"Dan J.S." <me@hyperx.com> wrote in message
news:11rqg2a35ra6q4b@news.supernews.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Philip" <1chip-state1@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:Ay%uf.2820$%W1.1557@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=green]
>>
>> "Dan J.S." <me@hyperx.com> wrote in message
>> news:11rote6mnir0uf0@news.supernews.com...[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> "Louis M. Brown" <phyphor@rocketmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:cinor1puqgqu1tqg91te7erpt0sd5gmd1m@4ax.com...
>>>> On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:44:00 GMT, "Philip"
>>>> <1chip-state1@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>"Rob B" <RobB@where.on.net> wrote in message
>>>>>news:ldXuf.2691$%W1.1266@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>>>>>>i am having troubles with '06 highlander tranny, dealer says operating
>>>>>> within specs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am curious if anyone else experience any of following problems or
>>>>>> others
>>>>>> and if there are any solutions or reasons.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. Shift Clunking
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Noticeable unexpected clunking when shift from Park to
>>>>>> Reverse
>>>>>> and Rev to Drive. Seem to be slight at first and then after about 700
>>>>>> miles
>>>>>> seems to be worse or more noticeable but not on all shifts just 70%
>>>>>> time.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Plus New behavior at 1200 miles there is other new clunking.
>>>>>> Sometimes
>>>>>> shifting out of park is very difficult as if the shifter is stuck ?
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> then
>>>>>> a large clunk when you do get it out of park. Sometimes it clunks
>>>>>> while
>>>>>> putting it into Park. This occurs on flat surface or hill.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. Surge / Lunge
>>>>>>
>>>>>> After about 300 miles or so noticed When Stopping the car
>>>>>> (sometimes) surges/lunges a bit just before car comes to a stop. The
>>>>>> lunge
>>>>>> mostly occurs under condition of accelerrate from stop to about 30-40
>>>>>> mph
>>>>>> then let off gas for a coast then apply brakes (i.e.
>>>>>> stop/decelerate ) at
>>>>>> moderatly slow rate and then at about 5 mph if you slightly let off
>>>>>> brake
>>>>>> just a tad then a surge/lunge like someone shoving you. So you need
>>>>>> to get
>>>>>> on brake quickly so as not to hit car in front.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Essentially Stop and go traffic conditions.
>>>>>> 3. LAG
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When accelerating/Starting there seems to be a bit of LAG
>>>>>> before
>>>>>> pick up.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 4. TRAC
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Some of these problems seem to disappear when you disable the TRAC or
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> least lessen somewhat. that is surging and the LAG but the clunking
>>>>>> stays.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One option i was curious about was people with "Tow Prep" (TOAT)
>>>>>> option
>>>>>> installed . Supposedly from what i have read the Tow prep includes ,
>>>>>> Transmission fluid cooler, a higher amperage alternator, and a
>>>>>> stronger
>>>>>> (3500lb ?) torque convertor. So i would like to determine if there is
>>>>>> any
>>>>>> statistical evidence for Tow Prep problem ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> TIA
>>>>>> Robb
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Welcome to the world of TOO MUCH crap technology.
>>>>>
>>>>>Sounds like you have the V6 and 5 speed automatic. Both your throttle
>>>>>and
>>>>>transmission are governed by the ECM. You have no direct cable linkage
>>>>>to
>>>>>the throttle. You only tell the computer what you would like to
>>>>>happen.
>>>>>Lexus has had the same gripes for a number of years on their
>>>>>fly-by-wire
>>>>>throttle and 5 speed automatic ... and they STILL haven't got 'it'
>>>>>worked
>>>>>out right.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I always have wondered just what the *hell* those engineers were
>>>> thinking when they started making every fucking thing computer
>>>> controlled. Ok, I can see *some* of the engine operations controlled
>>>> by computer, even the trans, but your throttle? What happens if your
>>>> comp. does the automobile version of the blue screen of death?
