Camry & Solara LoungeDiscussion area for every generation of Toyota's family car, the Toyota Camry. Lexus ES250/300 owners welcome! Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance and more.
What advantages does the "drive by wire" or computer controlled transmission offer? My 98 Camry got 26 mpg around town, my 07 gets 22 mpg, so there isn't a gas mileage improvement. Additionally the car drives terribly, shifting at inappropriate times, hesitating and a host of other nasty habits.
As far as the shifting problems are concerned, there have been several reflashes of the car's computer to improve the shifting. It really helped a lot on our 07 4 cylinder. Contact your dealer about updating the car's computer.
I have had it to the dealer 8 times for this problem. They re-flashed the computer a couple of times and installed new parts, and I still have the problem. Now the dealer basically says "live with it".
I surely don't see any advantage to this system. It must be less expensive to manufacture as it does nothing to enhance drive-ability.
My sentiments exactly. Live with it is not an acceptable answer. If a different dealer can not solve the issue and it's been documented since the car was new, call Toyota corporate at 1-800-331-4331 and speak to customer service about the issue.
Unfortunately I even had a Toyota field service tech drive the car when I took it to the dealer. He stated that nothing is out of the ordinary, the same as the dealer. Since the problems come up intermittently, he didn't experience the car sitting still for three seconds after pressing the accelerator, then suddenly lurching forward. He also didn't experience the car downshifting to third with the engine roaring when taking ones foot off the accelerator while traveling at 65 mph.
I have been told that it is normal to have the car downshift when traveling around 45 mph and taking your foot off the accelerator only to shift up again around 20 mph. Also considered "normal" is its constant searching for a gear when driving on rolling terrain.
Looks like another dealer wouldn't help since Toyota field techs said everything is normal. Strange that other Camry's of the same year and model I drove didn't exhibit these problems. But according to them my car operates withing design specifications.
If worse comes to worst, and you are still unsatisfied, I suggest you visit a lemon law attorney in your area and discuss the possibility of a buyback. I think that Lemon Law states that if a dealer cannot repair or remedy the problem within 3 attempts, then by law they are required to accept a request for a buyback, but in this case it seems that the problem is with your local dealer being uncooperative with your requests.
Try that out and see how it works out. Sometimes, stuff like this happens. Unfortunately, it seems as though cases like yours are becoming more commonplace since the quality of newer Toyota's is starting to become somewhat questionable.
Good luck.
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Originally Posted by TURBO Das Automagazin
A BRZ, a curvy mountain road makes one liter of happiness hormones.
Thanks for the well wishes. Toyota customer service isn't any help as they same the same thing "That is the way the car operates." Why then, didn't the other cars I drove have that problem. They never really have an answer for that question.
I would agree that the new Toyota quality is deteriorating. My 92 Camry had over 200,000 miles and still drove much nicer than the 07. Furthermore the 92 was super reliable. Some of my friends bought a new Camry. Upon delivery some of the interior dash parts were installed incorrectly (crooked), and the other car developed lots of rattles in the cabin.
If worse comes to worst, and you are still unsatisfied, I suggest you visit a lemon law attorney in your area and discuss the possibility of a buyback. I think that Lemon Law states that if a dealer cannot repair or remedy the problem within 3 attempts, then by law they are required to accept a request for a buyback, but in this case it seems that the problem is with your local dealer being uncooperative with your requests.
Try that out and see how it works out. Sometimes, stuff like this happens. Unfortunately, it seems as though cases like yours are becoming more commonplace since the quality of newer Toyota's is starting to become somewhat questionable.
