Correct Use of the Auto Transmission

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Correct Use of the Auto Transmission

It's funny that you mention the use of left foot for braking with the auto. I actually do this myself. I know that it's supposed to be wrong but after many years of practice I think I have it mastered.

That is how I've been taught tyo drive through the National 4wd Training Package. The booklet for South Australia talks about Correct Use of Brake Thorttle Modulation in ALL of the Automatic Transmission Assessments. I believe the National Package is SRO DRV 001B. Based on it being in the booklet arranged from theDTU for the South Australian Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs based on the national one I would say it is not supposed to be wrong.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Correct Use of the Auto Transmission

correct way to use auto transmission, throw it in the bin and get a manual, as for brake to throttle modulation, about 40 to 50% brake and 100% percent throttle input and adjust brake to allow for smoke to revs ratio ( in a rwd) unless you need to grab another gear, in that case flat change and back on to brake in a manual of course. :lol: :wink: . cheers samo

[corallen Member Find all posts View Profile Close corallen]

Re: Correct Use of the Auto Transmission

it is a funny thing the auto.
l use it alot D for normal driving and use it as a manual off road as l can control the revs and power needed for off road better using it manually. but was told that doing this would kill the box quicker. so l tried to leave it in D off road aswell but found that the box would heat up alot and the warning light would go on all the time so now l have gone back to using it manual on the off road scene.l would not own a 4wd manual sorry thats just my choice love the auto in the bush gives me more attention to the road ahead.
cheers

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

Re: Correct Use of the Auto Transmission

it is a funny thing the auto.
l use it alot D for normal driving and use it as a manual off road as l can control the revs and power needed for off road better using it manually. but was told that doing this would kill the box quicker. so l tried to leave it in D off road aswell but found that the box would heat up alot and the warning light would go on all the time so now l have gone back to using it manual on the off road scene.l would not own a 4wd manual sorry thats just my choice love the auto in the bush gives me more attention to the road ahead.
cheers

If it's overheating then I suspect that you have another problem. Mine does fine in D, although I will put it into 4th when towing on the dirt at speeds below 60 as I find I get better economy this way. Sometimes I will pick 3rd if I need the added compression braking when negotiating tight bending tracks. Took mine with camper trailer out into the Great Sandy Desert with temperatures in the high 40s and she went fine without any issues.

[corallen Member Find all posts View Profile Close corallen]

Re: Correct Use of the Auto Transmission

yes it prob needs a service as not sure if it was done before l got it.
was thinking weather it was needed for an external cooler to help it in the new 4wd action mag they said that 90 percent of the time auto failure is because of orver heating but not sure if ya can.

[charlie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close charlie]

The manual advises using 4 when towing "to increase engine braking" not for protecting the transmission. Having lost a commodore gearbox to towing in overdrive I err on the side of caution and tow in fourth. As an experiment at 100km hr and fourth, accelerate mildly and you will see the rpm rise gradually. Same speed in "D" you will see the rpm immediately pick up 300rpm or so. As the speed hasn't changed I think this must be slip in the transmission. Slip = heat. There is a weath of evidence on this forum that Prodos tow fine in D, my belief is it may be a little bit more gentle to tow in 4th.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

im with chriso57 .auto leaves the left hand free for other devices . manuals are for people who need to expend energy after their day of work . me , im tired after my day of work and i dont feel the need to mix the cake .he he he , now thats a nicely presented bait .lol . i use mine as a manual down long steep hills . its a Toyota , not a mazda BT50 .apparently the 5 spd is a learning gearbox and will adapt to your style of driving after about 15 mins . thats the auto ,not the cake mixer

[grande1810 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grande1810]

Give me an auto anytime,4wheeling & towing, more control in rugged terrain.& in my job have seen too many clutch failures due to towing.

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

I can see benefit in braking and throttle for the odd times when 4wd driving, my gripes with the auto are simply that its all set up for fuel economy. It should change down, as you slow down. Not wait until you accelerate. Its reminds me of driving an old barge arse taxi falcon. The new autos in the falcon are brilliant, by the way.

In the manual I don`t leave it in topgear when braking and slowing for a corner and then when I realise I am in too high a gear change down. The auto is there to do things automatically, so change down sooner. There is so many smart autos, why have they dumbed this one?

On traction control, there is a dip in a left hander near my place and every time I go through there unless I am really slow, the front right traction control comes on as the wheel drops in the dip. Instead of being able to corner the car essentially understeers, effectively putting my in the other lane. Its happened to my wife with kids on board and she drives very cautiously. The front traction control is way too sensitive. Rear is fine.

Have experienced a similar concern on left handers, more than once!

[roester Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close roester]

So has any one had problems with their auto gear box by down shifting it to slow down, rather then using the brakes? I used to use the over drive button on my Hilux Surf to slow that down rather then using the brakes and did over 100,000km on the same pads and no problems with the gear box at 320,000km on the clock. My new D4D 2008 120 series does not have the over drive button and so i often down shift the auto to 4 , 3 and 2 to slow it down rather then using the brakes. I want to know if there are other people that do this and how there gear box is holding out?

whats can happen to the gear box when doing this? slipping of the bands when we mannually force the gears to down shift prehaps?

cheers

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

be careful using the shifter in the lower gears in the 5 speed auto. They are prone to breaking a small plastic piece which holds a pin that guides the selector through the various gates. The end result is a floppy gear lever that doesn't remain in the selected gear. This happened to me recently.

Search "floppy gear lever" for more information.

[ON888 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ON888]

You shouldn't have to brake when going downhills in the Prado. Grade logic control should work the magic for you. Go down the hill, tap the brakes, the transmission automatically downshifts 1 or 2 gears depending on how steep the hill is, and the rest is history. From here on, it's just a matter of braking momentarily (ie 1-2 seconds to maintain speed or even slow down).

Works a treat for me everytime I go for a drive with the family and a bootful of gear.

[ON888 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ON888]

And to add: the same goes for uphill, the transmission will not shift up until the road levels out. Meaning, if you start to climb a hill, and "blip" the throttle so that it downshifts a gear, it will maintain that gear until you have reached the top of the hill. Smart.

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

really? what model 120 do you have, Grande?

[ON888 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ON888]

really? what model 120 do you have, Grande?

Nope. GXL It came standard in all Prados with 5 speed auto. Try it sometime. Works like a dream. A lot of people just don't know about it.