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8 Speed TCM Operation and "Learning" your driving

bmpcamry09

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Wanted to make a thread to spread some knowledge on our 8 speed. Specifically how the TCM operates and to clairfy the ever so often talked about "learning".

For years and years on various forums, people have made reference to the 8 speed saying it "learns" your habits, and if your having shifting issues, do a "relearn" or have your dealer reset adaptives to the car can "learn" how you drive. Well, this is only partially true and really isn't what everyone should be saying, and I'll show you why.

To start, every single JL or JT that hits the road from the factory has the exact same transmission calibration for your particular engine (2.0 does not have same trans tune as 3.6 for example). Same shift schedules, same parameters in the tuning, everything is the same. My 2025 3.6 is going to have the same trans tune as your 2025 3.6. Where the "Learning" side of these comes to play is NOT based on your driving behavior, but it is a built in TCM feature to adjust for natural discrepancies in manufacturing. TCM learning/adaptives are in place so that the TCM can adjust on the fly for minor differences in valve body clearances, valve body spring rates, clutch pack clearances, and other things that can slightly vary from model to model. This is why in factory service manuals after doing a valve body replacement will require programming and a learn procedure, because your fresh new valve body will not have the same internal characteristics as the old worn out one that was in there before. The adaptive/learning side of our transmissions is so that the transmission can produce consistent shift quailty for the life from the vehicle, even as clutches wear out, springs get softer, things expand and contract, etc.....by shift quality, I mean slip timers, ramp timers, fill timers, oncoming clutch timers, offgoing clurtch timers, and all aspects of the actual shift itself.

What these don't learn is your long term driving habits. So lets say you buy a used Jeep and you don't like how the transmission "bogs", it has NOTHING to do with the previous owner and their driving habits because the aggression tables are reset to the base level after every key off. Clearning adaptives or doing a quick learn is not going to change this. All that is going to do is force your TCM to relearn the wear and tear that your transmission has accomplished over the long term.

The "bogging" has everything to do with how your shift schedules are set up and has nothing to do with your previous owner. The ONLY driver based learning your TCM is doing is based on your current drive cycle. Our TCM uses a timer and an aggression based shift schedule set up. The timer activates based on throttle pedal position and acceleration rate. The TCM will spit out a shift table desired based on this timer, and will pick the appropriate shift type and schedule based on this timer. This timer goes back to 0 over time during your current drive cycle. This timer also resets to 0 after every engine start up event. There is NO long term adaptive for shift scheudle behavior. Below is a picture of the aggression tables within your TCM tune, and all of the boxes with numbers represent the various shift scheudles the transmission can pick from based on your "agression".....

Jeep Gladiator 8 Speed TCM Operation and "Learning" your driving {filename}




The aggression counters and determined shift tables can be monitored with datalogging. As you can see below, I am datalogging most of the parameters that determine short term habits. "Shift ID" is what aggression table you are referencing. In the case of our Jeeps, table number 5, which is an aggression rate of 0, is the table referenced for 95 percent of normal daily driving. The longer you accelerate paired with how deep you are into your pedal will gradually move your aggression rate from 0 up to 4 (as seen above), and your shift schedules will change accordingly. THIS is the ONLY driver based habit learning your transmission does, and it is extremely short term and resets to 0 during your drive and after every key off.

Jeep Gladiator 8 Speed TCM Operation and "Learning" your driving {filename}



Anyways, just a little nerdy breakdown for you guys.

What I am getting at is STOP resetting your adaptives with JSCAN or your scan tool. It is not needed, and it is forcing your TCM to have to relearn slip timers and all the mechanical aspects of your internals, and has nothing to do with driving habits.

As always, if you want a trans tune, hit me up or check out my tuning threads.
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Related but unrelated. Since you know a bit about these transmissions, is there any way to program these to operate like they do in BMW's?

Shift lever in D - operates normally
Move shift lever over - still auto but in sport mode. shifts are crisper, holds rpms a little longer, etc.
Move shift lever over and tap +/- - now you're in manual mode and control shifts using the lever or paddles

I really miss this about my X5. Out of the city I'd leave it in normal. Once in a busy area I'd flip to sport for better response. When in the mountains or towing I'd be back and forth between sport and manual.
 
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bmpcamry09

bmpcamry09

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Related but unrelated. Since you know a bit about these transmissions, is there any way to program these to operate like they do in BMW's?

