I have a 2013 4runner. In the 2001 Sequoia, when I would come down from the top of Pikes Peak, i would move the transmission to a lower gear so that I could stay off of the brake. I did not want my brakes to get hot. I would do this without coming to a complete stop. Then when the road leveled out I would shift back into drive. I tried to do this in the 2013 4runner, I did not get the vehicle to slow down enough to get off of the brake. How do you downshift to use the engine brake on the newer 4runners?
Downshifting to use engin brake coming downhill
- Thread starter mdnorris
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eddiebx
New member
Do you mean that you put the shift knob in the manualmatic mode and shifted it all the way down to first gear and it still didn't slow it down enough? I haven't noticed any difference in engine braking ability in this 4runner as compared to any other vehicle, it seems to control the speed down steep mountain roads just fine and I barely find myself shifting any lower than second gear for that. Maybe you're going down too steep of a road, lol
Whiplash Willy
New member
Mine does it automatically in D, however when I get to the bottom of the hill, it holds on to that lower gear way too long before it upshifts, which is annoying.
I am going to assume the OP knows how to downshift by moving the shifter to "S" and then making a quick, momentary pull to the rear to actually do the downshift and a quick, momentary push forward to upshift.
I downshift manually all the time when descending steep inclines. Most of the time the road is unpaved. I almost never have to go below 2. I brake enough before each downshift to make sure my head isn't thrown into the steering wheel by the sudden deceleration. In other words, it works for me!
I downshift manually all the time when descending steep inclines. Most of the time the road is unpaved. I almost never have to go below 2. I brake enough before each downshift to make sure my head isn't thrown into the steering wheel by the sudden deceleration. In other words, it works for me!
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Ol'Baditude
New member
Honestly, there's no special way to engine break with the 5th gen. The only thing you can do is to slow down to somewhere around your desired speed and use the step tronic to gear down manually to maintain that speed for as long as possible before having to use the break pedal. Before I got good at it, I would downshift while moving to fast and wonder why my engine was just revving higher and not slowing me down, but it's amazing how much longer you can maintain a certain speed or RPM range if you just get to that right target speed before you downshift.
EDIT: Hehe, [MENTION=54946]oldsweng[/MENTION]: looks like you beat me to it while I was writing this
EDIT: Hehe, [MENTION=54946]oldsweng[/MENTION]: looks like you beat me to it while I was writing this
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Viper45
New member
Wait S mode is a calculator too! :wow2:
Ukie
New member
Remember, if you are going too fast, downshift might be restricted - you'll hear buzzer sound. So braking might be necessary anyway.
Just learned something new...manual says: "When driving with the cruise control system, Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting to “4”.
Just learned something new...manual says: "When driving with the cruise control system, Engine braking will not occur in S mode, even when downshifting to “4”.
phillyd2
Senior Member
You can confirm that it works with your RPM gauge. I'm just finishing a CO tour and the truck has spent most of the time in S mode coming down mountains. But yeah, Mommy Toyota does restrict and punish with a beep when shifting too low to her liking, such as trying to shift into 1st at 40 mph.
comtn4x4
Senior Member
Pikes Peak is pretty steep. However, I am sure the engine will slow you down but maybe not enough to stay off the brake completely. I know from experience that all the gears sort of become lower in each progressive 4x4 mode (hi then low). When I was 4 wheeling recently I was in 4 low and 1st gear was to low. Most of the time I stayed in 2nd or 3rd. Unfortunately Pikes Peak is paved now so depending on your model of 4runner you may or may not be able to use four wheel drive without excessive binding. It seems to me either there is something wrong with your transmission or your understanding of the gears in "S" mode is not complete. (no offense intended)
JB.
New member
The Sequoia may have engine braked a little better if it was V8, but you should have no trouble doing it in the 4runner. The procedure is in the manual, so no need for me to go there, but you might have to be a little more proactive. I'd probably start out in 2nd gear and gauge from there what was needed. If you're building speed in 4th gear on a grade like that and expecting some quick deceleration via a downshift, you're in for a disappointment.
Viper45
New member
True, but the fact is that you're descending a ~24 mile road at a steep grade and if you rely only on your brakes then you are inviting Murphy over for dinner.
Flat roads and regular driving sure, pads all the way. Engine braking has it's place, and is intended to save you from overheating the pads and rotors so they don't fail when you need them most.
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comtn4x4
Senior Member
I agree completely
Jeremy556
New member
No. An engine and transmission don't care whether they are being turned by combustion in the engine or by the wheels. What exactly in a transmission is wearing from engine braking?
If you were to try to descend Pike's Peak without using engine braking, you would die. They actually have park rangers that stop you and put an IR thermometer on your wheels to keep you from killing yourself by not downshifting.
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cbreze
Member
I just downshift accordingly as I prefer to stay off the brakes as much as possible when downhilling. If third isn't enough I go for second. Inevitably I get some yahoo behind me who wants to go faster and get around. Bottom line tho is the speed of your vehicle and the grade of the hill your coming down sometimes requires some intermittent braking as well. I live in hilly mountainous country and find myself using engine braking all the time. Although we used to just call it "downshifting". My former tacoma was better at this, but it had a different gear ratio so no wonder.
hearno
Senior Member
If you seriously think you're not adding stress to a transmission by engine braking, you're delusional. The speed is being dissipated by friction in the trans and that equals heat which equals wear. You should google that tho. Also, I doubt I would die... However, I'm sure it's entirely possible to overheat your brakes and pikes peak isn't the only place it can happen. My solution would not be to use my transmission instead.
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