not so sure what you are asking here

auto tranny base when to shift on the amount of load on the engine (through a few sensors). in other words, if there's little stress on the engine, it will most likely shift up. if there's heavy load on the engine, it'll stay in low gear a bit longer.

the surface of the road, slope of the road, how hard you press gas, number of passengers in the car, even tire pressure all can affect when it shifts. since yours is a 4 spd, it's controlled electronically by the ECM. it decides when to shift base on the inputs of some sensors in the car.

there's no set point on at exactly what speed or rpm it shifts, just like manual, it's based on the driver and situation.

 

I part of it has to do with pedal pressure; more throttle and it will shift higher, less it shifts lower. At least that is a guess; mine seems to have no rhyme or reason as to when it shifts out of second, being anywhere between 41-48 MPH. There is a max allotted speed though for each gear, but I don't know if that plays into it in normal driving conditons

 

iirc its in the owners manual, the top speed for each gear. otherwise i can look it up.

 

It depends on your acceleration speed, but basically at WOT 1st to 2nd is about 35mph, 2nd to 3rd is around 60mph. Which is actually a good way to test the shift points. If it doesn't shift around those numbers, something could be wrong.

 

are you sure? because during slow acceleration my corolla is in 3rd around 30 mph. step on it a little, it shifts around 35 to 3rd. wouldn't it make 3rd gear completely useless for local driving if the tranny shifts to 3rd at 60mph?

 

when speaking of trans shift points, we usually only speek of the full throttle shift points. the reason is its alot easier to tell when the pedal is exactly 100% applied than it is to guess position like 50%. what one says is 50% may really be only 40% or may be 70%.

 

Like Bitter said, you need to check it at WOT from a stand still. This is how you test the shift points. If you don't do it this way, the numbers will always come out to be different

 

The factory only provide spec for full throttle test; however, this is what I usually go by:

At light throttle, which means easy acceleration:
1 to 2 12 to 18 mph
2 to 3 22 to 28 mph
3 to 4 32 to 37 mph.

Of course, everyone accelerates differently, but as long as you are close to those ranges, things will work out fine. And there is also the torque converter clutch engagement too.

The TV cable needs to be properly adjusted, and it can also be adjusted one way or another if needed.

N.E.O.

 

hallo new echo owner,

i am delighted ... thank you for your help ... that is exactly what i was looking for ...

greetings from minneapolis ...

this morning i see the front yard lightly covered with snow ...

opa

 

We are having a problem shifting from 2nd to 3rd. when cold, it usually takes less than a mile and itr will shift, then no problem. We changed the fluid, (not) filter. 2x and it didn't help. Echo, you mentioned the throttle valve cable adjustment would this be a possible solution?Thanks

 

If it is the TV cable, it will affect the transmission after warm up too. Monitor the shift point to see where they are at first before deciding what to do. How long have you notice the condition?

N.E.O.

 

if you have a 3spd auto then thats not a 2-3 upshift thats the torque converter lockup, which doesnt happen until either....
a certain speed
or
a certain coolant temp

 

so you mean A131L transmission is actually a 2 spd?

 

No, 1.8l 4-sp . I thought a possible shift solenoid, or I will posssibly have to change the filter, although I think it has a by-pass if clogged. It has to go 1- mile or less for it to shift, so some warm-up helps. After initial warm-up it shifts fine. Thanks

 

4spd also has the torque converter lockup AND a 4th gear lockout until the engine is warmed up. thats what you're feeling.

 

no, a131l has
1st, 2nd, 3rd, lockup
a2454e has
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (overdrive), lockup

 

ok, that makes me feel a little better lol

guess i took it the other way when you said the 2 to 3 up shift is just TC locking up

 

heres for a manual for a 7th gen
1st..........35
2nd.........65
3rd..........90
4th..........113
5th..........113

 

Echo, we noticed the problem for several weeks, and now that the temp has gone down it takes a little longer to shift (only 2nd-3rd) We will monitor the shift points and can report when the transmission is warm. I am not sure what everyone is telling us about lockup? Is there no solution to fix this? Is the transmission bad? We have 165k now. Still in great shape. Thanks everyone.

