Hard Shifting Tacoma Automatic 4x4

[xsacta]

Hello All,

I`ve recently taken the plunge and purchased a loaded `03 Tacoma Xtra cab V6.My`86 pickup has 336K on it so it *really* was time to step up.Having always driven trucks with a stick I figured my new truck should have one too,but in the end,it was more practical to buy the automatic and I did.Now I did test drive this truck,but only for a mile or so.It was fantastic.What more did I need to know?So I bought it.On the way home from the dealer,about 9:00pm, I noticed and felt that the truck shifted a bit hard into second then back down into first gear.Unlike the test drive,the truck was fully warmed up at this point.It wasn`t metal to metal hard but a bit of a dull thump.This kind of thump is something I associate with a rear differential that`s starting to go.Now trust me,I was driving this new truck like a grandfather.I was intent on breaking it in easy.I alerted the dealer the following morning and an appointment was scheduled.The dealers mechanic test drove the truck and admitted that it shifted a bit *firm*.His solution was to download a new program into the computer that controls this electronic transmission.Unfortunately it couldn`t be done as there were problems connecting to Toyota`s site.He then informed me that the truck has a *learning* computer that through a number of driving cycles will adjust to an individual driver`s habits.My instincts told me that while that might be true,no adjustment by the computer should result in hard shifting while accelerating gingerly behind a soccer mom.Regardless,I went with it.By the time the 1000 mile oil change came up the thump was as *there* as ever.I insisted that it be checked out again.I get the same mechanic(sigh).He calls Toyota technical and is told to disconnect the negative Battery terminal and this will reset the computer to zero.I thought that this would be a good thing as the truck had 5 miles on it when I took it.Maybe whomever drove it first stomped down on the accelerator and the computer *learned* that(?) I was ready to get happy,but no,it`s still the same.Now trust me,this isn`t something that you have to squint your eyes to feel.It`s not an esoteric thing that only *I* notice.It`s disturbing.I drive two other automatic vehicles and there`s none of this hard shifting happening.Granted,niether of these vehicles have the complex split driveshaft,due to the Xtra cab,of the Tacoma.The dealer says that the judgment of their mechanic is that the condition is normal.I can`t believe that a condition that I or any mechanically minded person could only judge as ultimately detrimental to the drive train might be normal.Any opinions?

[Redracer]

We are having a similar issue with our brand new 2003 Sequoia. Shift OUT of high gear into low gear rather abrubtly and also shifts into higher gears abruptly - abrubt enough that it shakes you in the vehicle. We've not had a chance to take it in yet but will soon - it's got about 3,000 miles on it and has done this from day one. I'll try to let you know how our visit to the dealer works out