New Member - Some 2016 Questions I Could Not Find Answer for on Tacomaworld

Hi Everyone,

I've been lurking on Tacomaworld for a few months already but decided a couple days ago to create an account and make my first post today.

I'm likely going to order a new 2016 and so far have taken one for a test drive (TRD Sport Double Cab, 3.5 l auto) and have a few hours on my brother-in-laws 2011 TRD Sport (same config except his obviously has the 4 l engine and 5 sp auto).

After researching online and on Tacomaworld, I have two questions that I was not able to find the answer for.

1. At night are ALL the interior switches lit up (i.e. switches on the dash, and the power lock and window switches on the doors). I noticed on my brother-in-laws 2011 that Toyota illuminated some while others have no illumination which I found rather strange.
2. I cannot find up to date crash test ratings for the 2016 (looked at iihs.org and safercar.gov). Do you know if any exist? If not do you know if Toyota has to supply them within a certain time frame of a updated model coming out?

Just a couple of initial thoughts on the 2016 thus far - engine/transmission seems to be a downgrade (aside from fuel economy) as compared to the 2nd gen trucks but everything else is an upgrade (ride, interior, noise and vibration) as compared to the 2nd gens. Glad I did not preorder a truck because after sitting in one with a sunroof I found out that my head hits the top of the ceiling - without a sunroof I'm fine.

If anyone has an answer to the above questions and can post here that would be very much appreciated.

 

Welcome, good luck on your search for a new truck!

For the first question on the lighting, yes on the Gen3 all interior switches and buttons are lit at night. This is a little different than the Gen 2. I really like the night lighting on the Gen 3. A few people complain about the Qi charger location being too bright, doesn't bother me and you could always cover the bulb to darken that area.

Not sure on the crash ratings. There is a new airbag in the Gen3, knee airbag under the steering wheel. Since frame and configuration is very similar to the Gen2, I would assume crash ratings are very close between the two Gens, with maybe some additional protection for pedestrians in the front of the Gen3.

Not sure on the engine/tranny being a downgrade, but that is a big debate here on TW, so I won't go further than saying I have no issues with power but it does hunt gears a lot more than the Gen2

 

My $0.02 on the transmission "issue".... I believe that most owners so far have not driven the Tacoma enough to give it a fair shake. I've got 20K now, and with two oil changes and (presumably) correct ATF levels, I can honestly say that she drives MUCH smoother. Much less gear hunting. I too was pissed at first with the less-than-smooth transitions. Tacoma's use "drive-by-wire" technology that "learns" your acceleration habits. It really does improve over time.

 

Thanks for the response Pittrider. Good to hear that they have all the interior switches lit up.

Didn't mean to turn the thread into a debate on the new drivetrain

 

I agree. Although mine is back in the shop for the second time today for a fluid check on the tranny. About 1500 miles on it, and the shifts were improving, but they will have to flash the ECU so part of the learning process will start over again.

 

Haaa-haa...no, we will save that for the many other threads.

 

Did you just request an ECU flash? I am temped to do this on my 5,000 mile maintenance, I have noticed the transmission doing much better than when I first got the truck. I just wonder if it would get better after the flash.

 

what is an "ECU Flash"????

 

Resetting the computer so it will learn your driving habits again.

People with 2016s are doing it because when they bought the truck, they have low ATF. With low ATF, the truck learns driving habits wrong.

So when they fill the ATF up to spec, people are resetting the computer so it can learn the driving habits the right way. This generally helps the shifting issues.

...I hope that makes sense.

 

@DustStorm4x4

Thanks for the very easy to understand explanation.

 

Yes, correct, this is why I asked them to flash the ECU.

 

As far as the tranny shifting IMPO, the reason they have erratic shifting is because most people put them in Drive and drive around town. This is where they hunt up and down over and over depending on the road grade and engine load. I had issues when it was new, had the dealer do the check and I found that if you put the lever in Manual and drive around town in 4th, it is fine, even more aggressive in ect, and dont put it in to Drive until you are doing at least 65mph. This tranny is a double overdrive, ask your grandfathers, great grandfathers or a trucker, overdrive is for high speed none graded hills.
In my case I live in a canyon so Im in third and when I get to 45ish I go 4th, dont have any issues now. Got 20 mpg going 75 with ect on. So it does work

 

Hey OP, I was wrong, yes I'll admit it.

I noticed this morning that there is one button that doesn't light up at night, the button for the 110V bed power. Sorry, that one was hiding behind the steering wheel. Guess they don't want you using power at night.

 

You're correct that the engine and tranny is a downgrade. In fact go hop in a 2016 4Runner on the lot and take it for a spin. It's a night and day difference in torque curve/acceleration. Actually the fuel economy is not a significant improvement as you'll see on Fuelly the numbers for 2016 Tacoma equipped with 3.5L motor are coming in about 18.6 MPG. My gal has a 2016 4Runner SR5 Premium 4x4 and she gets 18.4 mpg.