Towing with D4D Auto

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

I run mine in D pretty much all the time, in 4wd situations or steep descents I might work the box, or the occasional hill where the auto cant make up its mind but that's about it.

For the 150 drivers commenting in this thread, the 120 doesn't have the S mode

Cheers Andrew

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

My S mode is connected to my Right Boot! lol
Thanks for all the input guys, I Spose more frequent servicing is required when towing, not that Toyota would say so!

[Ian Reid Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Reid]

Similar to this thread.... Does anyone have a problem with the transmission overheating up hill when not towing. I hired a 150 in NZ 3 years ago. When climbing long steep ranges auto overheated (June in NZ). Had to use low range a couple of times to get up. Almost made me but something else but the options were... I watch mine but haven't had any issues towing or not

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Hi Ian,

I did have an overheating issue once when I tackled a steep hill off road in high range instead of low, my bad, warning light came on had to stop & let it cool down, so I don't try hills in high range + have fitted scangauge to keep an eye on trans temp. I have also noticed since having scangauge, that temps can rise 100+degs even on the bitumen on long hills.

Cheers,
Steve J

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

Went through this exercise myself recently on a trip from Sydney to Brissy. I towed a trailer similar to yours, whilst the box didn't 'overheat' it did get hot.

Of note is Toyotas insistence the the transfluid never needs to be changed (what BS). Asking around at various trans specilists it was evident the fluid should be replaced around 40/50,000. So after 80,000km my fluid was black (no kidding Sherlock). I did a flush and replaced the fluid, the trans now has smoother gear changes as a result.

As the price of an additional cooler is simple piece of mind, around $300-00, this is cheep insurance which should remove any potential issues and extend the life.

This is what I will be doing.

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Peril, when u did a flush, do I mean u dropped the sump fluid or flushed the lot??
My local dealer said no need to change, but I don't go there anymore!

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Ok let me search for the thread.

Found it.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...0-series/page3

Post 34.

Put that code in Heath & didn't work for me, is it in the naming of it??

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

Hi Steve,

I definitely got the code of PP somewhere, try this one, maybe it was the code in this thread?

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ight=Auto+temp

If that's no good Ill go out and check for you!

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

Well, Roo did the box flush for me, I just handed him the tools.

It was a time consuming job because the fluid in the box will drain but that in the lines has to be cycled. We drained and filled the box 4-5 times, each drain was about 2L to refill, until it ran the typical clear red colour, took about 8 litres all together.

Toyota is not interested in making your Prado last longer than the intended 'life time' of the vehicle. I guess the actual intended life time of a Prado is where we differ in opinion.

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

If only there was a way to change the fluid like kidney dialysis.

[Travelman1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Travelman1]

Hi CaLLaN52
We have a 2008 Cub Supermatic Regal Off Road we bought second hand three years ago and tow it with an auto 120 GXL D4D. It's a great camper and tows and tracks so well on bitumen, dirt and gravel I forget it's there. (A great camper, and customer service from the factory in Sydney is first rate too!)Fuel consumption is about 2-2.5 l/100k higher with it on when doing highway speeds. We've done about 30000 km with it so far - as well as to the local coasts, it's done Brisbane to various locations in Nth Qld a few times, to Canberra, to Sydney, to the Flinders Ranges and back up the Birdsville Track, and recently the big loop from Brisbane to Broken Hill, Port Augusta, Yulara, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Mt Isa, Bowen and home. The Kimberleys and the Gibb River Road are on the agenda for 2014. 95% of the time I just leave it in Drive and it does its own thing. I don't have the auto temp code in my Scanguage, but I've never noticed the temperature gauge on the dash vary. I only use the auto manually if I'm on a steep hill (going up or down) or if I'm overtaking and need the extra revs quickly.
Travel safely and enjoy your Cub.
Cheers
Travelman1

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Hi Travelman1,
Thanks for the feedback, no one can say u don't get the use out of ur camper, well done, I hope I get the same use out of my, hanging to test it out!
Hope u fulfil ur 2014 Agenda
Cheers,
Steve J