Automatic S Mode

I have a question about my wife's SE. I know I can use the paddles to shift myself in S mode. If I just shift to S8 right away will the computer decide what gear to be in, but it will shift more quickly?

www.toyotanation.com

 

We created threads very similar to each other on a topic discussed a lot. Think of S mode as selecting a gear range. Selecting S4 will tell the car to shift from 1-4. S6 will tell the car to shift from 1-6, etc. You can go down to S1 and go through the gears yourself with the paddles if you want. The computer has ultimate authority - it will do what it thinks is best for the engine and transmission.

 

Is it a bad idea to be in sport mode during the break in period?

 

It's fine. Remember - The SE doesn't have a sport mode. The S here is for "sequential" shifting. Your transmission will be shifting whether or not your are in S mode.

 

So what's the point of it then?

 

Read the thread that was linked in post #2.

 

I read it. but still don't get it. I know what they are saying, but it means nothing to me cause I don't know anything about what is actually going on in a car when driving. so if you put it in S5 for example, the car will stay between 1st and 5th gear. how is that beneficial?

 

Then maybe start here.

Gearhead 101: Understanding Automatic Transmission

Have you ever wondered how your car can shift into the appropriate gear without you having to do anything except for press on the gas pedal or brake? Well, hold on. We’re about to walk you through one of the most amazing pieces of mechanical (and fluid) engineering in human history: the...

www.artofmanliness.com

 

my paddle shifters are jusr to look cool lol

 

funny thing is, that's what the salesman told me when I test drove it.

 

i only use the paddles to downshift while breaking.

 

I think I read somewhere not to do that, or not to do it during the break in period.

 

There is nothing wrong with downshifting to increase engine braking, especially on long downhills in the mountains or when heavily loaded. It's why automatic transmissions let you select lower gears - that's the benefit of being able to select a 'lower shift range' as Toyota calls it.

The paddle shifters are a gimmick to make it feel more sporty. It is just a different user interface from a normal shift lever that has PRD321 or whatever.

 

so why did my 2008 Subaru legacy have such high RPM when I used sport mode even though I was not going fast?

 

It was in a lower gear, so the engine will spin faster for the same road speed.

 

that's normal?

 

Yes

 

ok so while i'm driving in sport mode, lets say i'm going at a constant speed and I shift up. nothing happens right? that's what i'm concluding based on what i'm reading in this thread.

 

It depends. If the computer decides that the new gear will be too high then it won't shift up. If it thinks that the gear you are shifting up from was too low then it will shift up.

 

but I thought the paddles were to only assign the highest gear the car would use.

 

Right. So let's say as a hypothetical you are in S2 and going 40, the transmission is in 2nd engine will be racing and making a lot of noise. When you shift up to S3 the car will shift to 3rd, the engine will slow down and get a little quieter. Then shift to S4 and it will probably shift to 4th and the engine will slow down some more.

Now with the car still in S4 and going 40 you go to pass someone up a hill so you floor it, the transmission will go down to 2nd or 3rd and the engine will speed up. When you let off at the top of the hill at 55 the transmission will shift back up to 4.

Now shift to D and the transmission will probably go right to 5th or 6th or whatever the top gear is, since there is no load on the engine. This will make the engine quiet and efficient since it will be turning as slow as possible for the given road speed.

Now you are going down the long hill and want to slow down without riding the brakes and warping them. Shift to S5 or S4 or something and the engine braking will increase. The car is in deceleration fuel cut, so you aren't wasting gas, just making some noise but saving wear on the brakes. If you try to shift to S1 at 55, the computer will not allow this, since it would cause the engine to spin too fast and damage it.

I don't know if the gear/ speed combinations I wrote there are exactly right, but that's the concept. (Note that the use of S2 etc in the first two paragraphs is totally unnecessary, the car would've figured that all out on it's own, and done so more efficiently)

 

that's complicated for me. so down shifting while keeping your foot on the gas and maintaining a constant speed will have the car slow down without pressing the brake?

 

that's complicated for me

You are overthinking this. I suggest just trying it out and if you don't like it, you don't have to use it.

 

Yep just go try it out. You can't hurt it, it won't let you.

 

I just tried out the paddle shifters on my wife's car. They behave exactly as a family sedan should. It's nice to have the choice to keep the rpm's up if you wish, but the car won't let you over rev it.

 

what's the benefit of keeping the RPMs high?

 

As engine speed increases, torque and HP increase. You're getting more power at 4000-5000 RPMs than you get at 1500.

 

'19 xse V6. I only use the paddle shifters to downshift and gradually slow down. Downshifts aren't silky smooth unless I give it a little throttle.

I use S mode all the time, because I like the stiffer steering and throttle response, but never bother putting the shifter into manual. It's a Camry, not a race car, LOL.

 

Your Camry XSE V6 has drive Modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal. You also have transmission S mode: Sequential shifting. Our Camry SE's only have the transmission S mode. This thread is really only talking about the transmission S mode. Enjoy your XSE V6... sweet ride!

 

Ok so I finally put the car in Sport mode. but I don't see a difference. the car is in 4th gear by default (if it is even considered a gear). I moved it to 5th and still no difference.

 

Bedai


Because you probably weren’t going fast enough where limiting the car to only the first four gears (which is what S4 means) would make a difference. Take it on the highway in S4 and you’ll get it.

 

will do, thanks

 

Because there is no Sports mode on SE model. ONLY XSE.

Shifting gears in sequential mode is not Sports Mode either.

 

It's to simulate driving a manual transmission vehicle. In a manual, you have complete control over gear changes, including how high you want to let the engine rev before changing to the next gear. The power produced by an engine has an operating range, say 1800 - 6000 RPM's, with peak horsepower and torque reached at a certain point, let's say 5100 RPM. So if you want to get a quicker take off, you press the accelerator a bit harder, and let the engine rev higher, closer to the peak output point. This obviously isn't more economical, but it serves its purpose.

 

thanks for the explanation.