Shift lever in D - operates normally
Move shift lever over - still auto but in sport mode. shifts are crisper, holds rpms a little longer, etc.
Move shift lever over and tap +/- - now you're in manual mode and control shifts using the lever or paddles

I really miss this about my X5. Out of the city I'd leave it in normal. Once in a busy area I'd flip to sport for better response. When in the mountains or towing I'd be back and forth between sport and manual.
Yes there is! Mopar actually has "sport" shift feel already programmed into the TCM, it just doesn't use it. It takes a few revisions and datalogs to get manual mode to feel "crispy" like that but it is definitely an option.

When I tune these, I actually set the shift pressures/timers/etc. to be something between stock and what that "sport" mode is, so often times people are happy with that alone.
 

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Yes there is! Mopar actually has "sport" shift feel already programmed into the TCM, it just doesn't use it. It takes a few revisions and datalogs to get manual mode to feel "crispy" like that but it is definitely an option.

When I tune these, I actually set the shift pressures/timers/etc. to be something between stock and what that "sport" mode is, so often times people are happy with that alone.
I may be reaching out about this when I finally get around to putting the ol girl on a diet.
 
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bmpcamry09

bmpcamry09

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I may be reaching out about this when I finally get around to putting the ol girl on a diet.
Sounds good. I’m not 100 percent sure the Ecodiesels can be used with HP Tuners if that’s what you’re running. Just a heads up.
 

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bmpcamry09

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Just did some testing and found that at least on my 2025 V6 that the trans is actually using the “performance” shifting tables in manual mode, so faster and cleaner shifting. YMMV if your a ED.
 

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Wanted to make a thread to spread some knowledge on our 8 speed. Specifically how the TCM operates and to clairfy the ever so often talked about "learning".

For years and years on various forums, people have made reference to the 8 speed saying it "learns" your habits, and if your having shifting issues, do a "relearn" or have your dealer reset adaptives to the car can "learn" how you drive. Well, this is only partially true and really isn't what everyone should be saying, and I'll show you why.

To start, every single JL or JT that hits the road from the factory has the exact same transmission calibration for your particular engine (2.0 does not have same trans tune as 3.6 for example). Same shift schedules, same parameters in the tuning, everything is the same. My 2025 3.6 is going to have the same trans tune as your 2025 3.6. Where the "Learning" side of these comes to play is NOT based on your driving behavior, but it is a built in TCM feature to adjust for natural discrepancies in manufacturing. TCM learning/adaptives are in place so that the TCM can adjust on the fly for minor differences in valve body clearances, valve body spring rates, clutch pack clearances, and other things that can slightly vary from model to model. This is why in factory service manuals after doing a valve body replacement will require programming and a learn procedure, because your fresh new valve body will not have the same internal characteristics as the old worn out one that was in there before. The adaptive/learning side of our transmissions is so that the transmission can produce consistent shift quailty for the life from the vehicle, even as clutches wear out, springs get softer, things expand and contract, etc.....by shift quality, I mean slip timers, ramp timers, fill timers, oncoming clutch timers, offgoing clurtch timers, and all aspects of the actual shift itself.

What these don't learn is your long term driving habits. So lets say you buy a used Jeep and you don't like how the transmission "bogs", it has NOTHING to do with the previous owner and their driving habits because the aggression tables are reset to the base level after every key off. Clearning adaptives or doing a quick learn is not going to change this. All that is going to do is force your TCM to relearn the wear and tear that your transmission has accomplished over the long term.

The "bogging" has everything to do with how your shift schedules are set up and has nothing to do with your previous owner. The ONLY driver based learning your TCM is doing is based on your current drive cycle. Our TCM uses a timer and an aggression based shift schedule set up. The timer activates based on throttle pedal position and acceleration rate. The TCM will spit out a shift table desired based on this timer, and will pick the appropriate shift type and schedule based on this timer. This timer goes back to 0 over time during your current drive cycle. This timer also resets to 0 after every engine start up event. There is NO long term adaptive for shift scheudle behavior. Below is a picture of the aggression tables within your TCM tune, and all of the boxes with numbers represent the various shift scheudles the transmission can pick from based on your "agression".....

Jeep Gladiator 8 Speed TCM Operation and "Learning" your driving {filename}




The aggression counters and determined shift tables can be monitored with datalogging. As you can see below, I am datalogging most of the parameters that determine short term habits. "Shift ID" is what aggression table you are referencing. In the case of our Jeeps, table number 5, which is an aggression rate of 0, is the table referenced for 95 percent of normal daily driving. The longer you accelerate paired with how deep you are into your pedal will gradually move your aggression rate from 0 up to 4 (as seen above), and your shift schedules will change accordingly. THIS is the ONLY driver based habit learning your transmission does, and it is extremely short term and resets to 0 during your drive and after every key off.

