Cant Shift into L gear?

[bxcamry89]

Whats up everyone? On my 05 se v6 their is a gear on the shifter called L. It is suppose to provide maximum braking but I cant shift into it. Is this gear functionable on the se or do I have a tranny problem? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[johnnyzee]

thank god, L is essentually first gear. Not a smart idea. I'm not sure, but i'm ASSUMING toyota has a safety that wont allow you to shift into that gear until a minimum speed has been reached.
by the way, you should not use L as a downshift to slow you down. use the o/d button or even 2nd, but you will not need to drop to L.

[bxcamry89]

thanks. I cant even shift into the gear at a stand still. thats why i think i might have a tranny problem. possible?

[MrSo0h0o]

Originally Posted by bxcamry89

thanks. I cant even shift into the gear at a stand still. thats why i think i might have a tranny problem. possible?

umm.. just to let you know, to shift into L gear, it goes to the right..

its basically like: Park --> pull down to reverse --> pull down to neutral --> pull down to drive --> pull down to 3 --> pull down to 2 --> move right to L

[leosv]

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

umm.. just to let you know, to shift into L gear, it goes to the right..

its basically like: Park --> pull down to reverse --> pull down to neutral --> pull down to drive --> pull down to 3 --> pull down to 2 --> move right to L

yes, if you're looking at the dash while trying to shift down, it appears as if it is supposed to go down. If you look at the actual shifter you'll notice the L goes off to the right, not below the 2. If this is not the issue, then yes, you might have a shifter problem. I wouldn't go so far as to say you have a tranny problem because the car still shifts out of L when you are in D, you just can't get the shifter down there. Unless you're towing a boat up a hill, there's no need to use L anyway. On downhills, 2 is plenty of braking action.

[warpedrotor]

You won"t be allowed up Mt. Washington (NH) unless you can select and hold L1.

[CamrySExxx]

Im not sure what the problem could be but never downshift into first, just like a manual you just never do it!

[touringcamry]

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

Im not sure what the problem could be but never downshift into first, just like a manual you just never do it!

Wait...why am I not supposed to downshift into 1st? I usually do it to park my car. It only works if I double clutch or going about 5 MPH or less.

[CamrySExxx]

Originally Posted by touringcamry

Wait...why am I not supposed to downshift into 1st? I usually do it to park my car. It only works if I double clutch or going about 5 MPH or less.

Well ya you can do that i kinda ment to slow your car down though. Usually if your moving and you go into first your car will kinda jolt back and forth. Im not exactly sure why but i read you should never do that. I think it was a thread in the off topic .

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

2nd and (L)ow is used more when you don't have good traction going up a hill..like gravel..or a steep incline..or an incline with snow/ice...not meant for downshifting to slow down..use the O/D button to downshift and knock speed off... or shift to neutral.

[CharmCityES]

alot of gen 5.5s with the 5 speed tranny have a difficult nfeel getting into L...you prety much have to slam the selector to the right to get it into low, but it will shift to L
and don't use that to slow the car down....its to provide maximum traction

[MrSo0h0o]

Originally Posted by CorCamrySE

alot of gen 5.5s with the 5 speed tranny have a difficult nfeel getting into L...you prety much have to slam the selector to the right to get it into low, but it will shift to L
and don't use that to slow the car down....its to provide maximum traction

x2.. if i need to engine brake, i will drop it into 3, and even that is sometimes a bit much, depending on how fast im going..

[white07cam]

if it wont go.. just force it, no worries

[clarkgrizwald]

damn i always just thought you couldnt shift it over there. i tried a couple times but didnt wanna try to force it...

[leosv]

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

Well ya you can do that i kinda ment to slow your car down though. Usually if your moving and you go into first your car will kinda jolt back and forth. Im not exactly sure why but i read you should never do that. I think it was a thread in the off topic .

The jolting is usually because your left foot pushes down on the clutch when you slow down and when you disengage the clutch you accelerate and move back again, letting your foot off the clutch, then you rebound forward again and you step on the clutch again, repeat repeat.. This used to happen to me until I figured out why it was happening. if you want to be in first and you start jolting, just put your left foot flat on the floor. It will quickly stop. Well, I hope I'm not the only one it happened to.