Just wondering if this is normal, Automatic Transmission Options

[RavenAegis45]

Ok so i recently flushed out my transmission oil and changed the filter and what not, there doesn't seem to be any problems with my car shifting normally however I do notice that whenever i put the shifter into setting 2 that it holds gears all the way to red-line before shifting, before i did the flush it would shift gears roughly around 52-53 hundred RPM's just wondering but is this normal?

[krom8]

I honestly don't know if it's normal or not but I feel there's something I need to say. 1st and 2nd in an automatic aren't for normal driving but are there for when pulling or having a heavy load. You can actually do damage by shifting through them in your everyday driving. However if this isn't normally how the transmission shifted before I would suspect the shift silenoid first.

This post has been edited by krom8: Jun 27, 2012 - 1:17 AM

[RavenAegis45]

I honestly don't know if it's normal or not but I feel there's something I need to say. 1st and 2nd in an automatic aren't for normal driving but are there for when pulling or having a heavy load. You can actually do damage by shifting through them in your everyday driving. However if this isn't normally how the transmission shifted before I would suspect the shift silenoid first.

well my transmission only has D, 2 and L for forward driving, i don't drive normally in 2 its only when I want to drive a little spirited, in D everything shifts fine no rough, abrupt or otherwise harsh shifts and it shifts at the normal RPM's, it's only when I place the shifter onto 2, before when i put it into 2 it'd keep the gear in only till about 5200 RPM's then shift but now it keeps it into red-line before shifting, if my first explanation was confusing. even the electronic O/D switch engages and disengages the 4th gear normally when driving.

[krom8]

I hope I didn't sound like a dick because I really wasn't trying to. I thought it might be the shift silenoid but if it was I would think it would be acting pretty bad in D. I think someone with an automatic should be able to tell you if there's does the same.

This post has been edited by krom8: Jun 27, 2012 - 1:33 AM

[Special_Edy]

Usually L or 1 will keep the transmission in first gear. 2 will keep the transmission in the 1st to 2nd gear range. Drive will automatically shift between 1st 2nd 3rd and overdrive, it will also coast the car if the throttle isnt being applied.
1 or L and 2 will usually not allow the transmission to freewheel, meaning that once the car is traveling at any speed the engine will remain locked with the wheels in the selected gear. In other words the car will not coast like it does in Drive, instead the engine will slow the vehicle back down to an idle similar to how a standard transmission would perform.
The only reason you should need to use the lower gears on your shifter is to engine brake the vehicle, such as when you are driving down a very steep hill, or to keep the rpms high to heat the engine faster on a cold day. By putting it in any gear other than Drive you are increasing engine wear and lowering your fuel economy. Beyond that, dont redline it and it will be fine.


To clarify, if the shifter is in 2 the transmission shouldnt be able to shift into 3rd or 4th gear. If it is shifting out of 2nd at a redline, I would suspect it is a safety design intended to keep you from over-revving the engine.

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: Jun 27, 2012 - 2:38 PM

[Galcobar]

Do you have a button on your transmission shifter with O/D or PWR? Overdrive activates the overdrive gear for cruising. PWR alters the shift points, to provide greater (if pressed) acceleration while sacrificing fuel economy.

[trdproven]

dumb question did you use the correct fluid and also did you put in the fluid to the correct level. you have to have it on normal operating temperature and then look on the HOT range and make sure its in between. did you happen to kink or crush the solenoid wire while you were installing the filter and putting it back?

[RavenAegis45]

dumb question did you use the correct fluid and also did you put in the fluid to the correct level. you have to have it on normal operating temperature and then look on the HOT range and make sure its in between. did you happen to kink or crush the solenoid wire while you were installing the filter and putting it back?

