do have to change the transmission...

[dctalking]

For those getting the flares on the 3rd and 4th gear... Do you have to get a transmission swap??? Have any of you all got it fixed without a swap? Can you live with it or will it kill your tranny in the long run??

Thanks in advance

[wtliao]

Originally Posted by dctalking

For those getting the flares on the 3rd and 4th gear... Do you have to get a transmission swap??? Have any of you all got it fixed without a swap? Can you live with it or will it kill your tranny in the long run??

Thanks in advance

My 07 XLE V6 started to have the flares on the 3rd-4th gear since last October. Mine was purchased March 2006 and built in Japan. I told my dealer but I didn't ask them to fix it, just want to keep a record on file. Maybe I am like many other 07 V6 owners, still waiting for a true fix from Toyota. Even though the latest TSB I still have no confidence on it. The way I used to avoid the flare is that I stepped on gas pedal very gently when engine is still cold, and wait until the gear switches from 3rd to 4th. I notice someone use manual shift mode to avoid flares.

However, I notice my flare is gone since mid-April under normal driving condition even the engine is still cold. My car has 17K on it and it's running very smoothly and responsive now, much better than before. Does it to do with the warm weather in DC now? Or my car is passed 15K and tranny has learned my driving habits? All I want to say I love how my 07 Camry drives now. Maybe it's the design flaw for all 6-speed tranny, and they eventually will have flares.



My car has 7yr/100K extended warranty. I can live with it and I don't think I will ask dealer to do any major work such as "tranny swap" now unless something really bad happen in the future. My wife will take over my Camry when she starts to work, and she does not care about flares at all or she doesn't even notice there is something wrong with it. I believe other than flares issue, this car is basically trouble free and very reliable. I will get another SUV or CUV, probably CX-9 or 08 Highlander are on my wish list now. I guess I will probably get 08 Highlander because I don't need to learn different NAV system again. All I wish it has HID on it, CX-9 has it though.

[mrshyvley]

Originally Posted by wtliao

<snip>
I notice someone use manual shift mode to avoid flares.
<snip>

Just using manual shift by itself doesn't help in avoiding the flare.

You MUST also let off the gas pedal at the same time you shift to 4th gear, so the tranny has no load on it when it shifts.

After each engine start, I begin with my manual shifter set at 3rd gear.
When it reaches 2200 RPM in 3rd gear, shift to 4th and let off the gas pedal AT THE SAME TIME.
Then get back on the gas pedal when you feel it shift.
It will smoothly shift to 4th, whereafter you can just switch it over to Drive until the next time you start the engine again.

In my case, my tranny works flawlessly after it's shifted from 3rd to 4th the first time.
This is why I'm hesitating pushing to have my tranny replaced, because so many replacement trannies work worse than this.

I sure wish they'd just admit what's wrong, and simply give us trannies that work.
They have to know by now why this problem exists.

[dctalking]

Yea... I only feel it once when I start driving somewhere... after that it's smooth sailing. I noticed the TSB for this... I just don't know if I should go in and get it checked out or not. Would they keep my car for a while?? I kinda need my car everyday.

[teamtbo]

dctalking, yes, in most cases, it takes awhile to get a new transmission. I was waiting for 4 weeks for mine. They told me to drive the car while I waited but I didn't feel comfortable because mine would flare between 2nd & 3rd and 3rd & 4th and not just when it was cold. So, after talking with the General Sales Manager (go right to the top), he told me to bring the car in and he got my a loaner (07 Camry XLE I4). I have 30 miles on the new transmission and it seems to be working properly. However, the shifts do seem just a tad bit more abrupt than on my previous tranny. But I will take that over a flare any day.

[onsknht]

Originally Posted by dctalking

For those getting the flares on the 3rd and 4th gear... Do you have to get a transmission swap??? Have any of you all got it fixed without a swap?

In my experience...

1. There's nobody I've found that has rid the slipping WITHOUT a transaxle swap

2. There's nobody I've found that has rid the slipping WITH a transaxle swap

So... To date, I haven't seen a fix, even very recent new build vehicles are FUBAR.

Someone suggested over filling the tansaxle, that died pretty quickly.

Originally Posted by dctalking

Can you live with it or will it kill your tranny in the long run??

Who knows the long term effect? I bet it isn't good, slipping causes heat, which destroys automatic tansmissions. I think it's a matter of personal preference as to whether you can "live" with it, I couldn't.

[raybear]

If it's like mine, the standard 3 - 4 flare once when cold and only a couple of hundred RPM, I would not have the trans replaced. If it gets worst of course, but presently it is no big deal. Having a dealer swap transmissions is a big deal. The car will never be as well assembled as it is from the factory.

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2007 V6 XLE Blue Ribbon with Nav and XM
2003 MiniCooper