I'm not here to ask why the Echo does this, but want to know if there is a way to defeat this?
From another thread:
Transmission control module will not shift into 4th gear until :
a) engine coolant is higher than 60*C/140*F
b) atf is higher than 10*C/50*F
Otherwise it will remain in 3rd gear until meeting the conditions in a & b.
Basically, it won't shift into 4th until a little bit after the "cool" light shuts off
Any possible way to reprogram this?
I figure that messing around with the temperature sensor won't be a good way to achieve this, even if that was possible.
Well if you turn the overdrive off then back on, it will shift, or at least does when I do. Its not really the awenser to your question but im not sure.
Any possible way to reprogram this? don,t repair it if it's not broken ..TOYOTA made it like that for a good reason ..to save your transmission ....the blue light goes off on the wifes echo after 3 or 4 minutes ..so whats the hurry ???????
...how does this 'save my transmission'?
If anything, I'm being forced to run the transmission in third gear, when I can well run it in fourth. If the car had a 5-speed manual, there's nothing to keep the operator from shifting to the highest gear long before the temp light goes out.
The same should be true for those with a 4-speed auto.
don't compare manuel with an auto transmission ..the auto trans. has an oil filter ...wet clutch ....internal oil pump that does not like cold oil [oil starvation] and it is the oil pressure that shifts the gears "automaticaly" ....