L4 High Rev change from 1st to 2nd - Normal?

[Germonator Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Germonator]

I have a 2013 LC150 VX. Have hit the bush many times in the past 12mths. First 6mths, the transmission would shift (Shift Mode) into 2nd very smoothly from 1st in L4 at about 1,400rpm. But for the last couple of trips, the engine revs to 2,500rpm before lurching uncomfortably into 2nd. This is with L4 and centre diff locked (actually, doesn't really matter whether centre is on/off). In H4, the transition from 1st to 2nd (in Shift Mode) is barely noticeable and happens around 1,200rpm. (Note: I set Shift Mode into 2nd from standing and then drive off. So the engine steps through 1st to 2nd. Obviously the transmission drops back to 1st as required but then lurches back into 2nd after labouring at high revs.....)

Just took it to Toyota for its 20,000km service and told them this experience. Did a dirt trial with the technician...no doubt it happens!! Got the car back and was told, this is NORMAL operation!!! Apparently they took out a new LC150 with less than 5,000km and it happened to it as well.

Anyone else have this experience? I'm not really happy to have my head snapped backwards every time I'm about to make a hill climb or when controlling travel along level but very rough terrain and have the engine constantly snapping from low 1st into 2nd...very uncomfortable.

Surely this is adjustable??

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

use the 2nd start button

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

Mine is the same, the 1st - 2nd in L4 is terrible, has been since new.

Steve

[Prone Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prone]

Likewise

Prone

[smas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close smas]

I took my new GXL out for first trip and same result, if this is the norm I'm a little disappointed. I'll ask the same question when 1000k service happens and keep posted. cheers

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

Low first is fairly low, any acceleration in low first will be jerky, use 2 gear button, low first is best only going downhill. Most uphill I even use second gear to stop well spin.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[snapper49 Member Find all posts View Profile Close snapper49]

yes use 2nd gear start

[Pearl150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearl150]

Second gear low range is the go. Same as if your driving a manual. Tell your Prado what to do? Cheers

[Prone Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prone]

Second gear low range is the go. Same as if your driving a manual. Tell your Prado what to do? Cheers

Ageed. You can still get 1st if you really need it if you are in S mode by pulling the gear lever back a few times. Doing so does not cancel the 2nd start function either. Best of both worlds perhaps?

Cheers
Prone

[smas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close smas]

Well Had the 1000k service and they say it's fine; so I took it for a test run and it seems better but still a little rough and still has some delay. It will be interesting if gets better over time?

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

Won't get better. Been happening since the 90/95 series Prado's. Mine's still doing it

[smas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close smas]

Thanks ratsack; Ah well suppose I'll have to get used to it and as noted by others us 2nd gear in low range.

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

I feel I'm all alone. Probably 80% of the time, I use 4L because of the low ratio of 1st gear. 4H rarely ever gets used on my vehicle.

[Germonator Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Germonator]

Hi folks. Thanks for all the replies. Not sure what happened but I dropped off PP for a long time...doh!!

I've since replaced my 2013 VX with a 2007 GxL. The transmission RPM from 1st to 2nd in LL is still the same. Thanks for the tip on using the '2nd Start' option. I thought that was only for use in sand or very soft terrain.

Cheers, and thanks for all the comments.

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

Hi folks. Thanks for all the replies. Not sure what happened but I dropped off PP for a long time...doh!!

I've since replaced my 2013 VX with a 2007 GxL. The transmission RPM from 1st to 2nd in LL is still the same. Thanks for the tip on using the '2nd Start' option. I thought that was only for use in sand or very soft terrain.

Cheers, and thanks for all the comments.

2nd start is used for slippery surfaces, but the net affect is it avoids the rough gear change, the only reason you feel it is because low range is doubling the tractive effort to the wheels. In H4 you still get a jerk from 1 to 2, just not as pronounced, but compared to 2-5 (which are undetectable) its obvious.

i don't use L4 much because the 410nm is plenty in H4 to get over anything, its only if I need to very slow, or want to access A-TRAC without losing power from the VDC.