When does cruise control work for you?

Just curious when cruise works well for anyone? Mine can’t figure out a gear to hold worse than normal driving. Example from today, I had cruise set at 70 on the freeway, was holding 5th fine then came upon a slight incline, and I mean slight for a few hundred yards. Truck downshifted to 4th as it does with any incline or wind gust or any additional resistance, but the weird part was once it flattened out and even went downhill it decided it didn’t want to upshift. Went about 8 miles flat or slight decline and never decided to shift. I’ve never been impressed with the cruise on this truck as the lack of low end torque makes it downshift way too often to maintain speed. Anyone have any good experiences with cruise? Only time I could see it working well is on super flat land around 55 or 60. Any higher than that and wind resistance would cause it to downshift.

 

Cruise works good for me. Does what it should etc, and I live in a fairly hilly region in oregon.

 

Get the latest software update. It didn't fix mine but helped a lot.

 

Software update, I just went into the dealership and supposedly my truck was not one of the affected VINs, however the lady drove it and said it was for sure a problem, they did the update and the truck is amazing now, throttle response is amazing (no more lag) and it is not searching for gears anymore. Funny part was that mine had the biggest problem at 25 mph (speed limit for my neighborhood), it seemed to hate to stay at that speed. Get the software update you will be a happy camper, if they say your VIN is not affected let them drive it and see the problem themselves, or video yourself with cruise control on and having the problem.

 

No problem here with CC. I can go forever on a highway and the radar actuated CC will automatically slow down/speed up as necessary in traffic. It does pop down maybe a gear too much on a long incline, but goes right back into normal cruise over the peak. I kinda enjoy highway driving this way.

 

Cruise control has never worked the way we all know it should. The Engine & Transmission are the worst combo in a truck platform i have ever seen. Cruise control does for whatever reason work the best it can at the 55- 60 MPH range anything above that be prepared for the Taco gear dance! Yes you can get the TSB done but this truck will learn its old ways in time and will be back to where it was before.

 

Cruise has worked great for me so far, in fact better than i thought it would. I do have a manual transmission though. So maybe it works better in that configuration.

 

Yes manuals have been better!

 

With an automatic you got all kinds of things going on lockup converter, high gearing 6 speed, (newer ones) it's going to shift a lot. Take a ride in a newer 8 speed vehicle.

 

I keep mine in 5th and it doesn't search there. just goes from 4th to 5th on inclines.

 

Yes the decision is totally up to the operator as to when it shifts.

 

I have the same issue. I will have dealership look into it at my next visit

 

The only way I know should work is to hold the desired speed within a few mph. Which it does.


Just because it doesn’t do it in the gear you think it should doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. We drive heavy bricks with a huge hole in the front of it where the grille is.

 

I am glad you are happy with it! I just dont think going over a overpass at 65MPH your truck should have to slam down into 4th gear hit nearly 5000RPM and then not up shift until you force it to by turning off cruise! It would be fine if it downshifted to 5th to maintain speed then into 4th if needed but it skips 5th all together and never up shifts! My 07 was way heavier then my 16 and it never drove like this on cruise control. But OVtune has helped it a lot but its still not up to what i think it should work like. Again glad you like your truck and just to be clear i love my truck even if it has this issue!

 

I have 2 2019 tacos...one with a 6 and one with a 4. Both have larger BFG ATs

Both run roughly the same RPM with the cruise on 75 mph which is about 3500 in 4th.

They never hit 6th, try 5th but shift out very quickly then stay in 4th. Just how these things roll...you would think the 6 would run at a lower RPM but it doesn't.

Both do the same trans dance. Hit cruise and they shift for a millisecond into 6th and fall immediately to 5th. First incline or wind and they shift into 4th. They attempt 5th again briefly and settle into 4th for the remainder.

Toyota suggests a thicker oil for extended highway driving which mine definitely
qualifys for. I run 0w40 and don't loose any sleep about pushing 3k plus for hours on end. Fuel mileage sucks...but its better than my super duty was. Of course it could fit in the bed of the ford lol

 

The other thing guys...this isn't a trans programing issue. Its a lack of power issue. Both engines don't make power until they get over 3k. These trucks are not small and not slender. The engines need to run in the power bands to make hay. Just the facts of life. I laugh every time someone says the 2.7 is underpowered because I can say with the 100% authority...THEY BOTH ARE.

And even then that's not accurate. They both have plenty of power they just need to spin fast to get it. They are designed for it though...its not going to hurt anything.

 

I agree the truck would be better with more low in torque but there isn't so little torque down low that the truck isn't capable of the acceleration being asked of it; it's nowhere near bogging when it starts playing the gear jumping game. It's a programming issue

 

I havent noticed to much crazy shifting.. I will say, though.. I love the radar cruise.. Set it and forget it... I had to test it out to see... but it will slow you down REAL quick if you need it to lol ..

 

My cruise control works the same as every other vehicle I have had.

My truck is stock, though.

 

My stock 2.7 automatic tacoma doesn't do any of this. In fact, it works so well I'm totally happy.