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Hi everyone, this is my first effort at seeing how disgruntled anyone else is out there with the droning you get in the new Prado update deisel. It happens at 75kph, 1400rpm in 5th overdrive. The Prado is not faulty,but the transmission is made to operate at unrealistic low revs to meet emission standards, hence Toyota Australia is not obliged to make any modifications to alleviate the problem. Ours is particularly bad, so we drive around most of the time in 4th gear to avoid the droning. My vehicle is 7months old and travelled 31000km's. If the torque converter was made to lock up at say, 1600rpm instead of 1400rpm the droning would be significantly reduced. I know a way of doing this, but I wondered what other people thought. Ps. It does crap you off, that Toyota Australia say, because our product is not faulty you are just going to have to put up with it. Not happy Jan.
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Silver fox,
I have noticed a slight harshness at low speed.
This may be of no help at all?
To me it is more like exhaust resonance (which most vehicles have at some point) Often a cure is to re- align or take any stress out of the exhaust system. Sometimes by applying heat.
The speed you are getting the harshness is an odd speed to travel at?
I will have to get out & try it at that speed.
But as you say by altering the lock up point of the overdrive, may well be the cure??
Probable no help at all.
Cheers
Fazza, 07 GXL D4D Auto
PS Welcome to Pradopoint07 Silver Ash, GXL, D4D, Auto. Lifestyle rear cargo rack. 2500 kg Tow bar with Tekonsha elec brake controller, Rear dust deflector, Mio Sat nav, (Still trying to fault the Dunlop AT20's) -
Silver fox,
I tried my D4D this morning at the speed & revs that you mentioned.
I found it to be slightly harsher at that point but of no real annoyance.
Has the droning been there from new???
Cheers,
Fazza07 Silver Ash, GXL, D4D, Auto. Lifestyle rear cargo rack. 2500 kg Tow bar with Tekonsha elec brake controller, Rear dust deflector, Mio Sat nav, (Still trying to fault the Dunlop AT20's)Comment
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Droning 5th overdrive new d4d diesel
Thanks Fazza, sorry, nothing to do with exhaust. I am not so much travelling at 75kph, but when you slow down in traffic and then put on light peddle it drones like buggery. I have been tooing and frowing with Toyota for 7 months. They acknowledge the problems exist. Here is an extract from one of thier replies. "The droning condition is generated by engine fluctuations through the driveline which is transmitted through the body of the vehicle when the torque coverter locks up. Due to emission standards, the engine management system of the vehicle is designed to perform in this manner. As a result, the torque converter locks up at low engine rpm and the harmonics of the vehicle produce the condition experienced by yourself." "As there is no manufacturing fault we offer you no assistance." Goodbye,see you later,bugger off. Hows them apples Ralph???xxxxComment
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.HI Fazza, I complained the day after we bought it. Refer previous email.Silver fox.xxxxComment
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Silver fox,
That's good Pr work on Toyota's behalf.
They, however, must have made some form of alteration as my vehicle does not behave like yours. In fact it changes out of o/d at that speed with very light throttle application.
It will be interesting if any other's have the same problem.
Hoping you find a solution.
Fazza07 Silver Ash, GXL, D4D, Auto. Lifestyle rear cargo rack. 2500 kg Tow bar with Tekonsha elec brake controller, Rear dust deflector, Mio Sat nav, (Still trying to fault the Dunlop AT20's)Comment
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Silver Fox,
At 75Kmh mine is smooth. Though cruising at 60Kmh in 5th there is the slighest of vibrations. Drop under 60khm or apply the slightest bit more throttle and the tranny drops back to 4th and it's all smooth.
It isn't bad enough to bother me, though I have been concerned that if I fit larger diameter tyres the vibration may become more pronounced. So I'd be interested to know if there is an easy way to change the point at which the torque convertor locks up.