Jeep Gladiator 8 Speed TCM Operation and "Learning" your driving {filename}



Anyways, just a little nerdy breakdown for you guys.

What I am getting at is STOP resetting your adaptives with JSCAN or your scan tool. It is not needed, and it is forcing your TCM to have to relearn slip timers and all the mechanical aspects of your internals, and has nothing to do with driving habits.

As always, if you want a trans tune, hit me up or check out my tuning threads.
Totally believe this because if I get in a hurry and I am romping on it it shifts shorter and stays in gears longer , the more relaxed I am with the peddle it shifts up and up which drives me crazy. So I just drive like a B.O.H. and that usually takes care of it.
 

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What I would really like is for the trans to operate like the Rams......Set it to the highest gear you want it to use (7th while towing)and it uses all of the gears below that as usual?

Also with the diesel, it waits way too long to downshift under a load, drops 2-3 gears, then upshifts right afterward..........sometimes repeating the process till you intervene.
 

JTdiRtyD

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Just did some testing and found that at least on my 2025 V6 that the trans is actually using the “performance” shifting tables in manual mode, so faster and cleaner shifting. YMMV if your a ED.
I know others have claimed that in manual mode theres will still auto shift but just higher points like a sport mode, but with my EcoD it wont shift on its own unless it absolutely has. I've seen it downshift on its own to 1st if you come to a stop, but it otherwise has not tried to shift itself in manual mode.
 
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bmpcamry09

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I know others have claimed that in manual mode theres will still auto shift but just higher points like a sport mode, but with my EcoD it wont shift on its own unless it absolutely has. I've seen it downshift on its own to 1st if you come to a stop, but it otherwise has not tried to shift itself in manual mode.
I get it now so your looking for a dedicated sport mode that shifts more aggressively on its own by using manual mode since there is no sport button or dedicated way? Technically within the tuning you can do that, but you would lose your manual shifting ability if you set it up like that
 

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bmpcamry09

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What I would really like is for the trans to operate like the Rams......Set it to the highest gear you want it to use (7th while towing)and it uses all of the gears below that as usual?

Also with the diesel, it waits way too long to downshift under a load, drops 2-3 gears, then upshifts right afterward..........sometimes repeating the process till you intervene.
No way to do that on these since there are no dedicated gear lockout switches like on the steering wheel of the Ram.

EcoDiesel trans tuning probably has less aggressive downshifts for turbo loading reasons. But I can see where that would need improvement.
 
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bmpcamry09

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Totally believe this because if I get in a hurry and I am romping on it it shifts shorter and stays in gears longer , the more relaxed I am with the peddle it shifts up and up which drives me crazy. So I just drive like a B.O.H. and that usually takes care of it.
Yep the aggression counter will work its way up from 0 like a clock when driving aggressive. The higher the counter goes, the more aggressive shift mapping becomes, and it won’t go back to normal for several seconds or more until that aggression counter works its way back to 0
 

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I get it now so your looking for a dedicated sport mode that shifts more aggressively on its own by using manual mode since there is no sport button or dedicated way? Technically within the tuning you can do that, but you would lose your manual shifting ability if you set it up like that
Yeah thats what I want, but not if I lose the manual shifting ability. I'll see what just tune feels like, hopefully thats enough.
 

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No way to do that on these since there are no dedicated gear lockout switches like on the steering wheel of the Ram.

EcoDiesel trans tuning probably has less aggressive downshifts for turbo loading reasons. But I can see where that would need improvement.
On the ram, you just hit the "-" button, it shows what gear on the dash, and it defaults only the gears below with otherwise normal operation where on the Jeep it will stay in a gear till redline before it upshifts?

If the music is on, it might downshift to 4th or 5th at highway speeds during it's indecisive BS while towing and if you aren't paying attention you will hold it on redilne indefinitely since it's so smooth and quiet.
 
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bmpcamry09

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On the ram, you just hit the "-" button, it shows what gear on the dash, and it defaults only the gears below with otherwise normal operation where on the Jeep it will stay in a gear till redline before it upshifts?

If the music is on, it might downshift to 4th or 5th at highway speeds during it's indecisive BS while towing and if you aren't paying attention you will hold it on redilne indefinitely since it's so smooth and quiet.
Yes. Rams buttons on the steering wheel are a lockout mechanism and not a manual shift mode. Moving the lever over on these Jeeps makes it manual mode and isn’t for lockout reasons
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