Interesting Transmission Behavior

[SteveM]

We took our 4Runner on a road trip to Yosemite NP this past week and I noticed some interesting behavior from the transmission. The area has many twisty, hilly roads; when descending these, I often put the transmission selector in '4' to keep it from going into OD on the downhill. What happens is if you brake firmly (and probably cross some speed threshold), the tranny will downshift to third. If you just coast without applying any throttle, the tranny will hold third gear until the throttle is applied again. Once you hit the gas again, the tranny upshifts to fourth.

I found it useful in controlling downhill speed without using the brakes excessively.

 

[dancojgl]

That's the "intelligence" part of the ECT-i transmission. Something that's not on the 4-speed automatic.

—Dan

 

[biglatka]

We took our 4Runner on a road trip to Yosemite NP this past week and I noticed some interesting behavior from the transmission. The area has many twisty, hilly roads; when descending these, I often put the transmission selector in '4' to keep it from going into OD on the downhill. What happens is if you brake firmly (and probably cross some speed threshold), the tranny will downshift to third. If you just coast without applying any throttle, the tranny will hold third gear until the throttle is applied again. Once you hit the gas again, the tranny upshifts to fourth.

I found it useful in controlling downhill speed without using the brakes excessively.

Yes, that's a nice feature to have. Was there much traffic on the roads in Yosemite?

 

[SteveM]

Re: Re: Interesting Transmission Behavior

Yes, that's a nice feature to have. Was there much traffic on the roads in Yosemite?

The roads weren't bad and there was very little wait to get in or out of the park even though the campgrounds and lodges in the valley were all full. The traffic would be unbearable had they not had the bus system in the valley. The day-use lot was easy to park in if you arrived before noon or so; after noon, the lot was nearly always full. We spent 3 days there, so there was no rush to see everything in one day.

The Tuolumne Meadows (higher altitude) portion of the park was much less crowded and quieter, there were lots of families with small children in the valley.

 

[biglatka]

That's interesting ... Toyota.com does not differentiate between the 4 and 5 speed. They refer to both as ECT:

"V8 models 5-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive (ECT)
V6 models 4-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive (ECT)"

I've never experienced that with the automatic 4-speed. Wish I had it though, as I often manually downshift to third when anticipating long downhill runs or in-town driving under 40mph. The engine braking on my '88 4Runner is much better. I guess that's primarily due to the 5-speed standard transmission.

SteveM-Thanks for the traffic rundown.

 

[Kanab]

You don't have to run the 5 speed in 4 for it to do this. It does this in drive also. I alway just leave mine in drive and let the transmission take care of the downshifting. It did concern me when this first happened until I found out that it was normal.

 

[Thai]

You don't have to run the 5 speed in 4 for it to do this. It does this in drive also. I alway just leave mine in drive and let the transmission take care of the downshifting. It did concern me when this first happened until I found out that it was normal.

Yup, the "intelligent" part of the tranny will take care of hilly roads for you. It does the hard work for you.

 

[SteveM]

You don't have to run the 5 speed in 4 for it to do this. It does this in drive also. I alway just leave mine in drive and let the transmission take care of the downshifting. It did concern me when this first happened until I found out that it was normal.

I suspected that was the case, but didn't have time to test all permutations of shifter position with all the beautiful scenery whizzing by!

 

[dcampen]

I will jump in with a me too. I have also noticed the transmission downshifting to help hold downhill speed. It can be a bit disconcerting the first time you notice it but now I like the feature.

I drove from LA, CA to Bryce Canyon, UT and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon this weekend (4 day trip) in the 4Runner. The drive to the North Rim is great; through forest and then through more than 10 miles of meadows better than the ones in Yosemite. Lots of deer crossing the road from sunset on - you have to be really alert. I drove a 17 mile 4WD road out to a viewing point called Point Sublime.

 

[biglatka]

I will jump in with a me too. I have also noticed the transmission downshifting to help hold downhill speed. It can be a bit disconcerting the first time you notice it but now I like the feature.....

This is one feature I can't seem to get to work on my 05 SE V8. Today I drove on the Taconic Parkway in New York, which has some very long downhills, and it didn't seem to downshift while I applied steady braking. The 5-speed transmission works fine otherwise. I wonder if I'm missing something here? Anybody find this too? I'm not even sure if I would like this feature, new brake pads are cheaper than transmission work.

 

[KMX3060]

It requires a rather firm push on the pedal to make mine use engine braking while in D.

Just taking my foot off the gas doesn't do it.

 

[KMX3060]

It requires a rather firm push on the pedal to make mine use engine braking while in D.

Just taking my foot off the gas doesn't do it.

 

[biglatka]

It requires a rather firm push on the pedal to make mine use engine braking while in D.

Just taking my foot off the gas doesn't do it.

Thanks for the response, I did steadily apply the brakes over a "long" period of time while in "D" (not just taking my foot off the gas), but perhaps it was not firm enough. I'll try that at the next opportunity, when my wife lets me drive the 4Runner again

 

[Northof49]

Ya it caught me off guard the first time too, then I realised what it did.....pretty cool because I always downshift for grades anyways.