Plain and simple the truck has no power at lower RPM range.
However it did bring back fond memories of driving a 1985 chev half ton, you know when they first came out with the new 4 speed overdrive transmission and was linked to the useless 305 cu inch monster engine. It would do the same thing at hiway speeds with a slight headwind.