Good luck.
wow. i'm surpised a "moderator" would say things like this.. If you think a toyota's quality is questionable,, well everyone has the option on what car to buy... a dealer cannot re engineer a car to fit your wants.. they can only repair. If toyota or any other manufacture tell the dealer its normal,, well then its normal..
the drive by wire system on every car,, toyota or not,, has a lag... and most of the times when people are complaining about a "drive by wire issue" when we drive it with them, they are driving the car to make it act up.. not driving it normally....
the original complaint also was fuel mileage, fuel milage has nothing to do with drive by wire,, the gov just put out notices on how they over did the fuel economy on stickers and has redid there calibrations on there website.. its mostly cause of the 10% meth they put in gas.. its killing the cars economy, the o2 sensors, and cat convertors... most of the older cars got better gas mileage, they have smaller engines..
It's hard because the car sort of "learns" your driving habits so while another Camry may not exhibit the same problems as your car, that doesn't mean it won't feel the same after you've driven it for a few weeks.
I'm sure other manufacturers have managed to implement DBW in a better manner but I wouldn't describe the lag as "life threatening" as I've read on Edmunds. My aunt's '04 Accord is not any better than my Camry and perhaps worse - I 'punched it' the other day and the trans refused to downshift! My Camry may not downshift with lightening speed but at least it does.
To each their own I guess. I've read reviews on Edmunds of people swearing up and down that they hate their new Accords and traded into a Camry even if they were losing money. And then the same from ex-Camry owners switching to Accords.
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'05 2AZ-FE @ 47K miles | '95 1MZ-FE @ 92K miles moving forward
It's hard because the car sort of "learns" your driving habits so while another Camry may not exhibit the same problems as your car, that doesn't mean it won't feel the same after you've driven it for a few weeks.
I'm sure other manufacturers have managed to implement DBW in a better manner but I wouldn't describe the lag as "life threatening" as I've read on Edmunds. My aunt's '04 Accord is not any better than my Camry and perhaps worse - I 'punched it' the other day and the trans refused to downshift! My Camry may not downshift with lightening speed but at least it does.
To each their own I guess. I've read reviews on Edmunds of people swearing up and down that they hate their new Accords and traded into a Camry even if they were losing money. And then the same from ex-Camry owners switching to Accords.
i agree 100%.. its all in what the customer wants... some like a firm mattress.. some like soft.. lol they all have flaws... but toyota is the best.. it pisses me off when people trash them..... like i tell everyone,, you dont like them,, then go buy another car... its that simple.. i have heard soooooo many horror stories from domestic customers you have no idea... the grass is always greener,, until you get stuck in the mud...
""That is the way the car operates." Why then, didn't the other cars I drove have that problem. They never really have an answer for that question."
I would call customer service again and give it one more try. This time reference the number they gave you and ask to speak to a customer service supervisor. Tell them you can not accept their answer since the other cars you drove which had the same engine and transmissions as your car (assuming that's correct) didn't exhibit these symptoms. Be firm but polite.
With all due respect, the delay when pressing the accelerator nearly caused me to have an accident. It was pretty scary.
I think drivers expect a car to respond properly. I wouldn't think anyone would welcome delays, shifting at odd times, etc. what ever the make of car. I wouldn't drive a manual transmission by downshifting to 3rd when traveling at expressway speeds, nor would I pop the clutch in heavy traffic.
So back to my original question, what advantages does drive by wire have over the "standard" design?
Last edited by what is going on; 09-16-2009 at 01:05 PM.
With all due respect, the delay when pressing the accelerator nearly caused me to have an accident. It was pretty scary.
On the flip side, why are you going or turning when you have JUST enough time to make it with zero room for error? There were some reviews on Edmunds about how their Camry almost killed them while making a left turn. I consider myself a fairly aggressive driver but a) I know the limitations of my car/tires and b) I don't go if I know I may not make it. I don't mean to discount your claims but it's not always the car that's at fault.
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So back to my original question, what advantages does drive by wire have over the "standard" design?
Less mechanical parts. Integration with TC and ESC systems. Greater efficiency - less weight and more precise control over the throttle.
That said, I very much prefer the standard cable driven throttle. DBW is not quite perfected and it probably won't be for some time to come.
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'05 2AZ-FE @ 47K miles | '95 1MZ-FE @ 92K miles moving forward
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