pwr mode? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

WhippinCamry · 02-05-2011, 07:23 AM

Ive always kept it off. heard it uses more gas. if so how much more alot or a little? and does it really make better shift points or anything?

71Corolla · 02-05-2011, 02:03 PM

I find the mode basically useless. But it does change the shift points, and will cause the transmission to hold a lower gear for longer. It's designed to be used occasionally, you turn it off for daily driving. I do think you will use a bit more gas if you always drive with it on.

Mike Gerber · 02-05-2011, 02:18 PM

A little. That said, most people will begin to drive their car harder in power mode, to see how much more power that seem to have. That will cause a lot more fuel consumption.

Mike

WhippinCamry · 02-05-2011, 02:35 PM

i tried it and didnt see any thing more with power lol.
i agree almost useless and yes i was pushing mine hard in pwr mode just like you said.

ill just leave it alone.
would it help with traction in snow possibly?

nopain00 · 02-05-2011, 04:58 PM

Won't help in snow, actually will make it worse since it will favor a lower gear and more wheel spin. The only times I've found it useful is when driving at 40+mph in up-and-down hilly terrain. In normal mode, it will keep shifting into overdrive, slowing down, and then downshifting again. In power mode, it won't "search" for the gear as much. With all that said, you can just hit O/D off, and get the same effect.

Eugee · 02-05-2011, 08:40 PM

The pwr mode is great on the tight turns and up and down swirling roads here on the North Cal coast and back roads. I hardly use it unless the road is extreme. I don't want to work my '86 that hard and I always feel like the tranny is workin overtime. It's got to use more gas cause the rpm runs higher. On long steep hills or with a load it actually seems like it is easier on the old 86 with it on. Use it or not it's cool. I used to have a dodge colt with a high and low on a five speed. Great tranny. Low for sport and high for normal driving. Worked great!

Mike Gerber · 02-06-2011, 03:04 PM

"I used to have a dodge colt with a high and low on a five speed. Great tranny."

I had one too, a 79 hatchback. I too like the 5 speed with the high and low selector. Too bad that car was in a flood and although salvagable, the body really started to rust out after the flood. Replaced it with an 86 Camry DX 5 speed in 86.

Mike

stanno · 02-07-2011, 04:20 PM

isn't the tranny supposed to downshift and hold a lower gear anyway when the tps senses that the throttle is actuated past a certain percentage in combination with the kickdown cable doing it's job?

i have use the power mode, but like others have said it's really just for when i know normal mode will cause the tranny to upshift too early.

in my jdm model i also have a manual mode in addition to the two other modes (PWR & ECON). in manual mode, it upshifts even earlier, i'm stumped as to what it's real purpose was.