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Auto Trans in the mountains

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Mudchomp, Sep 3, 2017.

  1. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:00 PM
    #1
    Mudchomp

    Mudchomp [OP] Member

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    Spent most of my day driving in the mountains, and I'm frustrated beyond belief with my truck. 2017 Off Road DCLB AT. The truck can't decide between being in 3rd or 4th the entire time, regardless of whether ECT is enabled. Using sequential shifting, and putting in third to prevent upshifting works, but when it revs crazy high, I push it into 4th, but the ratio between 3rd and 4th is HUGE, and the truck just lugs in 4th, so it goes to 3rd, and the whole process of bouncing between 3rd and 4th goes on and on.

    Driving in areas other than the mountains, it seems pretty much fine.

    I like the truck in all other respects, but this transmission is unusable in the mountains.

    On the verge of trading this truck in for something else. Just venting, but also seeing if anyone has any advice about driving in the mountains.
     
  2. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:03 PM
    #2
    03 NIGHT TACO

    03 NIGHT TACO Well-Known Member

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  3. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:07 PM
    #3
    Mudchomp

    Mudchomp [OP] Member

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    Thanks, but I think that won't actually change the gearing of the truck, just the shift patterns. The problem I experienced today is that when using sequential shift and putting it into 3rd revs the engine super high and 4th lugs the engine. I don't see that problem going away.
     
    03 NIGHT TACO likes this.
  4. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:09 PM
    #4
    shakerhood

    shakerhood Well-Known Member

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    That sucks to hear, could always trade for a Manual if it gets too frustrating
     
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  5. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:15 PM
    #5
    Livetoohunt

    Livetoohunt Member

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  6. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:16 PM
    #6
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

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    How high is super high?
     
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  7. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:22 PM
    #7
    URBIKESUCKS

    URBIKESUCKS Well-Known Member

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    change tire size to suite your needs or regear, turbo or supercharge.... and if ya wanna really fix the prob get a 2nd gen
     
  8. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:29 PM
    #8
    MESO

    MESO Major Modder Vendor

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    This high
    [​IMG]

    OP: look into gear swap and/or ECU tune
     
  9. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:30 PM
    #9
    ElBlancoTaco

    ElBlancoTaco Well-Known Member

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    Learning what the trade off is for a gain of 3mpg, I'm happy with my 2nd gen.
     
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  10. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:31 PM
    #10
    smitty99

    smitty99 I also bought a 4Runner

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    Normal for the vehicle
     
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  11. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:31 PM
    #11
    Tacomamike mike

    Tacomamike mike Just that, nothing more.

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    Select shift pro. DO IT
     
    kgilly likes this.
  12. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:42 PM
    #12
    Mudchomp

    Mudchomp [OP] Member

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    Headache high, I don't know, over 4k, but I guess this engine is supposed to live up there, which is another annoyance. But the only way I can get it to work its way through mountains is to use sequential shifting and let 3rd rev way the hell up there before handing it over to 4th. There's not enough torque for 4th to pull the truck up the mountain unless you get it revving up there well over 4k with 3rd first. If I leave it in D, it can't do it by itself, it just gets crazy confused as what it should do.
     
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  13. Sep 3, 2017 at 5:49 PM
    #13
    Hiluxski

    Hiluxski Well-Known Member

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    That sounds super frustrating, I had the best luck using the sequential shifting like you and keeping the motor high up in the revs it was just less aggravating overall. Like others have said you can put lower gears in and use fourth or maybe put a little bigger tire on and use third more. I ended up selling mine.
     
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  14. Sep 3, 2017 at 6:15 PM
    #14
    Marshall R

    Marshall R Well-Known Member

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    It isn't a transmission issue. It is an engine issue, and not necessarily a negative issue. Your engine produces torque at higher rpm's than previous engines. It is really neither good nor bad, you just have to run more rpm's to get power. It won't hurt anything to just leave it in 3rd gear. Some guys get all worried about their trucks running in lower gears with the new multi-speed transmissions in use today.

    Years ago trucks only had 3 or 4 speed transmissions. With a 4 speed you had a 1:1 ratio in 4th gear and no one expected their trucks to pull hills in 4th gear. You were expected to drop down to 3rd or maybe even 2nd gear in mountains. Todays Tacoma's still have a 1:1 ratio in 4th gear. No truck, not even a diesel powered truck will pull up mountains with a transmission at 1:1. Regardless of whether or not you have a manual, 5 speed or 6 speed, everything above 4th gear is overdrive and useless in mountains.

    My 2nd gen will drop to 3rd in mountains and the engine will lug in 4th. Forget about 5th. The only difference is that my truck puts out more torque at lower rpm's than yours and even though both are in 3rd gear mine will be a fewer hundred rpm's slower. Leave it in 3rd and press down on the gas pedal. It was designed to work that way.
     
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  15. Sep 3, 2017 at 6:17 PM
    #15
    smitty99

    smitty99 I also bought a 4Runner

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    Not a bad thing? I disagree. It's a poor fit for this application.
     
  16. Sep 3, 2017 at 7:15 PM
    #16
    eurowner

    eurowner Duke Sky

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    I live at 7000' and routinely drive over 10000'+ and to 4000'. I have no problems with holding 3rd or 4th and 5000rpms. And my previous vehicle was a "94 K2500 Turbo Diesel Suburban.
     
  17. Sep 3, 2017 at 7:20 PM
    #17
    Tacomamike mike

    Tacomamike mike Just that, nothing more.

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    Shift sense pro works great ! I didn't really mind the AT , but this is like so many other Mids that just make my Tacoma better!!!
     
  18. Sep 3, 2017 at 7:46 PM
    #18
    Livetoohunt

    Livetoohunt Member

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    To me it's all in ones perception. Hence ones perception is ones reality.When I first drove a 3rd gen I hated it because of the trans not shifting like my 2nd gen. I ended up buying a chevy baby duramax put 25 k on it and traded back into a Taco. I knew of the common problems associated with the 3rd gen. But the positives out weighed the negatives at least for me. I drive it and enjoy it and in that rare occasion that the trans down shifts and acts a little silly I turn up the radio and just don't sweat it. If I was in the mountains I would probably have a different opinion
     
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  19. Sep 3, 2017 at 8:39 PM
    #19
    crappie man

    crappie man Well-Known Member

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    Funny. I have a chevy baby duramax with little over 45k on it and going back tacoma. Waiting to order 18.
     
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  20. Sep 3, 2017 at 8:43 PM
    #20
    smitty99

    smitty99 I also bought a 4Runner

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    Where do you live? What state?
     

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