- #13500 of 14778
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Re: Reminder -- how to cure quirky shifting episodes [havalongavalon]
by wwest
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Feb 17, 2007 (10:56 am)
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Replying to: havalongavalon (Feb 17, 2007 8:54 am)
To alleviate the possibility of stalling the engine when you apply the brakes the lockup clutch is ALWAYS disabled the instant the brake lights come on. And absent the lockup clutch the transaxle CANNOT run in any O/D gear ratio.
So yes, upon brake application the SOLID COUPLING from the engine to the drive wheels MUST be removed in favor of the slush pump, torque converter, only.
Obviously, also, you will get less engine braking via the slush pump vs the solid engine coupling provided by the lockup clutch.
VSC uses brake application, or if the brakes are already applied brake UN-application.
My 2001 AWD RX300 will apply both rear brakes, to help slow the RX and thereby regain traction at the front, if understearing is detected. If braking is already applied it will "lighten" the braking at the front. With overstearing it will brake the front wheel on the outside of the turn/skid, or "lighten" the braking on the inside front wheel.
Apparently Ford is already using the OAT sensor readings to significantly reduce the level of regenerative braking on the FWD hybrid Escape and Mariner vehicles when the local climate nears or is below freezing.
More marques to follow...?
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- #13501 of 14778
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Re: Reminder -- how to cure quirky shifting episodes [havalongavalon]
by captain2
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Feb 17, 2007 (2:20 pm)
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Replying to: havalongavalon (Feb 17, 2007 9:06 am)
the fact that you can upshift uphill would be a testament to the flat torque curve that our 2GRs have  . Don't tempt me, might just have to poke my skis thru the back seat, and get over to Taos. I would actually look forward to the 1000 mile+ drive and the 2 tanks of gas it would take to do it.
Did rotate my tires today, my Michelins (after 43k) looking like they need replacing soon - anybody got any ideas?
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- #13502 of 14778
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Re: Reminder -- how to cure quirky shifting episodes [captain2]
by bobwiley
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Feb 17, 2007 (3:40 pm)
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 17, 2007 2:20 pm)
captain2: Do you have the front end aligned at least every year? Actually its a 4 wheel alignmnet. Also, I check the tire pressure every month. I keep 35 PSI in my Michelin Energy whatevers--I have an 06 Limited--my Michelin dealer told me that was "optimum" PSI and still providing a good ride and tread wear. I also rotate them every 2nd oil change--I do 3,000 mile oil changes. Firestone used to offer a "lifetime Alignment" program, about $175--I bought it for the wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited before we moved to the lake--problem is the closest Firestone place is near Ft Leonard Wood, about 50 miles away. I had BF Goodrich Long Trails on my F-150 and by following the above suggestions, I got over 60,000 miles out of them and Joel, our tire dealer asked why i was getting new ones--he said I still had over 10K miles left. I told him--I like plenty of tread! You should get an easy 75K plus miles from the Michelins with proper care.
Bob
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- #13503 of 14778
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Re: Reminder -- how to cure quirky shifting episodes [bobwiley]
by captain2
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Feb 18, 2007 (4:51 am)
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Replying to: bobwiley (Feb 17, 2007 3:40 pm)
Bob- no I have not had the car realigned and nor have I noticed anything unusual in treadwear or how smoothly the car drives. Looks like I may get about another 10k on the Michelins which have a wear index of 440, don't know that I could reasonably expect them to do much better than that (50k+) on OE tires. Have found the Michelins a generally satisfactory tire, maybe a tad too much road noise - but have also found that tires will generally show me that they are getting worn with noticeable traction losses well before I even see a 'wear' bar. And sure, with the new tires comes a 4 wheel alignment, although I have had these alignment shops (Firestone kind of places) doing more damage than good.
