Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

G'day all,

I know this topic has been posted before, but I would like opinions specific to this model.
Is it true that you can only engage low range after stopping and selecting park, in this year model? If I stop, foot on the brake, select neutral, it is impossible to select low range without the gears grinding, yet if I'm in park and select low range, it selects smoothly with no grinding. In the manual it states that low range can be selected when in neutral, and that's the way it worked on my 03 model. I've never heard of this before on the Prados.

Has anyone had this same experience with the 09 model? Is the service guy correct, or is he pulling my chain and I need to explain the meaning of life to him.

Regards,
Bazza.

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

I have an Sep 2008 Auto Diesel GXL and the only way i've found to select low range is to put auto in park and select low range. Same when coming out of low range. Not a big deal :?: Should be the same as 09 model?
Cheers.

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

I have an Sep 2008 Auto Diesel GXL and the only way i've found to select low range is to put auto in park and select low range. Same when coming out of low range. Not a big deal :?: Should be the same as 09 model?
Cheers.

I my '06 D4D Auto (should be the same engine & Transmission) I can change in/out of low range in either park or neutral with no issues. I wonder if Mr Toyota has changed something in the drive chain that hasn't been publicised?

Leachy

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

When I had the delivery demo for my 08 GXL auto the sales guy said always change to low range with auto lever in neutral - which is what I do, with no issues.

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

Ok, here we go. We're all correct I Just went for a test drive in my 2008 AUTO GXL D4D and dusted of and read the owners manual :mrgreen:
Owner's Manual on page 147 says - SHIFTING BETWEEN "HL" and "LL" (with AUTO transmission) To shift between "HL" and "LL" , stop the vehicle and put the transmission in "N". With your foot holding down the brake pedal, move the four-wheel drive control lever. Same in reverse.
BUT i found when i tested mine again 5 minutes ago that the gears don't mess properly when going into "LL" in "N" but comes back out okay. Only way to go from "HL" to "LL" is put auto in "P" so the gears mesh properly.
Opened a can of worms now :mrgreen:

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

I'll check mine when I get home.

Leachy

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

Ok, here we go. We're all correct I Just went for a test drive in my 2008 AUTO GXL D4D and dusted of and read the owners manual :mrgreen:
Owner's Manual on page 147 says - SHIFTING BETWEEN "HL" and "LL" (with AUTO transmission) To shift between "HL" and "LL" , stop the vehicle and put the transmission in "N". With your foot holding down the brake pedal, move the four-wheel drive control lever. Same in reverse.
BUT i found when i tested mine again 5 minutes ago that the gears don't mess properly when going into "LL" in "N" but comes back out okay. Only way to go from "HL" to "LL" is put auto in "P" so the gears mesh properly.
Opened a can of worms now :mrgreen:

Could have something to do with temp of oil? Went out for a play for an hour just before and had no probs going from "H" to "LL" with auto in "N" :?: :?:

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

Hi, mine is a September 2009 GXL, no problems changing into low range with the trans in neutral (just went and tried to make sure). from memory my 2005 was the same, never had any problems selecting low range so long as stationary and in neutral or park.

Cheers Andrew

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

Just tested mine. There doesn't seem to be any difference between Park and Neutral for shifting in or out of low range.

Leachy

[bilo33prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bilo33prado]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

G'day all,

I know this topic has been posted before, but I would like opinions specific to this model.
Is it true that you can only engage low range after stopping and selecting park, in this year model? If I stop, foot on the brake, select neutral, it is impossible to select low range without the gears grinding, yet if I'm in park and select low range, it selects smoothly with no grinding. In the manual it states that low range can be selected when in neutral, and that's the way it worked on my 03 model. I've never heard of this before on the Prados.

Has anyone had this same experience with the 09 model? Is the service guy correct, or is he pulling my chain and I need to explain the meaning of life to him.

Regards,
Bazza.

There must be something going on here. As i had same probs you had earlier today. I wounder if there's a difference between driving around in "HL" for a while then deciding change into "LL" as oposed to going straight from "H", "HL" to "LL" all in the one action? Does that make sense? As i went for a play this afternoon and i only changed into "LL" from "H" when i came across a VERY steep hill or decent, with no meshing probs?? So sometimes it grinds and sometimes it doesn't??
Cheers
confused :?

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

As said in another thread ( deja vu ?) I try to let the little stick sit in the "neutral" or centre position for a second or so before moving it to L, and also make sure the engine is at absolute idle.
This may let the gears align a bit ( I don't know i'm not technical in this area ) but the only time I've ever had a light graunch is when I've slammed it through from H to L without pausing.

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

G'day all,

Thanks for the responces. I dont seem to be able to get a positive answer from Toyota. I've just booked mine in for it's 10,000k service and the service manager says " no, that's normal, it's a safety design." Why dont I believe him? What I do believe is that.. if it says in the manual you can shift form neutral, that how it should be! I find it hard to believe that there would be a diference between year models.

Thanks guys.
Regards,
Bazza.

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

G'day all,

After further investigation, I have determined that tempreture has something to do with this. It's either oil or component tempreture, or a combination of both, that causes this to happen. When the 120's at normal opperating tempreture ( after driving it home from work ) it will change to LR from both park or neutral, with no effort and no gear grinding, but it's left to go cold, gear grinding from neutral comes back and only changing to LR from park is possible.

Still very strange, as this never happened in the 03 model. I will be speaking to Toyota about it and will post the outcome.

Regards,
Bazza.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Shifting into low range in 2009 GXL Auto

Hi Bazza, when i checked mine the other night the car hadnt been driven for about four hours and even then only 2ks for me to get home, so the box would have been cold and i had no problems shifting into LR.

Cheers Andrew