 

try replacing the thermostat, if its never been done at 165k miles then it needs it by now.

 

The torque converter clutch is kind of like a manual transmission clutch disc, that mechanically engages the engine and transmission together when the vehicle get up to a certain road speed, approximately around 35 to 45 mph. The TCC, like the OD in a 4 speed automatic, is inhibit by the ECM until the engine reach a certain temperature, about 130 degree F. When the TCC engages, you will notice some rpm changes in the engine, but most of the time you won't even feel or notice this change, unlike a gear change.

Monitoring the operation of your transmission will help identify whether you are having problem with your transmission or not, and determine what the next step would be. It may even be as simple as changing a thermostat if the engine is taking too long to warm up to the temperature for the OD and TCC to operate.

N.E.O.

 

Bitter, yes we replace the thermostat in September, I think it was 192* thermostat, and it changed the warm-up time. It didnt help with the very slow to shift 2nd-3rd ,that we are getting now. No one thinks a change of filter will make a difference? What I don't like is the 2500 RPM on the way to work 40 mph for the first mile or so. Thanks again

 

Have you had a chance to find out where the transmission is shifting after it is warmed up? 1-2, 2-3, 3.4?

The factory filter is a mesh screen, if that is the cause it would usually affect all range not just one particular range alone.

N.E.O.

 

echo, Yes it seems like 2nd-3rd. You atre right on the filter, it woul affect all shifting. What about the shift solenoid valve? Grasping now. Thanks

 

echo, Yes it seems like 2nd-3rd. You atre right on the filter, it woul affect all shifting. What about the shift solenoid valve? Grasping now. Thanks

Its possible but, it will be difficult to verify to know for sure that is the cause. The two shift solenoids work together to achieve all four gears. I would suggest taking note of the shift points both cold and warm, rpm if possible so there can be some comparision on what the transmission is doing.

N.E.O.

 

They have an individual solenoid for each shift point. Are you sure they work in conjunction though. If it's 2-3 then you should only have to change 2-3. And it is possible that they can stick after time. I hate to say it but I'm thinkin it's the valve sticking.

 

Only two shift solenoids:
Sol 1 On, Sol 2 Off, 1st gear
Sol 1 On, Sol 2 On, 2nd gear
Sol 2 Off, Sol 2 On, 3rd gear
Sol 1 Off, Sol 2 Off, 4th gear

It is a matter of how the fluid is directed and what clutch pack is engaged that different gear ratios are acheived.

N.E.O.

 

Only two shift solenoids:
Sol 1 On, Sol 2 Off, 1st gear
Sol 1 On, Sol 2 On, 2nd gear
Sol 2 Off, Sol 2 On, 3rd gear
Sol 1 Off, Sol 2 Off, 4th gear

It is a matter of how the fluid is directed and what clutch pack is engaged that different gear ratios are acheived.

N.E.O.

There are 3 valves, not two. What you said is true as long as the shifter is in the D position. The other valve is your L/U

2 shift valves and your L/U valve
Also, if they are malfuctioning, he should have a CEL and a code.

 

doesnt he have the 3spd? no solenoids, all hydraulic. it may lockout 3rd gear till the engine is partially warmed, in the same way that 4th is locked out on the 4spd.

 

He said 1.8L 4sp in an earlier post!

N.E.O.

 

You are correct about having three solenoids but we are only concern with the ones that are changing gears. We are trying to figure out why he has a delay 2-3 shift when cold, not that it is not shifting. Right now, we need to determine if the shifting problem is only during cold operation or if it is all the time. And I don't think he is manually shifting his transmission, so we can assumed that he is driving with it in 'D', otherwise, he wouldn't be asking about it. Maybe he doesn't have a problem, but until we have all the information, I am not going to say either way.

N.E.O.