Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I did have the cruise control downshifting issue big time, as well as hesitation. The first TSB a year ago fixed both to my satisfaction, and the car is running fabulous.
I do recognize that there are still a couple of folks who are still having a cruise control problem, and to those my heart goes out to them because I know how frustrating having one of these problems can be.
I cannot offer first hand feedback on the V6 flare issue. When cars are being bought back via lemon law, and others are toughing it out with transmission replacement after replacement with no resolution to the problem......that leads me to believe that Toyota STILL doesn't have this fixed yet. We can debate 16 ways till Sunday as to how widespread the problem is, but I don't think anyone but Toyota would really know that number, and no way they would share that.
So it doesn't surprise me that Mack had a great ride last week, I suspect the odds were in his favor.
I bought my 2007 Toyota Camry SE 2.4/5sp.-auto in July 2007. It was built in July 2007. Looks like I don't have the hesitation problem and I can't tell about cruise control, because I am not using it. The car seems to be operating good, except the gas mileage. In the city I have 18.5 MPG. So far I have 1700 miles on it and did first oil change with Pennzoil 5w20 full synthetic. I heard few guys on this board, their gas mileage and performance was improved after TSB was installed. Do you guys think I have to do it, since I have no other problems except the gas mileage ? Thanks.
Trust me. The Trans problem is real and if you have worked for Toyota for more thatn 3 years you know about this problem. Who are we fooling?
As far as the gas mileage goes, remember it is still a relatively new car with only 1700 miles on it. Give it another 3 to 4k miles, and you should see your MPG improve.
By the way, driving a car for only 600 miles does not make you any kind of an expert on that model of car. Do you have any other credentials to present that would help us to seriously consider your posted opinions?
Mackabee
:shades:
By the way, I also am a 20 year Navy Electronics Technican who knows a little about servo motors, electronics, mechanics, etc.. So if you really want to help, my VIN: 4T1BE46K07U102536. According to some posts in this forum, TSB TC010-06(Aug06) which involved replacing a solenoid fixes the downshifting problem. But since my car was assembled in 12/06, my car supposedly had this solenoid already replaced when it was assembled. The latest TSB EG036-07(ECM calibration) recalibrates ECM(PCM) engine and transmission, and fixed the hesitation problem, but not the cruise control downshifting problem. Could you check with your Master Mechanics to see if replacing the solenoid per TSB TC010-06 could be implemented on my car? I would appreciate any and all help you might render. My local dealer has not been much help.
TC010-06
Mackabee
The arbitrator's usually use your states lemon law as a guide as to if they will buy back your car or not.
I have read several places that arbitration is a waste of time. The arbitrators are paid by Toyota. Toyota tells you that you need to go to arbitration before you can file a Lemon Law suit but, at least in California, I have heard that isn't true.
As far as advice, you may want to try and video the hesitation on your 2007 and also video the same driving conditions in the 2006 so the arbitrators can see the difference.
I wish you all the best!
I dropped off the car so I could repro the shift flare for them this morning. I was able to reproduce it and got it documented. Whatever they do will be attempt #4. They said they want me to bring the car back in on Tuesday when the Field Technical Specialist will be there to go for a test drive. I am not sure how going on another test drive with the FTS will help them considering Toyota has been trying to fix this problem for 1 to 1.5 years now. :confuse:
This is very important because it proves that there is indeed a problem with your car. I think the arbitrator will be looking for some proof that 1) your car has a problem 2) it was verified by Toyota (dealership) and 3) Toyota made a 'reasonable' number of attempts to fix it and weren't able to.
Any idea what your state's lemon law says?
Important fact to remember; ----- If you want service from you local dealer, purchase your vehicle from that dealer, and have all of your preventive maintenance done by that dealer! This is just the way the "real world" operates! If you want to become his customer, give him some service work. Get to know the service advisor. Get to know the service manager.
Best regards. ----- Dwayne :shades:
Why should we have to be the one's to work so hard to try to get our cars fixed?
Mackabee
I am going to try again though in 30 days since they have now applied the latest TSB which fixes the 'hesitation' (supposedly) but does not address the cruise control problem.
We are driving down to Mobile, Ala. on 85-south then 65-south. I will once again record everytime it jumps from Cruise to 4th to 3rd gear. I did it for a 1 hour time frame and recorded 43 times it dropped from 'over drive' to 4th then to 3rd gear taching at 5,400.
1. tested on a long stretch of local road that had some mild hills and twists and turns with a speed limit of 45mph. I set the cruise at 45, and was pleased with the way the car handled the hills; there was no rapid acceleration, and engine braking (downshift) worked nicely; speed hovered right around 45
2. tested on a long stretch of highway where the speed limit was 55, some upgrade and downgrade. Again, the Camry did very well when set at 55, only kicking down once, and not unexpected (I could see it coming).
