I've asked you guys a few questions about this '94 Corolla auto that I bought...but now I'm really confused.
Apparently what I thought was a base model has developed an overdrive. As far as I can tell, this wasn't even an option with the base. Am I wrong?
Accelerating normally, it shifts to third by 30mph and then OD at about 48mph. At wide open throttle it shifts to third at 65 and then OD right afterward, even if you keep the pedal on the floor...really annoying when trying to merge from a standstill with traffic that is going around 75mph.
The shifter only has PRND2L. Is that normal for a Corolla with overdrive?
I've been putting it in L until around 38mph, then 2 until around 70mph which lets me merge with traffic well, and doesn't sound or feel bad. However, having no tachometer, I have no real idea where it's at in RPM's. Do these things have rev limiters?
Also, I'm pretty sure it does not have the stock motor. Is there any easy way to tell which one it has?
At wide open throttle it shifts to third at 65 and then OD right afterward, even if you keep the pedal on the floor...really annoying when trying to merge from a standstill with traffic that is going around 75mph.
Any idea if it's supposed to shift like that?
I don't drive a corolla very often, but shifting into 3rd at 65mph seems normal for wide open throttle.
I've never really had a problem driving any corolla in any sort of traffic. If I to merge onto a highway, I just nailed the throttle on the on ramp and I would be able to get to speed, but then again, I've never had a situation where I had to merge with 75mph (120kph) from a standstill.
The shifter only has PRND2L. Is that normal for a Corolla with overdrive?
I've been putting it in L until around 38mph, then 2 until around 70mph which lets me merge with traffic well, and doesn't sound or feel bad. However, having no tachometer, I have no real idea where it's at in RPM's. Do these things have rev limiters?
i've never actually used these 2 except in certain circumstances but a question to any of you. when IS the best time to use these gears? i know you can use L when DRIVING Uphill or maybe 2 when overtaking maybe, a little correctional info needed please. also will using them often ruin your tranny? (mess up the torque converter?)
Apparently what I thought was a base model has developed an overdrive. As far as I can tell, this wasn't even an option with the base. Am I wrong?
Sounds like you're just feeling the torque converter lockup. In cars with loose torque converters, it can feel like a shift. These days, they use pulse width modulation to smoothen the lockup a bit. Corollas in general tend to have loose torque converters.
The shifter is more useful not really for going uphill (since the car will downshift on its own) but anytime you're changing grades often and want better throttle response or to limit the number of up/down shifts.
At 65mph, when it shifts to third, it immediately feels and sounds and performs like it went into an overdrive. It will stop accelerating momentarily, and then pick up VERY slowly unless I put it in 2. Still sound like the torque converter lockup?
Next time learn to drive standard and get yourself one.. then you'll always know what gear you're in.
I told you before.. when you take off from a light... count how many times the transmission shifts.. if its only two upshifts then you have a 3speed, if its 3 upshifts then you got a 4speed (OD).
At 65mph, when it shifts to third, it immediately feels and sounds and performs like it went into an overdrive. It will stop accelerating momentarily, and then pick up VERY slowly unless I put it in 2. Still sound like the torque converter lockup?
I'm confused. Are you talking about the shift into 3rd or the lockout that happens just after that? Also, what does "performs like it went into overdrive" mean? If an engine doesn't have much power, both 3rd and 4th are going to have little acceleration.
Anyway, here is what I know. 1994 Corolla 4 speed automatics have a switch right where your thumb is on the shifter. I believe this is an overdrive lockout switch. Can someone with this setup confirm what the switch does?
Also, the EPA says that the 1.6 didn't ever come with the 4 speed auto in that year, while the 1.8 did. Do you have a 1.6 or 1.8?
On many toyotas, if you lightly hit the breaks (just enough to get the brake lights to come on) the torque converter will come unlocked to make the transistion to engine braking more smooth. You could try to do this at full throttle for a portion of a second (not long enough to burn up brakes or anything) and see if the car suddenly seems to downshift. If so, that was the torque converter unlocking. In many cars you can simply pull the harness that sends the lock signal, but I have never done that with that car.
If you have an o/d button on the shifter, you have 4 gears. No o/d button = no o/d gear = 3 gears.
And if it is the torque converter locking up, then it should feel like a downshift, not an up-shift.
That answers my question about the button. I was 90% sure it was an overdrive lockout button but I thought it could be a funny-placed ECT button.
A torque converter locking up will lower the RPM by several hundred, just like an upshift. A downshift is when your RPMs go up.
To REN69, a 4 speed should have 4 "shifts." 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, and 4 to locked up 4. The shfit from 4 to locked up 4th is actually much easier to feel than the shift from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 (about the same as the 3-4 shift) My Corolla locks up at 41.5MPH and my Camry's lock up at 42 (2004) and 43 (1992). Of course that is at minimum throttle, they will lockup at much higher speeds if I give it more throttle.
I dont think Corollas ever had ECT, and to check if it's an o/d button just press it and see if the o/d off light comes on.
Yeah, in my case I saw the button in a 93/94 from a distance, and wasn't able to try it or read what it says. I knew it was in the same spot as the OD button usually was, but I had to put the disclaimer about the ECT because that was another remote possiblity. I'm sure you're right though, that Corolla's never had ECT.
To the OP, you might want to get that situation checked out, since the torque converter isn't supposed to lockup under a WOT condition. There are lots of ways to tell you're locked up. One is to tune to an empty AM station where you can hear engine noise through the radio. At 70mph, push the gas all the way down. If the engine speeds up several hundred RPM (the noise through radio gets higher in frequency) then you're unlocked. If the pitch doesn't change (like a manual tranny) then it is locked up.
Next time learn to drive standard and get yourself one.. then you'll always know what gear you're in.
...I own two Hyundai Tiburons as well, one is a 5 speed, one is a 6 speed. I have also owned a Hyundai Accent (5 spd) and a Chevy Spectrum (5 spd). Besides the corolla (which I bought for delivering pizzas, and maybe hauling the dogs around), I have only owned one auto. The corolla was bought for $1,000 because it ran.
Quote:
I told you before.. when you take off from a light... count how many times the transmission shifts.. if its only two upshifts then you have a 3speed, if its 3 upshifts then you got a 4speed (OD).
You haven't told me crap, and I wish you wouldn't have started now. As has been stated, as far as I can tell using my ear and what I feel, it feels like it's shifting 4 times. This is the initial reason for my post. Had you read the original post, you would've known that.
Please go be rude elsewhere.
JasonH, I don't know what motor my car has. That was one of my questions...how do I tell? BTW, JasonH, thank you for being helpful.
Ukranian, I'm operating under the possibility that it may not have its stock transmission. If that's the case, then the shifter would mean nothing. This car was seriously abused.
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