2020 Tacoma, improved auto transmission?

Not stole - they paid dearly for the rights to use it, and then in typical Toyota fashion, went over every aspect with a fine toothed comb. That N54 is great and all, and has been revised over the years, but its had its fair share of problems - notably the HPFP.

 

I don’t believe there is a tsb To be able to get the 2020 trans update for previous years.

 

The other problem is we won't know what types of revisions they did until the trucks hit the lots. So for anyone debating the AT vs MT, and wants to order, you'll need to hope the revision has tangible benefits. Some people say the TSB's for the older 3rd gens was good, but then relearns your driving and hunts again. Others say it made a substantial difference. Toyota is working with an inherently less than ideal drive train, and tons of Tacoma owners NOT complaining, so there's only so much they can/want to do right?

 

Any possibility some of that software fix was already implemented? After reading this thread last night, I drove into work really paying attention to where the car shifts and it seems to be fine in my 19. I drove a used 17 a week ago and it was constantly shifting for no damn reason. Possible that, like you said, it hasn't "learned" to mess up my shift points yet? I only have 175 miles on it.

 

Well I don't know if the relearn is perception or reality. Only you can determine if its actually better, permanently. I guess what people are saying is that the adaptive transmission overrides the code of the new TSB shift fix? I don't 100% know how that works. The code is modern cars is so complicated, I couldn't begin to think what type of algorithms and logic has been written.

 

Hrmm...good point. Well hopefully this thing doesn't try to change anything because right now it seems pretty decent. I'll report back if the "learning" process screws things up after I hit a few thousand miles.

 

I can't stand the hunting for gears and dead pedal!!! 18 trd OR 4x4 dclb. My 05 4Runner drives 1000x better.

Would like to know the name of the dip shi* that decided to put this Camry engine into a Taco (makes less Horsepower than Camry). Gutless, no torque having motor. Still gets crap gas mileage. I will have to try OV tune see if that helps with the driveability.

 

Less horsepower is desirable in a work vehicle. Improves engine longevity.

 

Its not really the HP, its the way its delivered. In the 3rd gen, its too high up in the rev range. The 4.0 has less HP but much more grunt down low. People with trucks generally don't want to wind it out to get power.

 

The power is their. It's not a typical truck engine but it makes the power, and more of it too.

 

I definitely don't! especially since the thing gets right up to the redline ALL THE TIME when I get on it.. then I freak out, let up and cause the thing to glitch out until it downshifts. I cant stand it.

 

Yes exactly my point. In trucks, most people don't want to beat it like a rented mule to get all that power.

 

I feel like the solution here is to just drive...need more speed? Move your foot. Need max speed? Touch the pedal to the bottom. I've driven and lived with all sorts of cars and trucks as I'm sure everyone else has, and power band has never been an issue. Some make it low, some need to be cranked out near redline, you just have to adjust your driving style to that engines power band.

I agree the gear hunting sucks though.. that 17 I test drove was aweful lol

 

Driving my dads 07 with a 4.0 it feels very comparable to my tacoma. Granted there should be improvements in 12 years but they feel like they wind up very similar. Both feel sluggish and truck like but im ok with that since i bought a..... truck.

 

These trucks are not "slow". Get the revs up over 3,500 and they will wake up. Trucks are trucks and are made to do truck things like pull and haul. If you want fast, get a car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keqexpfx5BI

 

Or an F150

Then you can pull trailers and haul ass

 

Its a truck with a car engine.

 

Sorry have to disagree. Tacoma is not a "work vehicle."

If I have to bang 6000rpm redline to drive normally how is that going to improve engine longevity?

If this motor had more torque down low:
The motor would not have to work so hard.
The drivetrain wouldn't have to spin as fast.
The transmission wouldn't be so confused.
I wouldn't have to drive pedal to the metal.

 

Use the gears. Not necessary to just leave it in drive or get on it all the time.