LeachyEX-Prado OwnerComment
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Ahh. I'm glad someone else has said this. This is one of the reasons I'm reluctant to go to 70% tyres on my V6, although the vibration isn't an issue in the V6, I'm concerned it will hunt between 4th and 5th when cruising, whereas now she's very happy and pulls very nicely in top.Originally posted by leachy_9
Drew.2005 Toyota LandCruiser GRJ120R Prado "Pilbara" (GX+) Petrol V6 5 Speed Auto, ARB AirLocker rear diff locker, Safari Snorkel, Bilstein Shocks, OME 2" Lifted Springs, PolyAir airbags, bash plates, Icom HF Transceiver, Uniden UHF CB, HID and LED lights, Black Duck seat covers, Tekonsha Prodigy trailer brake controller, Redarc Dual Battery Controller, ATS4X4 Side Steps/Rock Sliders.Comment
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Leachy,Drew, thanks for your comments. I have travelled around Australia asking the service people if customers are complaining about this issue. They all say no. This is not quite right because they are told this is normal and unless people put it in writing of course there is no record. I am currently running the AT's,heaven help me if Iwas to put Cooper ATR's on like my 2003 diesel Prado. I traded that for the update to tow my tandem van. Yes the torque converter can be made to lock up at higher revs. It would require changing the spring values in the valve body of the torque converter and it would be hit and miss at that. Silver foxxxxxComment
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I have discovered my d4d has a fully electronic transmission and as such can't be modified as previously stated. Going to a tranny specialist next week to see what they can do. I must admit I thought more people would have responded. Maybe out of 280 hits, 270 are the previous 120 diesel model which I had and gave me no grief...........
Silver Fox. :cry: :cry: :cry:xxxxComment
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[/quote][ I must admit I thought more people would have responded. Maybe out of 280 hits, 270 are the previous 120 diesel model which I had and gave me no grief...........
Silver Fox. :cry: :cry: :cry:
Maybe no one else has had your problem. (No problem, no cure)
You just had to be that lucky :!:
I would certain like to know the outcome after the visit to the transmission specialist.
All the best,
Fazza07 Silver Ash, GXL, D4D, Auto. Lifestyle rear cargo rack. 2500 kg Tow bar with Tekonsha elec brake controller, Rear dust deflector, Mio Sat nav, (Still trying to fault the Dunlop AT20's)Comment
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Hi guys,
It will be a couple of weeks or more before I can enlighten you with regards to how I went with the transmission specialist.
I have discovered the Prado has what's called an "intelligent" transmission. This feature over time remembers the driving style of the driver and changes the transmission characteristics to suit. Because I am light of foot the transmission learnt to hang on to lock up and made it very hard for me to kick it down. To restore the ECT or electronic transmission to the factory default setting I disconnected the battery for 30 seconds and then reconnected the same. I then took the Prado for a spin and the droning was all but gone. The throttle was now a lot more responsive too
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I have told Toyota Regional Office Victoria and my local Service Centre and even made recommendations. As if they will listen to me.
I am still going to disable the "intelligence" feature and try to eliminate all the droning. Otherwise it will just revert back to its old ways.
Silver foxxxxxComment
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Silver fox,
Well there you go, I didn't know that they were that intelligent (I meant the transmission) You would think the service department could have sorted that out??
:idea: In that case why don't you keep the gearbox guessing by using your right foot occasionally :wink:
The D4D would probably like to do a bit of work.
Anyway, good to hear the outcome.
Cheers,
Fazza. 07 GXL D4D Auto07 Silver Ash, GXL, D4D, Auto. Lifestyle rear cargo rack. 2500 kg Tow bar with Tekonsha elec brake controller, Rear dust deflector, Mio Sat nav, (Still trying to fault the Dunlop AT20's)Comment
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My BMW 5 Series with a 5 speed auto gearbox also has a "learning" capability, and I generally drive like I'm chauffering Miss Daisy, so my auto tends to get up to the top gear and stay there even though the revs are below 1400 RPM, causing a drone. Actually, it's more like an exhaust vibration - I suspect a heat shield is resonating, or it may even be the cats rattling.
Anyway, I often flick the gearbox to "sport" mode so that it releases the lock up on 5th gear just to eliminate this annoying vibe.
I take it that the Prado does not have a "sport" mode, so to speak. Have you found a way of preventing it from trying to lock up in low revs via the transmission ECU?
Lawrance
Melbourne, VICComment
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Lawrance,
No there is no sports mode,that would have been my saviour.
My transmission man is having difficulties obtaining the circuit diagrams from Toyota and he is very busy so I have to be patient. Consequently I have nothing more to tell, accept the Prado is back to its old ways.
I give the truck a cainning between gears, but the roll power in top is so great all you can do is feather the peddle, so you don't run up someones arse. The transmission then locks up really early.
Silver fox
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