Tacoma feels like it's braking when downshifting

Hey yall. I noticed today that when Im driving and I let off the gas, when my mph hits about 30, it feels like the truck has a sudden drag. Kind of like when you downshift a fourwheeler and your speed is to high. And when the mph hits about 10mph, the engine will rev itself up and the truck gets a little boost. Why is this happening?

 

Are you going down an incline when this is happening?

 

Knowing a bit more about the truck will help. Year, engine 4X4, etc. Under certain conditions the truck will downshift to slow you down. At least my 2007 does. Newer versions may work a little differently.

 

This happens with my Tacoma as well. It seems like a shift point is right at 30mph, where you often drive in town. I have always found it to be normal.

If I’m doing a lot of driving in town, I will shift to S4 so that it’s not always trying to shift into overdrive.

 

Even my 1st gen does when coasting downhill - engine/transmission braking perhaps? Although, the 2002 vs the 2013, on flat pavement, the 2002 will out-coast the 2013, is this part of the fuel management? ie. the 2013 essentially cutting off fuel, making the engine coast vs the 2002 releasing the torque converter but the engine still consumes fuel to keep itself running?

(yes, I still have both trucks, I just couldn't sell the 2002, sentimental cuss that I am)

 

Its a 2007 tacoma prerunner 2wd. It does it all the time. It just feels like it slowd down all of a sudden when it goes down to 30, and around 10 it revs up a little bit and it gets a little boost.

 

My 2008 Sport does that, and did it really hard when I first got it. Shortly after I bought it in 2008 there was a TSB that came out for this issue. Toyota service reprogrammed the transmission shift points to lessen the effect of the downshift at no cost. Maybe yours was never done?

 

Its normal. The truck goes into fuel cut which increases engine braking feel, and right around the 30mph mark there is a downshift point which will further increase engine braking feel. Ill bet if you coast in this mode down to about 20mph (without touching gas or brakes) you will feel like someone bumped you from behind when the motor starts to get fed fuel again.

 

Yea. But also around 10 mph it revs up about 200 rpms. All by itself. Why is this?

 

Probably jumps into first gear. Ive noticed substantially better coasting with the 3* camshaft gears.

 

Yup stock downshift into 1st occurs right around 10mph as well

 

My base model will downshift by itself when I haven't used the throttle in a while but I've hit the brakes a couple times. I believe this is a safety feature but I also believe this is not what the OP is describing. So maybe this "braking feel" is caused by DFCO? It's a pretty distinct feeling when the injectors cut out.

 

A little different scenario, but I recently took a trip up to the White Mountains in Maine and noticed a similar phenomenon on my 2014 AT. Lots of climbing up the passes with the the usual steep downhills after on curvy, steep Forest Service roads. Nothing too outrageous though. I learned (here) that it's just the AI transmission doing its job sensing lots of steering input (curves) frequent brake applications (to control speed: steep grade), and it senses this input and begins to downshift to supply brakeing assistance. It's a great feature once you realize what's going on. (and normal). Genius. When I got through those the areas with those conditions and returned to the flats, it gradually adjusted and "forgot everything" and went back to normal. (no downshift everytime I hit the brakes) I would assume on up-hill climbs, especially towing, it will figure that out too and adjust accordingly. It would be interesting someday to experience the "anti-sway control" software that's built into the Toyota stability control and included with the towing package. But honestly, I can live without that. I "found religion" one day when a semi went by me at high speed and the sway "wagging the tail" started. Weight distributing-hitch with the old analog friction sway control and manual override with the trailer brake control on the dash. Got thru it, but definitely picked up gray hair in the process. (Vehicle: 1986 Chevy 1500 with Camper Special pkg.) No slouch that truck.

 

I never thought twice about this but since I read this thread, just this morning on my way to work I noticed at the 30mph mark in some traffic my truck 'braked' on its own. Seems normal.