Select the appropriate shift position according to the intended driving purpose, road conditions, and the situation in which the Toyota Tacoma is being operated.
Shift position purpose and functions
*1: Moving the shift lever to D enables the transmission to choose a gear automatically according to current driving conditions, vehicle operation, and the required driving force.
For ordinary driving, keeping the Toyota Tacoma shift lever in D is recommended because the transmission can manage gear selection automatically.
*2: When shift ranges are selected in S mode, the available upper gear range is limited. This can increase the amount of engine braking available and reduce unnecessary upshifts under conditions where holding a lower gear is preferable.
Driving on a downhill
When traveling downhill, the automatic transmission may downshift without driver input when additional engine braking is appropriate for the descent.
Because a lower gear may be selected, engine speed can rise noticeably. This increase can occur as part of normal transmission operation while the vehicle is using engine braking.
To protect the automatic transmission
- If the tires continue spinning while the Toyota Tacoma is stuck in mud, dirt, or snow, or if the accelerator pedal is repeatedly pressed and released while driving, the temperature of the automatic transmission may rise excessively. Continued operation under these conditions can damage the transmission.
To limit the possibility of transmission damage, the system may temporarily hold or lock the selected gear while the automatic transmission is too hot. Once the transmission temperature decreases sufficiently, this restriction is canceled and normal gear operation resumes.
- If the automatic transmission fluid temperature becomes excessively high, "Transmission Oil Temp. High Stop in a Safe Place and See Owner's Manual" will appear on the multi-information display. Move the vehicle to a safe location as soon as possible, bring it to a complete stop, shift the lever to P, and wait for the warning message to disappear.
When the message is no longer displayed, driving may be resumed. If the warning remains on the multi-information display instead of clearing, do not continue normal operation and contact your Toyota dealer for assistance.
When driving with the dynamic radar cruise control activated
Changing the driving mode to sport mode while dynamic radar cruise control is operating will not provide the expected engine braking, because selecting sport mode does not cancel dynamic radar cruise control.
- When the Toyota Tacoma is being driven in S mode, the transmission can downshift to ranges 6, 5, 4, or 3 when permitted by vehicle speed. The range available for selection therefore depends on how fast the vehicle is traveling.
AI-SHIFT
AI-SHIFT automatically determines an appropriate gear by evaluating driver inputs together with the current driving conditions, allowing transmission operation to adapt as the situation changes.
The AI-SHIFT function operates automatically while the shift lever is in either D or S, without requiring a separate activation procedure.
WARNING
When driving on slippery road surfaces
Avoid sudden acceleration and abrupt gear changes when the Toyota Tacoma is traveling on a slippery road surface.
A rapid change in engine braking force can disturb tire grip and may cause the vehicle to skid or spin, increasing the risk of an accident.
Shifting the shift lever
With the engine switch in ON and the brake pedal depressed*, move the shift lever while pressing the shift release button on the shift knob. This procedure is required for shift positions protected by the shift lock system.
Move the shift lever to the required position while pressing the shift release button located on the shift knob.
Move the shift lever normally when the selected shift change does not require use of the shift release button.
When moving the shift lever between P and D, always bring the Toyota Tacoma to a complete stop before changing the shift position. Do not attempt this shift while the vehicle is still moving.
*: To shift the vehicle out of P, depress the brake pedal before pressing the shift release button. If the shift release button is pressed first, the shift lock mechanism will remain engaged and the shift lever will not be released from P.
Shift lock system
The shift lock system is designed to reduce the possibility of unintended shift lever operation when starting or preparing to move the vehicle.
The shift lever can be moved from P only when the engine switch is in ON, the brake pedal is being depressed, and the shift release button is pressed. These conditions must be satisfied in the proper sequence for the shift lock to release.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
Begin by confirming that the brake pedal is firmly depressed while attempting to move the shift lever.
If the shift lever still cannot be moved from P even though the brake pedal is depressed and the shift release button is being pressed, the shift lock system may have a malfunction. Have the Toyota Tacoma inspected by your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
The procedure below can be used as an emergency measure when it is necessary to release the shift lock and move the shift lever.
