Transmission S shift issue?

[Ripper238]

I find it odd that whenever shift into (S) sequential shift mode it always goes into 4th gear no matter my speed. But I could still shift into any gear.

I also have an oddity when running close to 80mph using cruise control and it downshifts on a hill to 4th it seems to get stuck in it. And when I switch to S mode and try to manually shift it won't.

Very odd?

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[CavPro]

I've been using the S shifter to pull a light utility trailer for the last few weeks. All it really does when you shift it is eliminate 5th gear from the equation. Also using it doesn't mean you have to manually shift 1 to 4 as you go. It mostly eliminates the top gear depending where you shift it to but will still go through the gears like it was in D.

Hills and cruise control don't mix well especially a heavier car at 80 mph. For decades cruise control has done a crappy job with upshifts and then downshifts.

 

[Ripper238]

That makes sense it is a pretty heavy truck so it getting stuck in 4th I guess makes sense with cruise control. It's just odd when I disengage cruise control I can't use the S manual shift to change gears, just stays in 4th till I throttle in a bit to get it to shift out.

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[MTN4RNR]

5th Gen 4Runner transmission programming at it's finest

Ultimately you'll have to adjust your driving to match what the transmission wants to do...

 

[Ripper238]

5th Gen 4Runner transmission programming at it's finest

Ultimately you'll have to adjust your driving to match what the transmission wants to do...

I feel much better if that's just the way it is. I've had issues with every single transmission in every single car I've ever owned except for my last Mazda and hopefully this. So I'm a little bit sensitive to transmission oddities.

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[BobsTrail]

Modern cars with computer controls for engine and transmission. I get along fine with mine, we have to do it the Toyota way.

I miss my old GM car before electronic controls. I put in a B&M Shift Kit and made it do what I wanted when towing.

 

[jhguth]

it should manually shift, and generally it will drop down a gear when you push over into s-mode. it definitely does more than just eliminating 5th gear on mine (which it doesn't eliminate, you can shift into 5th just fine in s-mode)

mine definitely lets me shift manually and to the gear I want including shifting into overdrive. the transmission won't let you over-rev the engine, but it should let you drop down multiple gears. I used S-mode daily, the power band is pretty high so for merging and passing I just downshift in advance and then I donn't have any complaints that way about power or throttle response.

 

[Ripper238]

That's what's so weird. I can manually shift all the time except for when it gets stuck in 4th gear in cruise control. I'll slide it over to S and it'll just stay in fourth.

I'll play around with it some more and have to dealer check it out when I see them at my five thousand Mile check up

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[RPS99SHO]

That's what's so weird. I can manually shift all the time except for when it gets stuck in 4th gear in cruise control. I'll slide it over to S and it'll just stay in fourth.

I'll play around with it some more and have to dealer check it out when I see them at my five thousand Mile check up

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There is nothing wrong with it. It's not a manual mode in the way you think it is. It is a gear-limiter. Nothing more. When you see s4, it is locking out 5th. When you bump it back to s3, it will lock out 4th and 5th (assuming you aren't going too fast). So sure, if you're going in-town speeds, moving the shifter back and forth, it will feel like a manual mode. But on the highway, when you are in D and cruise control is active, and the trans is in 4th due to load and speed, there is nothing you can do to get it to upshift to 5th with S mode. If you want it to upshift, you'll need to turn off cruise and slow down (or otherwise remove load from the engine).

 

[jhguth]

uh, i s-shift into 5th daily

 

[CavPro]

uh, i s-shift into 5th daily

We get it, he is saying it won't manually shift to 5 when he is in cruise control.

 

[Ripper238]

There is nothing wrong with it. It's not a manual mode in the way you think it is. It is a gear-limiter. Nothing more. When you see s4, it is locking out 5th. When you bump it back to s3, it will lock out 4th and 5th (assuming you aren't going too fast). So sure, if you're going in-town speeds, moving the shifter back and forth, it will feel like a manual mode. But on the highway, when you are in D and cruise control is active, and the trans is in 4th due to load and speed, there is nothing you can do to get it to upshift to 5th with S mode. If you want it to upshift, you'll need to turn off cruise and slow down (or otherwise remove load from the engine).

Okay, if that's the way it is i can accept that. Its dumb, but its just the way it is. Thanks for the clear explanation.

My Mazda would shift into any higher gear i chose no matter the speed since up shifting is never an issue. Guess Toyota does not see it that way.

 

[cbreze]

I'm always in S mode around town. I see no need to shift thru all 5 gears when not going above 45. Not having that top end gear available gives me much better pedal acceleration when downshifting , braking and control on surface streets.

 

[Ripper238]

I'm always in S mode around town. I see no need to shift thru all 5 gears when not going above 45. Not having that top end gear available gives me much better pedal acceleration when downshifting , braking and control on surface streets.

But you will also have a loss of MPG. Not that it matters on an 4R. lol

 

[Thrasher_S]

My understanding is shifting to "S" lets you pick the HIGHEST gear available, so the default is 4th. If you slow down the transmission will still shift to 3, 2, 1, unless you pick a lower gear.

So, putting it manually in "1" only lets you use first gear, "2" is first and second, and so on.

I feel like it also changes shift points. The lower the number, the higher the revs before it shifts. Anybody else feel this?

 

[cbreze]

My understanding is shifting to "S" lets you pick the HIGHEST gear available, so the default is 4th. If you slow down the transmission will still shift to 3, 2, 1, unless you pick a lower gear.

So, putting it manually in "1" only lets you use first gear, "2" is first and second, and so on.

I feel like it also changes shift points. The lower the number, the higher the revs before it shifts. Anybody else feel this?

Your understanding is correct and the way a shift limiter works.
I hadn’t noticed any change in shift points, but when wheeling on dirt I really prefer to be in control of the gearing more by using the “S” mode. Going up a steep hill in 4lo I may not want it to be able to shift out of first until I’m ready.
Now in city traffic I think hitting 5th gear when going 30mph is counter productive and the main reason I leave 4th as my top gear. I notice much better acceleration. After backing out of my garage the first thing I do is put it in “S” mode.
I wonder if there has ever been a forum poll done on driving in “S” mode as a preference when applicable and if the driver notices improved performance.

 

[1jzgte]

this isnt a sports car

 

[Ripper238]

this isnt a sports car

True. But if there is a additional gear and there's an option to manually shift I should be able to choose it. LOL

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[euser]

True. But if there is a additional gear and there's an option to manually shift I should be able to choose it. LOL

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The car isn’t going to let you do something that won’t work. You’re driving a 4.5k lb brick at 80mph up a hill. It’s physically not possible to maintain that in 5th gear. Have you ever tried riding a bike in the highest gear up an incline? It’s like that.

 

[1000MPH]

Using S mode and staying mostly in 5th on the hwy makes no noticeable difference in fuel economy from my extensive experience. I soon realized using 4th for long hwy hillclimbs will keep the transmission from hunting between 4th and 5th and it works well with CC. Obviously a long hillclimb will kill your Mpgs but you’re not doing any favors trying to get it in 5th sooner.
S mode is also damn useful in keeping the dreaded unwanted downhill downshift in check.
After renting a Chevy equinox and driving a few Hondas lately, I’ll take the 4R tranny quirks any day. CC still sucks though.