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- #13504 of 14778
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Re: Backup Camera [havalongavalon]
by jlsexton
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Feb 18, 2007 (10:19 am)
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Replying to: havalongavalon (Feb 16, 2007 1:53 pm)
I was under the impression that you get an email when a question was answered or related to your question, obviously not, I was searching and found your reply by accident. The Avalon license plate, because it is mounted in the bumper, probably for styling purposes, does make a camera more vulnerable than a trunk mounted one. As far as the camera, I presume it must be powered via the backup lights as that is its purpose, to present a rearward image and only needs to be on at that time. It should be a simple project. I suppose whomever manufactures it would supply a wiring schematic for your vehicle should you need one. I'm glad to here that yours works fine. Is it a VR3 2.4GHZ. unit and if so where did you mount the display.
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- #13505 of 14778
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Re: Reminder -- how to cure quirky shifting episodes [captain2]
by bobwiley
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Feb 18, 2007 (11:59 am)
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 18, 2007 4:51 am)
captain2: Sorry about the last Post--try again!! Had a friend who was an engineer at Bear and he told me something that while amazing, doesn't surprise me. When cars roll out of the assembly plant, they roll over a device that shows whether or not the front end is within "acceptable" tolerances---not "true" alignment--but acceptable tolerance!! Anyway, as soon as he gets a new car, he has the front end aligned to meet "exact" manufacturers specifications. Guess if we knew all the "tricks" of the manufactureers--we'd probably quit buying new!
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- #13506 of 14778
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Re: Backup Camera [ange]
by jlsexton
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Feb 18, 2007 (12:15 pm)
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Replying to: ange (Feb 14, 2007 3:47 pm)
Thank you so much for your time and information, again I had to go to previous responses to find yours, go figure.
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- #13507 of 14778
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Re: Backup Camera [jlsexton]
by pat HOST
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Feb 18, 2007 (4:01 pm)
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Replying to: jlsexton (Feb 18, 2007 10:19 am)
You can opt to receive an email anytime a new message is posted in any given discussion. There isn't any way to restrict that feature to email you only when posts are made about something you find of interest, however - it's all or nothing topic by topic. Please see my reply to you here pat, "Toyota Avalon 2005+" #13493, 16 Feb 2007 2:51 pm. Feel free to email with questions.
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- #13508 of 14778
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2007 Avalon, First Comments..
by fin
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Feb 18, 2007 (8:24 pm)
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After 3 weeks of driving the new Limited, here are some personal opinions. Keep in mind that I owned each of the prior generation Avys ('99XL and '03 XL), putting about 90k trouble free miles on each.
1. The '07 power and overall performance are great. Far better than with either of the other cars. It's faster, corners flatter, appears to get the same fuel mileage and is quieter.
2. The transmission has no hesitation (and no dipstick?) or other real problems but is not as smooth as the '03 four speed. The constant 5 speed gear shifting is a distraction and the overdrive downshift at 40 mph when braking is rough.
3. The seats are smaller than in the '03, more firm and less comfortable, both front and rear. This might have to do with the seat heaters in the front. The trunk is smaller also but seems to work as well.
4. The NAV system is very nice but finds things better from a certain direction. On target within 5 feet from the east or north but 300 feet off from the south or west. Ideas to fix, anyone....?
5. The mpg calculation screen is high by about 0.7 mpg each tank and the "remaining" estimate is far too low. Avg trip speed is nice but as noted by many it restarts by itself. This whole screen needs a makeover.
All things considered, would I buy it again? At this point, Yes. Nothing is perfect and the only other car we really liked was the LS 460 at double the money. More later as the miles accumulate.... 
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- #13509 of 14778
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Re: 2007 Avalon, First Comments.. [fin]
by captain2
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Feb 19, 2007 (8:00 am)
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Replying to: fin (Feb 18, 2007 8:24 pm)
The mpg calculation screen is high by about 0.7 mpg each tank and the "remaining" estimate is far too low
if you are using one of your odos as a basis for computing your FE, CHECK THEM with some mileage markers - I have found the odos to read about 3% low (100 miles shown = 103 miles actual) making the computer indicated mpg about right. As for the DTE, after 43000 miles, and always getting well over 400 miles on a tank, have only seen that number appear ONCE in approx 100 fillups (generally shows about 380). It is a joke, have gotten over 500 a few times after hwy trips.
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