Engine Lugging ???

[StanTrix06]

I recently purchased a '06 XR AWD (w/auto trans of course). Great car so far only 2 weeks old. My only complaint/concern so far is that the engine lugs at approx 60km/h with the overdrive on. Is this common with other Matrix/Vibes out there? I'm not sure if it's all part of the way it was designed to work. I'm just thinking of the long term health of the transmission. I can always turn off the o/d to keep the rpm's up but this will affect gas mileage. Any insight on this matter would be appreciated.

[Frank@toronto]

Haven't noticed myself. Not sure why the transmission is switching gears (back and forth) at 60 km/h.

[ksbrace]

When you say it lugs, what do you mean? Do you mean it bucks and runs unevenly, or does the cabin vibrate with a low rumble, or are the revs just lower than you think they should be? In my XR 2WD manual, I've found the 1ZZ engine very well behaved and smooth even at 1200-1300 RPM. Sure, it doesn't have a lot of power at those low revs, but the power it does deliver is smooth even under heavy throttle. What RPM are you at at 60 km/h in top gear?

[StanTrix06]

What I mean ksbrace when I say it lugs, is there is a low rumble/vibration in the drive train. I'll be cruising along at approx 60km/h in 4th gear (overdrive turned on). The rpm's are roughly around 1600. There will be a slight vibration throughout the car. When I turn the o/d off ( 3rd gear) the engine smoothes out and rpm's of course increase. Basically it acts like if I was driving a manual trans in 5th gear but I should actually be in 4th. I hope that makes sense ??

[ksbrace]

Ok, I understand what you mean. As I said, my manual is smooth at those revs, even under heavy load. Obviously you are going very easy on the gas (otherwise it would downshift) so I would really expect your car to be completely smooth in the situation you described. I would be concerned about motor mounts. A bad motor mount would allow the engine/transmission to vibrate/shake at low revs. People often notice bad motor mounts on an automatic transmission car while sitting at idle, which is another low-rev low-power situation, but to smooth out at medium revs, so that's why I think of the mounts.
Let's hear from some 4WD or 2WD automatic owners. Is your car rumbly just under 40 MPH if it shifts into high gear?

[Ghost]

I feel the same thing........on a 2000 corolla.......rumbles at 1500......i let go of the accelator or speed up because its annoying........