>>>>
>>>> -LMB
>>>
>>> blue screen of death is microsoft... unix will not bsod... computers are
>>> far more reliable than many people think... just their experience with
>>> windows clouds judgment...[/color]
>>
>> Rubbish. I'm guessing Lexus has had this V6/5spd combo with fly-by-wire
>> for 5 yrs now. Still have these chunky, clunky transmission behaviors
>> and lagging throttle response complaints. It was crap from the beginning
>> and it is still crap. This junk is all for ever tightening EPA
>> regulations. It certainly is not an answer for ANY question posed by
>> customers.
>>
>> There are things in a car that are truly an improvement when computerized
>> .... just like plastic pipes are to iron pipes in areas of hard water.
>> But they've gone too far and can't make it work smoothly. Time to admit
>> the whole idea has been an R&D experiment on the public and step back.
>> --
>>
>> - Philip
>>[/color]
>
> You have to re-read my argument. I didn't say toyota should not re-program
> their stuff. I am saying computers are extremely reliable, just that
> because of our experience with crappy computers and idiot customers
> service people blaming everything on computers, people think computers are
> unreliable.[/color]
This article is from 13 months ago ...
[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04345/424551.stm[/url]
Hesitation issue goes beyond Toyota's luxury line
Friday, December 10, 2004
By Don Hammonds, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Toyota engineers are working to find an acceptable fix for a
hesitation problem in five-speed automatic transmissions in
certain of its luxury Lexus and Toyota models, the Japanese
automaker said yesterday.
The problem was brought to light this week when the
Post-Gazette reported on troubles McMurray resident
Timothy W. Farabaugh was having with his 2004 Lexus
ES330 ("Hesitating Lexus unsettling for owners,"
Dec. 8, 2004). The vehicle didn't respond immediately
when his wife pressed the accelerator while trying to
merge into traffic, causing her to narrowly avoid an
accident.
It became clear the problem was more widespread when
other readers who saw Wednesday's PG story reported
the same hesitation with their Toyotas and other Lexus
models.
It turns out that the five-speed automatic in the 2002 to
2004 Lexus ES300 and ES330 models also is used in
the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX330 sport utility
models, two of the company's biggest sellers.
"The engineers in Japan are trying to come up with a
fix on this problem ... The first attempt to solve this
has not been completely successful," said Toyota
spokesman Wade Hoyt. That first attempt "involved
reprogramming the computer that controls the
transmission," he added.
The reprogramming "relieved part of the problem,
but did not completely cure it,'' he said -- a statement
with which Alvise Anti of Pittsburgh can concur.
She said her RX330 had the "update -- Lexus calls it
the fix -- but obviously it's not working. The car is
drivable, but if you are not aware of the problem, it
can be dangerous."
Another owner, Beth Caldwell, said her 2004 Toyota
Highlander V-6 with the five-speed automatic transmission
had the same hesitation problem and that when she took
it to the dealer's service department, she was told "that's
how the new transmissions are."
Scott McAliley said he got a similar response when he
approached his dealer about his 2004 Lexus ES330. He
said the dealer told him that, "a.), They couldn't find
anything out of the ordinary and b.), The problem
would diminish over time as the computer learned
our habits."
One 2002 ES330 owner, Michael Moran, said he "made
contact with the customer service department at Lexus
headquarters in California, which led to a test drive of
my car and a resultant confirmation of the malfunctioning
transmission.
"I was offered a new 2004 ES330 for $4,000, an offer I
unfortunately accepted. ... The 2004 ES330 model I am
now driving has an even more pronounced malfunctioning
transmission."
There have been no reports of serious or fatal accidents
because of the problem.
Spokesman Brad Nelson said that once Toyota comes up
with a successful fix, it may issue a technical service bulletin
to dealers so they could make repairs on cars when they are
brought in or launch a service campaign that would notify
owners that there is an issue and that the problem can be
corrected.
Hoyt said he believed that only drivers who were unusually
sensitive to their cars' shifts and performance would notice
the hesitation.
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