Releasing the shift lock:
1. Apply the parking brake securely so the vehicle remains stationary during the procedure.
2. Turn the engine switch off.
3. Depress and continue holding the brake pedal.
4. Carefully pry up the cover using a flathead screwdriver or another equivalent tool.
Wrap the tip of the screwdriver with a rag before prying the cover. This helps avoid scratching or damaging the surrounding surface while the cover is being removed.
5. Press and hold the shift lock override button, then press the button on the shift knob at the same time.
While both buttons remain depressed, the shift lever can be moved out of P. Keep the brake pedal depressed throughout the operation to maintain control of the Toyota Tacoma.
WARNING
To prevent an accident when releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock override button, firmly apply the parking brake and make certain that the brake pedal is being depressed.
If the accelerator pedal is pressed accidentally instead of the brake pedal while the shift lock override button is being used and the shift lever is moved out of P, the vehicle could begin moving suddenly. Unexpected movement may result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
Changing shift ranges in S mode
When the shift lever is placed in S, the available shift range can be changed manually by moving the lever in the directions shown below. This gives the driver direct control over the selected range within the operating limits of the Toyota Tacoma transmission.
- Upshifting to a higher shift range.
- Downshifting to a lower shift range.
The currently selected shift range, from S1 through S8, is shown on the multi-information display so the driver can confirm the active range at a glance.
When S mode is selected, the initial shift range is assigned automatically as 3, 4, 5, or 6 according to the Toyota Tacoma vehicle speed at that moment.
If AI-SHIFT has already operated while the shift lever was in D, the initial range may instead be set to 4 when S mode is engaged.
S mode
- S mode provides 8 selectable levels that vary the available accelerating force and the amount of engine braking.
- Selecting a lower shift range produces stronger acceleration and greater engine braking than a higher range. Engine speed will also rise as a lower range is used.
- If engine speed becomes too high, the Toyota Tacoma transmission may upshift automatically to prevent the engine from overrevving, even when a lower range has been selected.
- When automatic transmission fluid temperature becomes high, the system can automatically move to a higher shift range as a protective measure for the transmission.
- With shift range 7 or lower selected, holding the shift lever toward "+" changes the range directly to 8.
Downshifting restriction warning buzzer
Depending on vehicle speed and operating conditions, the transmission may temporarily refuse a requested downshift in order to maintain appropriate driving performance and avoid an unsuitable gear change. Therefore, moving the shift lever toward a lower range does not always result in an immediate downshift. When the requested operation is restricted, a warning buzzer sounds twice.
If the S indicator does not come on even after shifting the shift lever to S
If the S indicator fails to illuminate after the shift lever has been moved to S, the automatic transmission system may not be operating correctly.
Have the Toyota Tacoma inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately so the cause can be checked before normal use is continued.
"TOW HAUL" switch (if equipped)
Use "TOW HAUL" mode when towing a trailer or carrying a heavy load. Once activated, the mode adjusts engine, transmission, and steering operation to provide characteristics better suited to these demanding driving conditions.
- "TOW HAUL" indicator
- "TOW HAUL" switch
Press the "TOW HAUL" switch to activate the mode.
The "TOW HAUL" indicator will illuminate, confirming that the function is active.
Press the switch again when "TOW HAUL" operation is no longer required. The mode will be canceled.
Automatic deactivation of "TOW HAUL" mode
"TOW HAUL" mode is automatically canceled under either of the following operating conditions:
- When the front-wheel drive control switch is placed in "4L".
- When driving mode select or Multi-terrain Select, if equipped, is selected.
Selecting power mode (if equipped)
Power mode can be used when quicker response and a more direct driving feel are desirable, such as when operating the Toyota Tacoma on mountainous roads or in other situations that call for stronger response.
Press the "ECT PWR" switch to activate power mode.
The "ECT PWR" indicator will illuminate while power mode is selected.
Press the switch once again to cancel power mode and return to normal operation.
