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Sedans Toyota Camry 2008 Toyota Camry Problems and Repairs
165 messages, Last post on Aug 19, 2009 at 10:51 AM
You are in the Toyota Camry Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: drichard (Feb 19, 2008 4:28 pm)
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Replying to: wwest (Mar 14, 2008 7:11 am) I enjoyed reading your posting. I am sure that you are describing the problem that some people are experiencing with this vehicle! There is a big operating difference bwteen my 2003 Honda Accord, and the DBW V6 Camry. Once the driver gets to know the operating characteristics of the new drive train, the vehicle performs very well in both city and highway operation. I live in Nothern New Jersey. When I leave the house in the morning, (after I have warmed up the engine), I drive this vehicle as a "stick shift". (I put the automatic selector in manual three, and I ride the town streets in either three or four.) This gives me "engine braking" and quick acceleration! ----- (Sometimes in traffic, when I ride small side streets I use the 2 position). When I reach the highway, I place the selctor into drive position. My driving style, most probably has by-passed the transmission issue. Sometimes when I am traveling South on the PIP from Stony Point New York, I make it a point to stop on the entrance ramp to the parkway, and I accelerate hard. This vehicle goes through the gears like a "drag racer on a quarter mile track"! I go from "O" to "60" in seconds. I would love to be able to open this vehicle up on the open highway, just to see what it could really do in terms of performance. In the old days, before radar, the New York State Thruway would have been the ideal place to carry on this little experiment. But, those days a long gone along with the 1955 Ford, the 1957 Plymouth and the 1956 Olds. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the operating characteristics of this vehicle. It is just different technology! I would purchase another Camry. My vehicle is 13 months old, and it is approaching 27,000 miles, and I do not have any problems with this vehicle. It only goes back to the dealer for regular service, (every 2,500 miles / my choice.) I enjoyed reading your posting. ----- Best regards. ----- Dwayne   
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Replying to: lvester (Mar 28, 2008 3:10 pm) Unfortunately my dealership has said the same thing, "Toyota is aware of the problem, and they are working on a solution" The owner of the dealership told me today that when the '07's came out and had a tranny problem it took Toyota about 6 months to come up with a solution. I'm still really discouraged about this whole thing though. I'll let everyone know when they tell me that there is a solution; I hope you all will do the same. Denny |
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Hi all , I am quite unhappy to join the club of toyota 2008 owners..alas...i am facing the same vibration problem at 40mph.I bought a brand new camry xle v6 which had 53 miles on it. I test drove but in the excitement i didnt really see the problem.The saleman told me the car "breaks in" after few miles and asked me to drive at low speeds. When you speed up at 40 mph to 50 mph and release the gas pedal, the car automatically slows down and that too drastically. It doesnt give you a smooth ride feel and the driver is always conscious of the "force" that tries to slow the vehicle if you dont accelerate.So you have to keep accelerating..Gosh.. The worst happens at the "STOP" The car hesitates to move and the pick up is so bad that the car ( we are talking a v6 camry xle here) makes grrrgrrrrrrrr.....noise... I have no probs with my JBL stereo and i think i love it and all other features are amazing ( as of now atleast). No doubt about that.Also the dealer has done a "trim line hand paint" on my silver car and it looks gorgeous.Looks wise i love it.On the highway also the car is doing good.It is the local trips to my work (40 mph) that suck... I am not a pro in defining these problems using the apt terminology, but i guess you understand my problem here.Anyway i went to the dealer in Connecticut and they checked the car and said its the ABS that slows down to prevent accidents ..bunch of bull..i went to the toyota mechanic today and they said its a problem that toyota is aware of and there is no solution to it as of now.Atleast they admitted that its a problem and that we as buyers have to "live with it". I am planning to return my car ( lemon law) as i spent 30k on it.I dont know how to go about the lemon law to claim a new car or something equivalent and iam totally helpless like many others in this forum.I found the posts here describing similar problem and folks just be brave and lets do something. Voice your opinion and make sure you document everything ( trips to dealers, mechanics etc etc)..Do we have to live with it forever or can we utilize the lemon law and return the car?? please advise on this matter and any support in this issue will be highly appreciated. Finally If you cant enjoy a ride after paying 30 k What's the point in buying a brand new car?? Beware all car shoppers..atleast dont buy a toyota for few years..the old camry's were great...Gone are those days i guess...
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Replying to: silentcut (Apr 01, 2008 3:32 pm) You know I felt the same thing! I test drove a V6 XLE (it was either an 08 or an 09) and on the roads and highway i felt like i had to keep nudging the accelerator to keep the car rolling. It was like there was a heavy resistance by the engine once you lifted your foot. At the time I just chalked it up to "progress" - me I'm used to a 12 year old GM 3.8L v6 with 4 speed. I don't think the Camry is for me  What I can't figure out is that they sell millions (around here it seems like every 3rd car is a new gen Camry). Don't other people have the same hang ups or do they live with it?
