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Sedans Toyota Avalon Toyota Avalon 2005-
14780 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 2:06 PM
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 16, 2007 6:37 am) My daily commute includes 20 km (12 mi) of mixed country road/city street driving with 700 m (2300 ft) changes in elevation. I have compared driving up and down the same hills in D and in S, in light and heavy traffic, all seasons, for 2 years now. Driving in D up a fairly steep (12%) hill at 30-40 mph, my Av will not upshift from 3rd gear until well after having cleared the crest and on flat terrain again. This was an early observation that I found a bit annoying and it prompted me to experiment with the S mode. In S, I can nudge it into 4th and sometimes 5th well before reaching the crest, with no reduction in speed and with a noticeable gain in FE. Part of the reason obviously is that I can anticipate when the slope will change; the ECU cannot. But even after reaching level ground again, when in D, it waits too long and "hangs" in 3rd at 3500 RPM, when it could and should have upshifted earlier. When in S, my Av upshifts sooner -- or if it doesn't, I nudge it. The FE display clearly confirms the benefit of upshifting earlier. Since 50% of my daily driving is on hilly terrain, so 25% up hills when fuel consumption is clearly highest, I find that driving in S is in fact more fuel efficient for me than driving in D. The difference would be less for driving on mainly level roads. I assume that your daily driving does not include many hills -- correct?
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Replying to: jlsexton (Feb 16, 2007 12:58 pm) I recently installed, in another vehicle, a stand-alone wireless backup camera and monitor, paid Can$99 at Costco. Works very well. The camera protrudes a couple cm beyond the license plate, but remains contained within the recessed area for the plate. It would not be reached by light contact from a flat bumper from another vehicle. I haven't tried to install one in my Av, so can't suggest how to locate the monitor and wiring. If you do, please post your solution. Thanks.
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Replying to: havalongavalon (Feb 16, 2007 1:43 pm) Correct, I live in a very flat part of the US, don't get to play with hills very much. Are you leaving the tranny in S5, and 'nudging' the upshifts with your right foot, or a manual gear change?
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 16, 2007 2:00 pm) Manually. I keep my foot off the gas pedal as much as possible; I find this helps the FE more than anything else! Pun intended; but really, it's interesting how little you need to step on the gas with the Av, even up hills. |
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Replying to: jlsexton (Feb 16, 2007 12:58 pm) |
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Replying to: havalongavalon (Feb 15, 2007 7:41 pm) Bob |
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Replying to: jlsexton (Feb 16, 2007 12:58 pm) The cost of the plate camera and the OEM Navigation Dual Video Input Interface Module With Wiring Harness was about $500. I looked at the bumper ,drill a hole camera, and the square units and decided they looked a little out of place and did not do anything to add positively to car. I got the silver plate-camera to match the toyota emblems on the trunk. ange
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Replying to: havalongavalon (Feb 16, 2007 1:53 pm) One thing I noticed, Toyota did a super job designing the kick plates. Really well made. Thes are the best I have ever seen. ange |
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Replying to: wwest (Feb 16, 2007 10:25 am) Not having an easy method for detecting roadbed condition most manufacturers of FWD have recently chosen to revise the automatic transaxle shift schedule in a manner that virtually eliminates engine braking on those front wheels at all times. wwest, I just confirmed that if in D, my 2005 Av XLS does downshift when I apply the brakes coming down a hill at say 100 km/h to reduce speed to 70, it automatically downshifts from 5th to 4th gear. When I drive in S5 on the same hill and apply the brakes in the same manner, it does not downshift. You say this programmed downshift is dangerous. Since the Av is equipped with multiple sensors ("It may be icy?") I wonder whether it is also programmed to not downshift when conditions are dangerously slippery? I have not checked this. Also, if things go sour I expect the Av VSC to take over. But, wouldn't VSC actions also involve downshifting?
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 16, 2007 2:00 pm) Earlier I mentioned the FE benefit of driving in S5, UP hills. Since the Av is programmed to use engine braking when in D, and engine braking is likely to affect FE, driving in S5 DOWN hills is also likely to improve FE. Maybe you'll want to visit New Mexico to check this out 
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