3. tested on a long stretch of highway where the speed limit was 70, some steep upgrades and downgrades. My Camry did not perform very well in this test. It kept doing the rapid downshift+upshift dance so many times I discontinued use.
I have to conclude that this engine is just plain underpowered for the weight of the car under high speed conditions where the roadway isn't flat, or with mild up/down grades. I will be heading for the mountains in the next few weeks, and will see how the engine does on steep upgrades at lower speeds. I am betting it will be up/down shifting quite a bit unless I disallow overdrive.
The manufacturers have figured out how to program the engine/transaxle ECU such that it will keep the engine operating with the BEST FE, right on the cusp of having just enough power for the task of the moment.
Also, six speed transmissions now often operate as 9 speed gear boxes via the use of the lockup clutch in gear ratios other than actual OD. More "finely" "cogged" gearboxes, more shiftiness.
The 2005 Camry with 2.4L engine has 163 ft-lbs and weighs 3164 lbs.
The 2007 Camry with 2.4L engine has 161 ft-lbs and weighs 3307 lbs.
Here in the NW mountainous regions I find that it helps to slip the transaxle out of OD manually when I see a fairly serious incline upcoming. Unlike you, the CC has no forward "vision" so it MUST wait for the speed to decline before reacting.
That "action" might look good on "paper," but it will not "fly" in the real world! ----- It is far better to work with the selling dealer in a professional manner! --- I never have a problem with a new car dealer in terms of service. ---- 1st, I make it a point to purchase my vehicle from a local dealer. 2nd, the sales person knows up front that I will give the dealer all of the service work, both paid and warranty, for the life of the vehicle. (This includes brakes, tires ---etc). 3rd, I make it a point to get to know the "Service Advisor" and the "Service Manager" on a personal basis. When I present my vehicle for sevice, I always leave "something" for the Service Technician with the repair order, and when the service has been completed, I make it a point to say "thank you" in the form of a hand written note the next day! I get excellent service from my Toyota Dealer, because I respect the staff at the dealership, and they respect me as the customer. Our lines of communication are open. I can call them at any time and get a question answered. We have a positive professional relationship. I would NEVER report a problem with the dealer to the parent corporation. I would rather work things out in a "fact to face meeting" with dealership management.
Best regards. ---- Dwayne :shades:
DIY all the way.
Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
After 16 months of total frustration, trans replacement, arbitration, many visits to the dealer to try to duplicate flare problem, ect...
I left my car a few weekends ago at the dealer to have them try to duplicate the rpm flare.
I wanted there mechanic to take the car home all weekend as I was out of town.
Well, that never happened as the mechanic I guess was to busy they said.
This was valuable time for me as I didn't need my car that weekend and don't have the time usually to drop a car off all weekend and be without a car.
Well, the supervisor apologized and said I can set up another appointment another time.
Well, since I have had my car back the flare problem is gone. There is a concern I have with the car going in to 1 gear when coming to a stop. The trans feels as if it is still going into gear even though the car is stopped. This only happens occasionally and seems to happen when the car is on a slight down grade. I'm still checking this out.
6 months ago I had a conversation with a regional guy about doing the TSB for my car. He said we can't do that because we haven't duplicated the problem and if we go ahead and do it Toyota may be up against the "lemon law"?
Well, I also once told the dealer and the rep that if they were smart they should have done the TSB without telling me. (Of course that would be illegal)
Well, I believe that what they did?
My trans seems much smoother though I paying close attention to some other issues.
We will see if this fix last?
I would love to here your opinions on what the dealership did with my car?
Thanks, chuck
After two tranny replacements and the TSB, my car still has the shift flare. The 2nd tranny is much worse. I noticed a flare of about 800 rpms last night. Anyway, I went to a lemon law attorney and Toyota has agreed to buy back our lemon! Hoooray! God is good!
I am so ready to be done with this car and move on with my life.
Interstingly, I have read how the V6 Camry has been dropped in ratings from Consumer Reports due to the number of transmission complaints. The irony in this is that the Lexus ES350 is still recommended and yet has the same transmission. I have found posts @ Clublexus.com whereby people are compaining about [non-permissible content removed] flare. Not sure why the Camry gets spanked while the ES 350 does not..... :confuse:
Any light that you guys can shed would be great. My friend has a late 2007 V6 model and has had no trouble. It seems that 25% of V6 owners are complaining. Wonder if driver habit has anythign to do with the shift flare by learning ones driving style and programming shift points in the ECM.
BINGO!
Mackabee
No, if that were the causative factor it would have been fixed LONG AGO...