5-speed auto shifting

[mtodde]

The Solara's sequential transmission is not set up to start out in the gear selected. If the dash readout says "2" then the transmission will start out in first gear and automatically shift to second.

If so, then why wouldn't I feel an upshift when it goes from 1st to 2nd? When at a stop I have it at 2nd and I accelerate I feel no transition from 1 to 2. I also don't see the RPM's quickly climbing like it would if I had it set to 1st.

It does upshift. When you change over to "sport" mode you automatically go to 4 on your display. That does not mean you start out in 4th gear. Basically if you leave it in sport mode, your shift points change to reflect that there is no overdrive (typically a sportier feel). To be honest with you I don't feel the shifts in normal automatic driving. The only time I feel them is when I manually shift. Moving from drive to sport is the same thing as turning off overdrive in any newer automatic.

[mattyboyl]

The Solara's sequential transmission is not set up to start out in the gear selected. If the dash readout says "2" then the transmission will start out in first gear and automatically shift to second.

If so, then why wouldn't I feel an upshift when it goes from 1st to 2nd? When at a stop I have it at 2nd and I accelerate I feel no transition from 1 to 2. I also don't see the RPM's quickly climbing like it would if I had it set to 1st.

It does upshift. When you change over to "sport" mode you automatically go to 4 on your display. That does not mean you start out in 4th gear. Basically if you leave it in sport mode, your shift points change to reflect that there is no overdrive (typically a sportier feel). To be honest with you I don't feel the shifts in normal automatic driving. The only time I feel them is when I manually shift. Moving from drive to sport is the same thing as turning off overdrive in any newer automatic.

True, unless you switch to manual mode and upshift to 5 and then leave it there. Then it would be the exact same thing as drive.

[mtodde]

The Solara's sequential transmission is not set up to start out in the gear selected. If the dash readout says "2" then the transmission will start out in first gear and automatically shift to second.

If so, then why wouldn't I feel an upshift when it goes from 1st to 2nd? When at a stop I have it at 2nd and I accelerate I feel no transition from 1 to 2. I also don't see the RPM's quickly climbing like it would if I had it set to 1st.

It does upshift. When you change over to "sport" mode you automatically go to 4 on your display. That does not mean you start out in 4th gear. Basically if you leave it in sport mode, your shift points change to reflect that there is no overdrive (typically a sportier feel). To be honest with you I don't feel the shifts in normal automatic driving. The only time I feel them is when I manually shift. Moving from drive to sport is the same thing as turning off overdrive in any newer automatic.

True, unless you switch to manual mode and upshift to 5 and then leave it there. Then it would be the exact same thing as drive.

Good point.

[Kini]

There is a problem with the Toyota 5sp auto used in our cars and all other Toyota made vehicles including Lexus. The internet has quite a few posts of people having slipping transmissions or transmission failure.. and Toyota is doing nothing about it.

The transmission in my car makes the 1-2 shift so slow that the car almost stops, the 2-3 shift is not much better. Other times it shifts like a built turbo 400 and jerks the car all over the place. Other times it shifts normally. The slipping almost always occurs after the car is warmed up. Sometimes after only 5 mins of stop and go driving. I'm going on vacation but will be bringing it to the dealer at the start of Sept (again). I already had it there after owning it for about 2 months because of the slipping problem. They of course said there is nothing wrong.

So far my opinion of the car has gone from liking the car alot, to I'M ABOUT READY TO DUMP THIS POS. Quality of the new toyotas suck. Just look at the JD Power ratings. Hyundai is on top and Toyota is bested by 10 other car companies. If they (Toyota) are unwilling to fix this problem I'll have to take my losses and dump the car on some unsuspecting Toyota fanatic and let it be his problem. This will be my first and last Toyota. I just can't take it any more. It's to the point that I hate driving the car because the tranny is so bad and the fact that I'll end up losing 5 grand in the process.

[mtodde]

There is a problem with the Toyota 5sp auto used in our cars and all other Toyota made vehicles including Lexus. The internet has quite a few posts of people having slipping transmissions or transmission failure.. and Toyota is doing nothing about it.

The transmission in my car makes the 1-2 shift so slow that the car almost stops, the 2-3 shift is not much better. Other times it shifts like a built turbo 400 and jerks the car all over the place. Other times it shifts normally. The slipping almost always occurs after the car is warmed up. Sometimes after only 5 mins of stop and go driving. I'm going on vacation but will be bringing it to the dealer at the start of Sept (again). I already had it there after owning it for about 2 months because of the slipping problem. They of course said there is nothing wrong.

So far my opinion of the car has gone from liking the car alot, to I'M ABOUT READY TO DUMP THIS POS. Quality of the new toyotas suck. Just look at the JD Power ratings. Hyundai is on top and Toyota is bested by 10 other car companies. If they (Toyota) are unwilling to fix this problem I'll have to take my losses and dump the car on some unsuspecting Toyota fanatic and let it be his problem. This will be my first and last Toyota. I just can't take it any more. It's to the point that I hate driving the car because the tranny is so bad and the fact that I'll end up losing 5 grand in the process.