Yeah I used dexron 3 since it replaced dexron 2 and it meets the requirements for it and the level is just below the full mark on the dipstick and i made sure to move or tamper with the wire as little as possible when installing the filter but hey for all i know those little movements could have messed with it

[RavenAegis45]

Usually L or 1 will keep the transmission in first gear. 2 will keep the transmission in the 1st to 2nd gear range. Drive will automatically shift between 1st 2nd 3rd and overdrive, it will also coast the car if the throttle isnt being applied.
1 or L and 2 will usually not allow the transmission to freewheel, meaning that once the car is traveling at any speed the engine will remain locked with the wheels in the selected gear. In other words the car will not coast like it does in Drive, instead the engine will slow the vehicle back down to an idle similar to how a standard transmission would perform.
The only reason you should need to use the lower gears on your shifter is to engine brake the vehicle, such as when you are driving down a very steep hill, or to keep the rpms high to heat the engine faster on a cold day. By putting it in any gear other than Drive you are increasing engine wear and lowering your fuel economy. Beyond that, dont redline it and it will be fine.


To clarify, if the shifter is in 2 the transmission shouldnt be able to shift into 3rd or 4th gear. If it is shifting out of 2nd at a redline, I would suspect it is a safety design intended to keep you from over-revving the engine.

Thanks that's some useful information, i hardly ever put it into 2 as I said I just happened to notice how it runs when i did use it, but as far as what selection I use I mainly stay in D and every gear there seems to shift perfectly fine from 1st to O/D and everything you said about coasting in D happens when I let off the gas, the only real difference I noticed was when i use 2. But it doesn't make any noises or such so im probably just over thinking things as the Oil i replaced was fairly old and something someone told me about how I may not want to flush it if its too old could ruin the transmission. but thanks for the advice

Do you have a button on your transmission shifter with O/D or PWR? Overdrive activates the overdrive gear for cruising. PWR alters the shift points, to provide greater (if pressed) acceleration while sacrificing fuel economy.

Mine doesnt have a pwr button but it does have a O/D on and off switch, usually if i wanna stay in a lower gear longer i put it into 2 and shift to D when its revved high enough, but i try not to push my car too much, its old as it stands with close to 250K miles

[richee3]

I believe the Celica's auto trans calls for Toyota T-IV trans fluid, not Dex or Merc. It's been so long since I looked that I can't remember. I know my IS 300 and my stepmom's Camry call for T-IV and specifically say not to use Dex or Merc. I don't know what the difference is between them, but it's just some food for thought.

[RavenAegis45]

I believe the Celica's auto trans calls for Toyota T-IV trans fluid, not Dex or Merc. It's been so long since I looked that I can't remember. I know my IS 300 and my stepmom's Camry call for T-IV and specifically say not to use Dex or Merc. I don't know what the difference is between them, but it's just some food for thought.

Im pretty sure newer models use that oil but im positive my car uses Dexron it even says it on the dipstick for the transmission fluid

[Bitter]

It's supposed to go to near rev limit.

[trdproven]

have you pulled your tranny trouble code yet so we know if its electrical/sensor related?

[michlowrider]

Was your question actually answered? I was skiming (skimming?) over the chain of chat and could not tell if you got an answer, if not, I will try this on my Celica and see what happens.

[michlowrider]

OK so I tried this and if I did it correctly or the same way you did, I started off in D2 and the car did a 1-2 shift at normal rpms just as if it were in drive, I tried it with the O/D on and off no change, if I really flogged it it does seem to hold out till near red line before shifting but normal driving = normal 1-2 shifting

[Special_Edy]

OK so I tried this and if I did it correctly or the same way you did, I started off in D2 and the car did a 1-2 shift at normal rpms just as if it were in drive, I tried it with the O/D on and off no change, if I really flogged it it does seem to hold out till near red line before shifting but normal driving = normal 1-2 shifting

I thind he had his in L or 2. Anyways he noted that his would hold gear till close to a redline then upshift into Drive or Overdrive. I think it is simply a safety feature that prevents you from over-reving the engine.

[RavenAegis45]

Was your question actually answered? I was skiming (skimming?) over the chain of chat and could not tell if you got an answer, if not, I will try this on my Celica and see what happens.

Yeah my question was more or less answered but thanks for testing it out yourself, my car runs fine as far as I can see, no issues whatsoever with the tranny =)