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Comments
To a programmer, or say an engineer writing the specification for the engine/transaxle ECU firmware, lifting the accelerator abruptly and all the way would/might "imply" a wish to coastdown to a lower speed. In that circumstance remaining in the current gear would seem most appropriate. The above sequence may even be used to set the stage for a downshift if subsequently the brakes are applied.
On the other hand if you simply "feathered" the pedal to a shallower position that, seemingly, would/might imply a wish to enter cruising "mode", and an upshift would likely be more appropriate.
Back in the fifties when automatics first began to appear we soon learned that if we wished the transmission (no transaxles back then) to upshift sooner all we had to do was slightly lift the accelerator pedal momentarily.
So those of you experiencing this problem might want to practice completely closing the throttle until, if, you subsequently reach the point/decision, to accelerate.
Keep in mind that applying your foot higher on the pedal, which seems to have helped in some cases, would require more force and therefore lifting the pedal would likely both be more "abrupt" and a shorter travel distance.
Just guessing, again.
why don't we have a Toyota rep in this forum? I mean, did the Toyota rep just stumble upon that forum and joined? I think not.
I mean we payed some good money for our Avalon's, why don't we have the same access to that Toyota rep the 07 Camry's have? And, why are they sorta ignoring our problem with the transmissions, but not ignoring the 07 Camry's problems?
The Avalon 5 speed - no mechanical failures TMK although certainly a number of folks out there that don't like the way it operates.
As far as the tranny behavior is concerned, I really believe that there is either nothing that can be done about it or Toyota hasn't figured out a way to tame these essentially electronic gremlins. As far as VSC and TRAC go, you need to understand that these 'safety' features do - stop you from doing something that IT doesn't 'think' you should!
I own an 05 Touring and have driven it 33000 miles to this point, and yep - it is the most powerful, economical, and comfortable car I've ever owned. No plans to trade it in, drive too many miles for a lease, so therefore will likely keep it until the wheels fall off. And no, my transmission has NOT been what I would call any sort of problem - perhaps because of the way I 'learned' to drive it.
The 07 models are apparently continuing with little change including the 5 speed. My point - if more is better, buy the (otherwise well designed) Five Hundred 6 speed then you can have not only a transmission that doesn't know what gear to be in but a car that is too slow to boot. You'll save some money - at least initially.
But there has been progress, of a sorts.
Toyota went to DBW to try to solve the problem.
Toyota went to DBW to try to solve the problem"
Could you explain further? Isn't my 2006 XLS Avalon with VSC 'drive by wire'?
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Again, so far so good. Total 7400 kms (approx 4000 miles) to date and climbing fast. Anyone who says you need to go west to find hills hasn't driven the Cabot trail up in Cape Breton, BTW! Average mileage is 6.5 to 7 litres per 100km., or around 30 mpg in US terms. Estimated 70 percent highway driving at an average of about 90-100km/hr. Gas prices here are high, averaging $1.17 per litre of regular, so good mileage helps.
One oil change done en route, oil was clean, light amber colour with no unusual consumption. No leaks or other anomalies.
No evidence of any transmission hesitation, lurching or spiking as some have reported. Drive as smooth as silk so far. Asked a tech about these issues at the dealership we had the oil change done at up in North Sydney. He said there haven't been any complaints of that nature with Avalons or Camrys at their dealership, now or in the past. He really seemed genuinely puzzled why I even asked about it. We have also met a few Camry owners en route and hear the same--"what are you talking about" is a common response.
We don't have Nav (maps work just fine, thanks) so I can't report any experience there.
This car is just fine, and shows every indication of remaining that way. The 2000 we traded in was a great vehicle and gave us 6 years of trouble free service. This one is even better IMO, quieter, smoother, and a lot more power--you need that here because most roads are two lanes and passing slow moving motorhomes and travel trailers happens frequently. I have every reason to believe this new Avalon will give as good or better service than the previous one.
If nothing else, this experience proves to me that the conditions being reported by some are evidently not typical, and perhaps even confined to a small number of affected vehicles.
PLEASE, don't take this as anyway critical of those reports of problems, and definitely don't take my report as "bragging."
"If nothing else, this experience proves to me that the conditions being reported by some are evidently not typical, and perhaps even confined to a small number of affected vehicles."
I'd be willing to bet that almost all 2005/2006/2007 Avalons equiped with VSC, will have a hesitation issue. Do you have it? VSC that is.
so, it is typical with Avalons that are equiped with VSC.
If I had to complain about something its that I've already worn out the cushion on the drivers door armrest. Haven't brought this up w/ my dealer yet but will as it gets uncomfortable on the many long drives I take.
I feel for you guys having issues and hope you you are able to get some relief from Toyota some time soon.
I'm sure all Avalons equiped with VSC have this lag, maybe it's just some don't feel it as well as others might feel it. But, I'm sure there is a lag in all of them. And, all I'm saying is it shouldn't be there, or felt.
but, I do enjoy your reports.
BTW: No tranny issues with the 4 speed wish I could say the same about my 5 speed HL. I am not buying a new Avalon or Camry because of this issue.
gartmacd has made it clear that his VSC Avalon does NOT have this issue and that he has looked carefully for it. What is the evidence, beyond your personal experience, for your assertion that every VSC Avalon has the issue therefore he must simply not be noticing it?
