Shifting and Gear question

I notice every time I am in a junction, and try to accelerate from a full stop, the Runner upshifts too soon hence it doesn't "pull" as fast as I want it to be.

When I'm on the highway and running 80mph, I try to put the shifter on the "S" position to see what gear it's in... it's always on 4th gear even on a straight road.

Are these normal ?

Thanks

 

When you move the shifter into S mode it defaults to S-4 then you bump the shift lever forward to S-5 if that is what your asking.

 

So do in "D" mode, does it always stay in 4th gear (at high speed) then? What happens when I go to "S", bump it to 5, then go back to "D" ? Will it stay in 5th gear, or will it downshift to 4th gear?

 

In D mode it shifts through all 5 gears, if you have it in S-4 it shifts through all gears up to 4. If you go back to D it shifts as normal.

 

Is there a way to see the gear position (current gear being used at any time)?

 

In D? No

Just count if you really need to know you can feel it shift.

 

Yes it is displayed on the instrument panel.

 

I must be blind. I only see "D" when I drive?

 

Even in sequential mode right?
It only shows the highest gear I will allow the truck to be in (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, or S5) but not the current gear?

Most of the time I can more or less tell which gear I am in based on the rpm at what speed. But I was surprised that I couldnt find in the menus a way to tell me my current gear

 

That’s because your in drive, what do you see when you put it in S mode and shift through thegears?

 

It won't show you what gear you're in, only the highest gear you allow using S mode.

 

When I put it in S mode, it shows the highest gear I choose the truck to be in, not the current gear.
Using the shifter to shift up, does not actually shift the gear up unless the proper RPM is reached. Shifting down, does force the gear to shift down however.

In other words, I can be at a dead stop and set it at S3. The 4runner will be in 1st gear and will auto shift all the way up to 3rd gear (but not go over that gear).

In my 2007 Lexus, it was the same system, except that I could also navigate the menus to show the current gear