transmission

[mdlife]

What year did the Avalon change to the 6 speed automatic transmission?

Is it true that the laser cruise control does not turn on the brake lights when it automatically slows the vehicle down?

Thanks,

Dean

[boosted-fc3s]

08 and yes

[~AJK~]

Don't know about the six speed but the brake lights "DO" light up when slowing - depending on engine braking/decelleration and actual braking. I have personally verified this. Please read part of Toyota's press release on this:

In deceleration control mode, the ECM slows the vehicle using throttle and brake control so the vehicle-to-vehicle distance with the preceding vehicle equals the set distance. The distance settings are: long (approximately 245 feet), medium (approximately 165 feet), and short (approximately 100 feet) while traveling at 55 miles per hour. If the deceleration rate is more than a predetermined value, the Vehicle's Stability Control (VSC) ECU will activate the rear brake lights to inform the driver behind of the vehicle's deceleration.

[boosted-fc3s]

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/...big-catch.html

It didn't do it on the earlier models, and I've watched my 3rd brake light in the mirror on my 07 and it doesn't ever appear to light up when the system brakes. Maybe they fixed it on the 08 and up with the model refresh.

[Tom in Tacoma]

My '07 does not light up the brake lights when the laser cruise applies the brakes - no matter how hard!

I do not use the laser cruise - that's just one of the many reasons why.