If you're that unhappy try the Hyundai; I think you would quickly realize that the Solara is a major step above any Hyundai. Hyundai has come a long way...and one day they may overcome some of the Japanese companies.

The Gen 2 was a total redesign. It is normal for things to go wrong on a redesign...just like with a brand new model. Overall, I think Toyota does a great job. As much as we bitch, most of the folks I know with 2003-2004 Accords wish they had bought a Solara!

[LunarMistGray]

My car doesn't slip. Maybe it's because I understand that the car uses "drive-by-wire". In case anyone doesn't know, do a search on the internet and you will see that the newer model cars have this feature. Personally, I hate "drive-by-wire", but I know how it works therefore I know what to expect. Here's a link that talks about this feature
http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/43033/article.html

There is always going to be a "slippage" if you keep it in auto mode. In sequential mode you will not get this problem if you know how to shift correctly.

[mtodde]

My car doesn't slip. Maybe it's because I understand that the car uses "drive-by-wire". In case anyone doesn't know, do a search on the internet and you will see that the newer model cars have this feature. Personally, I hate "drive-by-wire", but I know how it works therefore I know what to expect. Here's a link that talks about this feature
http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/43033/article.html

There is always going to be a "slippage" if you keep it in auto mode. In sequential mode you will not get this problem if you know how to shift correctly.

Thanks for the article. I think someone may have posted it here before; I remember reading it anyway.

This confirms some of the postings we've seen about the delayed acceleration being caused by the ECM programming. The folks that had that done reported an immediate change and that the shift points were at higher RPMs...can any of you follow up to advise if you are still happy with the fix?

[trdpower04]

What does drive by wire have to do with a crappy 1-2 shift? Enlighten me.

[TW85]

kini,

Do as mtodde said and buy a Hyundai. If you really think the JD Power ratings have much legitimacy and are a true reflection of quality, you will surely be disappointed. Toyota still has some of the fewest problems per 100 vehicles.

I have read many complaints of the ES 300/330, RX 330, Sienna, and Solara transmissions but have read of only a few failures. Go to any Honda or Acura forum and you will see a true trend of failures.

slingshot,

The car does automatically start out in first gear and shift to second. Pay close attention and you will see a slight RPM change.

[DocJohn]

Toyota still has some of the fewest problems per 100 vehicles.

I have read many complaints of the ES 300/330, RX 330, Sienna, and Solara transmissions but have read of only a few failures. Go to any Honda or Acura forum and you will see a true trend of failures.

Very True! For example, just read-up on some of the horror stories about the total failures of the auto tranny in the last generation of the Acura CL - Type S. I was seriously thinking about buying one of these until I read about its tranny problems. (Or if you want to hear some GM horror stories I'll tell you about my '01 Olds Aurora I dumped for my Solara).

The '04 Solara has one of the smoothest engines and trannys I have ever driven, but I agree it also has some "strange habits" too, possibly attributed to the "drive by wire issue".

[slingshot]

I know one person at work with a Honda Accord who has a bad transmission and another guy with an Acura CL Type S that is on his third transmission already. That was enough for me to shy away from Honda cars.

[mtodde]

I know one person at work with a Honda Accord who has a bad transmission and another guy with an Acura CL Type S that is on his third transmission already. That was enough for me to shy away from Honda cars.

The CL and TL both have had tons of transmission issues. I really loved the new TL, but the experience of friends & co-workers with the CL and previous TL steered me away (well, the price was a good bit higher too). I would have loved to buy a cream puff CL Type S.

Obviously not everyone will have issues...just like I haven't had left drift and my car was made in August of 2003. The fact remains that over time Toyota cars (and Lexus) will out perform most others in quality and are very reasonably priced.

[LunarMistGray]

trdpower04

What does drive by wire have to do with a crappy 1-2 shift? Enlighten me.

A lot. Read the link I posted earlier or search the internet and you will see that other people complain about the same thing with other make/models. Now, Toyota can always re-program the ECM which may improve the shift points, but that lag will be there. I tell you what, drive your car in sequential and shift from 1-5 at the correct shift points and tell me if the shifting is crappy. The important thing to remember is don't shift too earlier because the computer will not shift. You must be at the right speed/rpm for it to shift. I drive mine in sequential and it shifts like cutting through butter with a hot knife; even in auto mode it shifts smooth. Maybe it's because the computer knows my driving habits.

[cablemn]

is there any way to convert the gas pedal to a hard linked one? i've been searching and can't find anything about it.

[chuchurocket]

while some of you are complaining about tranny that doesn't respond the way you want it to, (which isn't a "problem" at all) others car are having totally failed transmission.

acura CL, like some of you mentioned above, is also a japanese company's car that's built in NA like the SOlara, but the Cl get far mroe problem in-term of tranny, just do a quick look at their forum, while we are talking about "pull to the left" and "rattling noise" as our common problems, most of the acura CL forum post "total tranny failure" as their common problem, most of their Cl need to replace the entire tranny after a 2~3 yr usage. now that's "problem"