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Replying to: mrdisco33 (Apr 01, 2008 4:11 pm) I suspect, strongly, that what "yawl" are experiencing is Toyota's (and Lexus') latest attempt at "fixing" the transaxle design flaw that they first introduced to the market via the new RX300. in '98. According to the technical notes I have seen at techinfo.toyota.com there is new transaxle ECU control firmware that monitors the rate at which the driver operates the gas pedal. The ECU then presumes the driver's (immediate future) intention from the rate at which the gas pedal is released. With a slow and easy release the transaxle will upshift on the presumption that the driver's intent is to begin, enter, constant speed cruising. Whereas with a quick and fast release of accelerator pedal foot pressure the presumption will be that the driver wishes to slow the car, coastdown to a lower speed, or maybe even slow more quickly using engine compression braking. "When you speed up at 40 mph to 50 mph and release the gas pedal, the car automatically slows down and that too drastically." If the gas pedal foot pressure release is quick and fast and is preceded by a period of acceleration, even brief or light period of acceleration, the resulting presumption of driver's intent being to slow the car will result in the transaxle remaining in the previous "low" gear being used for acceleration and that might result in an unexpectedly high level, pretty severe level, of engine compression braking. Obviously that, an inadvertent and surprising, maybe even a somewhat severe level of engine compression braking, could be a pretty dangerous situation for a FWD vehicle operating on a slippery roadbed surface. But probably not any more serious or potentially dangerous than the 1-2 second transaxle downshift delay/hesitation that resulted from the last "trial" fix, DBW. Ten years and counting.
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Replying to: wwest (Apr 01, 2008 9:18 pm) So you think we should release the gas pedal slowly and let the system "learn" the users intent?? I can try it and see if that works.. Also my next question- Can we just use the car as is ( slowing down at 40mph) and not run into problems in the future related to transmission..?? Plus are we losing gas miles bcoz of this problem? Any inputs will be appreciated.
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Replying to: silentcut (Apr 02, 2008 2:03 pm) Yes, that's the way I read the documentation for this new "feature", a slow release is supposed to result in an upshift provided one is available whereas a fast/quick release would cause the system to presume a quick slowdown is desired and remain in the current (low?) gear ratio. This may very well be simply an expansion of the firmware that results in the activation of the earlier implementation of BA, Brake Assist. |
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Replying to: wwest (Apr 02, 2008 3:39 pm) With the low idle speeds, high-ratio gearing, and 5 or 6 speeds of modern cars, the manufacturer has 2 choices with regard to off-throttle response: 1. Upshift - Causes driveline rotation rate to slow, and thus transmission hydraulic pump becomes unable to make quick downshifts upon re-application of throttle due to insufficient pumped fluid volume. This is often seen as a "shift delay". The version of firmware on my 2007 I4 5sp AT Camry behaves this way. Once you get used to it and plan ahead for it, it's not really that bad. Also, this often results in smoother shifts when it does downshift. 2. Downshift - Increases drivetrain rate of rotation, and thus the transmission is already in a lower gear when throttle is reapplied, and if an even lower gear is needed, hydraulic pump oil volume is high so the shift can be completed quickly. Actually, I'd prefer option 2, but that's because I'm a somewhat spirited driver and live in an area where wet/slipery roads are a rarity. The option of a higher volume pump (has been tried by Lexus and Toyota) has been known to cause premature xmission failures, so sticking with the lower volume pumps and dealing with the above tradeoffs is a good idea. Besides, the lower volume pumps often result in smoother shifts across the board.
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My 2008 model Camry, just done 18750 miles had a difficult problem occurred yesterday. For the last 7 months it did so well, as per my expectation and value. Yesterday morning after 40 miles, I saw suddenly an engine check symbol, and while thinking what could be the reason , I saw my heat indicator needle dropped to zero. Immediately i pulled aside and stopped my car. Suddenly my wife saw smoke coming from hood. I rushed out and opened hood.No more smoke. But I found my coolant bottle is empty. Opened radiator cover after some time . Put water. Steam oozed out, I continued pouring water till it subsidized. Filled water in coolant bottle reservoir. After an hour started and no warnings existed. I took the vehicle to nearby dealer. Told everything. They checked and replaced engine oil as it was almost due for next change. Retuned home from office and today morning also came back to office. Heat level and coolant level same as normal. But I feel slight sluggishness ( less pulling) . What to Do? Only 7 months and bought new for relaibility. Please reply
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