Fixing the Hybrid First 1–2 Shift (CAMTuning)

[CAMTuning]

One behavior I have continued to work on with the hybrid Tacoma and 4Runner is the hard first 1–2 shift after the vehicle has been sitting.

Owners describe it in different ways: a jolt, thump, surge, or unusually firm shift. The common pattern is that it happens on the first drive of the day, then the transmission shifts normally afterward.

I have been working on this for a while with several customers, testing different approaches and comparing their feedback with the calibration data.

After a lot of testing, I was able to isolate what was causing the behavior and make a targeted correction without changing the way the transmission behaves the rest of the time.

The result is a much smoother first 1–2 shift.

This is one of the reasons I continue developing these calibrations long after the initial tune is released.

As I learn more about how these vehicles behave in different situations, I continue refining what my customers receive.

A big part of that is made possible by customers who are willing to test changes, report back honestly, and help me isolate behaviors that are difficult to reproduce on one vehicle alone. That real-world feedback is extremely valuable and directly improves the calibration for everyone.

Any existing CAMTuning customer with a hybrid Tacoma or 4Runner who experiences the hard first 1–2 shift can reach out for a free updated calibration.

This change is also being incorporated into all future hybrid calibrations.

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[redlimitediforcemax]

This is a huge upgrade for those of us who've had the hard shifting since day one. The day i picked up my limited hybrid, it slammed from 1st gear into 2nd and 3rd while I pulled out of the driveway of the dealership. With the custom CAMTuning calibration, I can't really tell it's there anymore. probably 95% cured my issue. If you're like me, dreading that first cold start drive, you will appreciate this greatly.

 

[CAMTuning]

This is a huge upgrade for those of us who've had the hard shifting since day one. The day i picked up my limited hybrid, it slammed from 1st gear into 2nd and 3rd while I pulled out of the driveway of the dealership. With the custom CAMTuning calibration, I can't really tell it's there anymore. probably 95% cured my issue. If you're like me, dreading that first cold start drive, you will appreciate this greatly.

Thanks- you’re on the list of completed tunes I planned to update today. This change takes it one step further than what I had already done on your truck. I’ll upload a new map for you- keep an eye on your email.

 

[wongaust]

Thank you for your extensive work and research! I am curious as I have a similar issue but on my non-hybrid TRD OR. Do you have any existing non hybrid customers that have this issue or do you have a calibration in development for non hybrids as well?

 

[CAMTuning]

Thank you for your extensive work and research! I am curious as I have a similar issue but on my non-hybrid TRD OR. Do you have any existing non hybrid customers that have this issue or do you have a calibration in development for non hybrids as well?

The issue is less common on the non-hybrid although my personal truck experiences it sometimes. I plan to apply the same changes to my truck. I expect it will respond the same.

 

[CharlieLed]

I see this hard shift in my 2025 TRDOR hybrid as well...what is involved with getting the updated tune? Thanks l

 

[CAMTuning]

I see this hard shift in my 2025 TRDOR hybrid as well...what is involved with getting the updated tune? Thanks l

If you're an existing customer, just respond to one of our email conversations. If you've never had me tune the truck, I can explain the whole tuning process to you and you can make a decision from there.

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