There is no clear correlation between hesitation/lag and VSC. People without VSC have reported it too.
with no evidence other than by my own experience and what I've heard from the majority of people who own Avalons, both on this board, and other boards and people I know who own the vehicle, including the 3 in my company, then it's not all Avalons.
not all have this issue, only that the majority that I've either spoken to in person or on other boards have this issue, whether it bothers them or not, it's still an issue and whether it's the majority of all Avalons is still an issue, but that's not an excuse for being 'somewhat' ignored by Toyota concerning this issue.
and, I might add, I'm not bothered by the hesitation, I just think it shouldn't be there.
I think that is correct. Doesn't the toyota implementation have a chime or audio alert when VSC is operating to bring the vehicle under control?
I don't believe so, or at least I've never heard it. One time in pouring rain, I know for a fact the VSC was controlling the car, and I didn't hear a chime or audio alert and either there isn't one or there is something wrong with mine, cause in that kind of weather (pouring rain), I'm usually alert with the stereo off.
But yes, there were/are multiple reasons for adopting DBW but IMMHO the MAJOR one was to prevent or alleviate those premature transaxle failures due to engine torque rising during unpredictablee, "emergency", downshifts.
Both indications should be extended beyond the "event" so the driver will have an opportunity to see what has just happened.
Betcha that I could jump into his car right now and 'force' the hesitation - it is much more likely that his driving style, methods, and habits are something that the control programs can handle - the same reason why I don't regard the hesitation as problematical. I have learned how the car 'wants' to be driven! All Avalons, as well as many other Toyota/Lexus products and cars from other mfgrs., do exhibit the same type behaviors - accept it as a misapplication of technology! And it may get worse before it gets better - or we may all adjust to the point that this becomes second nature?
thank you, I guess that's what I was trying to say all along.
whether that's good or bad, depends on how you feel about the hesitation or 'lag' issue....like I mentioned, it doesn't do it all the time, I'm just concerned, that when I need to be at a certain point, like merging onto an expressway from an on-ramp, in heavy fast traffic, I know what the vehicle will do. I'm not so sure that my decision to 'gun it' and expect it to be where I expect it to be, will happen because of this 'lag', whether it's because of the VSC or not, a 'lag' or a 'hesitation' is there, sometimes, and I haven't figured out if it's me driving differently, or it's actually the car doing something I'm not expecting.
so, I'm alert in those situations more than I would be in any other car.
Sound familiar? What do you suppose the dealer will tell him?
An HONEST dealer, of which there are NONE, would tell him to get rid of his FWD or front biased AWD and buy a REAL car, RWD or front biased AWD (the new Acura SH-AWD equipped models come immediately to mind) and be rid of the dangers of FWD altogether.
yep, the same thing Toyota tells us, 'that's the way it works.'
but, I'm sure it doesn't do that in all vehicles that are DBW. I have seen others on this forum mention Honda for instance, or Nissan, I can't remember, but I don't think or I haven't heard, or I'm not as informed as I should be, that their having the same issues..the 'lag' or 'hesitation'.
Go ahead and get your car repaired. It certainly sounds like very minor work and I take exception to the comment that doing so will "significantly lower your trade-in price". Don't worry, get it repainted and enjoy your car. dan
I like to trade cars every 3 or 4 years.
I have to disagree with your contention. There are four adults on this trip. We take turns driving. None of us has experienced anything out of the ordinary with this car.
Besides, as I alluded to earlier, I personally tried a variety of techniques to see if I can make this car hesitate,lurch, spike, or any other anomaly. Nada! It just goes, smoothly, consistently, and without any noticeable change under any circumstances.
We're off in about 1/2 hour for the next leg of this trip, so I won't be on line until another web source come up. Hope to hear from you by then. Best take a hard look at that theory in the meantime.
Cj
Gartmacd is happy with his car. Some of you are not happy with yours. That's terrible, really, but you don't need to tell people who are happy that they are wrong about their car's behavior.
Let it go.
the reports of others like yourself indicating no issue (and you are trying all sorts of stuff to create it) has to be both comforting and disconcerting to those with the issue.
on the one hand it legitimizes their belief the company can build a good car, and the car they purchased should not hesitate.
on the other hand, no one should be telling them it's normal, or they all do that.
that isn't true.
Bob
this is one of the reasons you'd never ever have a vehicle with this sort of designed in "natural" behavior in the hands of many - ala rental fleet etc.
your son's assessment is on target. your vehicle is NOT operating as designed.
plenty of other manufacturers have DBW technology, and they do not do this.
there is something wrong with your vehicle.
either the manufacturer is gonna stand behind their product and fix it, or you should move on and get rid of it.
as they say, you have a lot riding on it, and you and your family deserve far far better.
One pill I find tough to swallow is that I when I bought my 05 Ltd, it had 280 hp on window sticker and that was a factor in purchasing this vehicle. Now BTW, Toyota says it's really 268! This is definitely a mis-calculation by Toyota no matter how they try to rationalize it and it falls under the category as false advertising to the consumer.