S Mode

Adaptive transmission programming is terrible in concept and execution. It's the reason why people who log most of their miles cruising down the highway or milling around on back roads complain about the Tacoma transmission. The transmission "learns" to be lazy. Now when you need it to be responsive that goes against how it "thinks" it should behave, and it doesn't want to go...slow shifts, upshifting too soon, holding gears when it should down shift. Driving in S mode avoids that.

D may be just fine for you, but that doesn't mean it's best for everyone.

 

what's the point of using s-6? that's not going to give you any engine braking at all. you don't want to be in overdrive going down a mountain. You should be in S-4 at the most when going down a long grade. I'm usually in S-3 or S-4 for mountain highways when going downhill.

 

OP is saying that when he pushes the shifter to the left nothing happens and he is still in normal drive mode.
this is a new one, if he is correct sounds like electrical glitch.

 

Someone on here had the same issue a couple months back. I don’t recall if there was a resolution but also haven’t searched for the post.

Not sure why you’re the only one making this point. I was confused about its purpose as well until I read about it bypassing the trans learning on here and tried it on my daily commute. There’s a distinct difference between S6 and D in shifting and acceleration for my truck.

 

Weird, when I push mine over to S mode it only shows the number four and nothing else.
I assumed that it meant it would not go past fourth gear?
When I get off of work I'm gonna have to go take a look at this

 

That's normal. It goes to S-4 by default. Once there push the shifter forward for higher gears. 5th & 6th. Or pull it back for 3, 2 and 1.

 

Got it! Learned something new today.

 

Come on @Rock Lobster!

Even I knew that!!! lol

I use S4 and S5 mostly...flicked the gear one time in S5 and viola, S6! Who'd of thunk it?

For quicker response, I engage ECT but I have to be careful since it won't down-shift. (I have OTT Tune)

S4 without ECT for driving in town
S5 without ECT for driving above 50mph

When I'm on the freeway/highway, I go into D.

 

Yes it shifts just like it is in D. does not let me select gears doesn'teven show them

 

I've got a case of S6's in my garage. Selling them for a grand a piece. Discounting, if you buy 2 or more.

 

Hmmm. don't know what controls that function. ECU or the TCU. Maybe try disconnecting the battery for a short period of time? Also, don't know if the other person who had a similar problem had a resolution either. 2018.... Out of warranty so Dealership would be expensive.

 

Damn, you learn something new every day. I’m going to try out S6 and see how it shifts and accelerates compared to D.

 

My god, i can't believe all this rocket science surrounding S mode.
I never even read about it, i just tried it and figured out how it worked, it's not complicated.

 

I think acceleration is probably wishful thinking on my part after testing a little on my way home from work.
I absolutely hate the one second delay when I stomp on the gas, but it does it in D and S.
It definitely changes the shifting though. I can’t even get into 6th in D unless I’m doing over 70 downhill, but in s6 it gets there in a much more natural way I guess I would say

 

Thanks for sharing your experience trying it out. I am curious to see if there will be any differences in how the truck acts not using any learned values.

 

then you have an electrical glitch. dealer time.
could be a connector is not connected. anyone do any work on or around the tranny or any electrical work period?

 

Imo, thats mostly bs. I drive a combination of back roads, city, and major highways. My transmission works perfect on all. There''s really no need for the s modes except when towing. I think the main reason for these transmissions shifting wonky, is they're never broken the way I was told. Many owners use these other electronic modes from the beginning, instead of just leaving it in the d mode, then end up this way, and complain.

 

Instead of trying to stomp on the gas, try using S mode to downshift, example- if you're cruising at 65mph, drop it into 4th and accelerate to say 70-75 then tap it up to 5th etc..
That shift will still take a second of delay the difference is, you will hold a higher rpm when you shift up to the next gear.

 

Exactly, I feel it's why toyota locked out s6 in my truck....imo, there's no use for it. You can just slip the shifter over in the d mode if you want 6th. I've found s5 to work well for towing anything around 2k lbs.

 

Pull geography book and look at the topography of US of A and Canada. There are some big ass hills will make your tranny confused.