using the gears 3 2 L on an automatic TC

[Jansy1]

ok can some one explain to me how to use it I read the owners manual but i still dont understand. and does it do any damage to the car when i use it? and whne should I use it?

[EckSyle_tC]

If your daily driving it than don't worry about it. If your at the track than I'd say start in L(1 start gear) than just go thru the rest(2 gear, 3 gear than Drive). The man reason they come out with those gears on automatic transmission is for towing or hauling things. D(drive) sometimes doesn't give you enough torque to move anything your towing from a dead start. Its not that hard to understand, I knew how it worked when i was like 10.

[Aurora]

I knew this too a long time ago. I had a stick before my auto so I still shift.

[Go4shoped]

If your daily driving it than don't worry about it. If your at the track than I'd say start in L(1 start gear) than just go thru the rest(2 gear, 3 gear than Drive). The man reason they come out with those gears on automatic transmission is for towing or hauling things. D(drive) sometimes doesn't give you enough torque to move anything your towing from a dead start. Its not that hard to understand, I knew how it worked when i was like 10. Noob
If you think that keeping it in L will give you more torque from a dead stop then you still don’t know how it works. Noob.

It is actually for when you are going uphill with a large load. If you keep it in L it won’t go above 1st until you change to 2. If you were to keep it in drive it would upshift, not be able to haul the load and drop down a gear and repeat. This will stress the tranny and piss off anyone in the car.

It can also be used to slow the car down. This is called "engine braking," although I don’t suggest doing this since it’s not exactly the best thing for your transmission. This isn't even good for a manual car unless you heel-toe it.

All-in-all, keep it in "D" unless your hauling uphill or racing. If you're drag racing, it does typically decrease your times, but you have to know how to time it since there is a delay. On a course it will also help since you won’t have to wait for the car to downshift when coming out of a corner or something of the sort.

[Aurora]

^^ Exactly. Good job Phil.

[bspnkc]

I knew this too a long time ago. I had a stick before my auto so I still shift.


you shift ur auto??....so why did you get rid of ur stick in the first place??....or just buy a 5speed tC

[EckSyle_tC]

If you think that keeping it in L will give you more torque from a dead stop then you still don’t know how it works. Noob.

It is actually for when you are going uphill with a large load. If you keep it in L it won’t go above 1st until you change to 2. If you were to keep it in drive it would upshift, not be able to haul the load and drop down a gear and repeat. This will stress the tranny and piss off anyone in the car.


Whatever you say Mr. Smart guy! Seeing how my step dad was in the towing industry for over 20 years and from the age of 6 until i was 15 i was alway going to work with him in the summer. Lets see if your pulling a large heavy load like umm lets say a Jeep 4x4 out the mud and your in a Bronco. If you put the Bronco in 4x4 and in L and your going get a lot more control and have better traction and torque to pull that Jeep out of the mud. Same goes if your moving a heavy load from a dead stop or like you said uphill.

[Go4shoped]

Whatever you say Mr. Smart guy! Seeing how my step dad was in the towing industry for over 20 years and from the age of 6 until i was 15 i was alway going to work with him in the summer. Lets see if your pulling a large heavy load like umm lets say a Jeep 4x4 out the mud and your in a Bronco. If you put the Bronco in 4x4 and in L and your going get a lot more control and have better traction and torque to pull that Jeep out of the mud. Same goes if your moving a heavy load from a dead stop or like you said uphill. Douche
It seems I struck a nerve.

You will get ZERO additional torque from leaving a scion tc in "L". IT will stay in the same first gear as leaving it in "D". A bronco 4x4, or any 4x4 will not gain any torque from leaving it in "L". You WILL gain pulling power if the transfer case has a selectable ratio such as 4Hi and 4Lo. But do this and 1st gear ends at like 6mph.

I love how when anyone is wrong they always have to say something about their dad or a family member and try to convince everyone that they are right. I mean listen to yourself. You're comparing a scion tc to a tow truck and a ford bronco. If your dad really has been towing for 20 years go ahead and ask him if leaving a tc will increase torque.

[EckSyle_tC]

It seems I struck a nerve.

You will get ZERO additional torque from leaving a scion tc in "L". IT will stay in the same first gear as leaving it in "D". A bronco 4x4, or any 4x4 will not gain any torque from leaving it in "L". You WILL gain pulling power if the transfer case has a selectable ratio such as 4Hi and 4Lo. But do this and 1st gear ends at like 6mph.

I love how when anyone is wrong they always have to say something about their dad or a family member and try to convince everyone that they are right. I mean listen to yourself. You're comparing a scion tc to a tow truck and a ford bronco. If your dad really has been towing for 20 years go ahead and ask him if leaving a tc will increase torque.

i never said anything about increasing the torque. I just lets you take control of that gear and the torque thats available in it. And about comparing a tC to a Bronco? I was comparing L(1st gear) in any transmission. I do have to admit I'm glad I've finally had a little argument with someone on this site that isn't a complete idiot and actually does know things about automobiles.

[JoshCrane1]

If you think that keeping it in L will give you more torque from a dead stop then you still don’t know how it works. Noob.

It is actually for when you are going uphill with a large load. If you keep it in L it won’t go above 1st until you change to 2. If you were to keep it in drive it would upshift, not be able to haul the load and drop down a gear and repeat. This will stress the tranny and piss off anyone in the car.

It can also be used to slow the car down. This is called "engine braking," although I don’t suggest doing this since it’s not exactly the best thing for your transmission. This isn't even good for a manual car unless you heel-toe it.

All-in-all, keep it in "D" unless your hauling uphill or racing. If you're drag racing, it does typically decrease your times, but you have to know how to time it since there is a delay. On a course it will also help since you won’t have to wait for the car to downshift when coming out of a corner or something of the sort.

so your saying downshifting when slowing down is bad? anytime your not touching the gas pedal(besides 5th) your engine breaking..... explain how this will hurt your tranny. and heal toeing is pretty much bumping your rpms up to match your lower gear when downshifting right? i understand downshifting to say...5k would be pretty abusive but i normally downshift and engine break everywhere all the time, and havent had any tranny problems. (im burning oil right now, prob. from valve seals, but i thinks that a different prob. 26k miles.)

[Go4shoped]

so your saying downshifting when slowing down is bad? anytime your not touching the gas pedal(besides 5th) your engine breaking..... explain how this will hurt your tranny. and heal toeing is pretty much bumping your rpms up to match your lower gear when downshifting right? i understand downshifting to say...5k would be pretty abusive but i normally downshift and engine break everywhere all the time, and havent had any tranny problems. (im burning oil right now, prob. from valve seals, but i thinks that a different prob. 26k miles.)

Engine braking is not necessarily bad, downshifting while at a low rpm is. Anytime you downshift you should rev-match. I cant really think of an exact way to put this, but think of it as if the tranny is meant to be pushed by by the engine. When you downshift without rev-matching to total opposite happens. Since the tranny is spinning faster than the engine the tranny would in a sense be pushing the engine.

26k? Your car is still a baby. I dont consider a car as aged until 120k-ish. I've had my car for a year and im coming up on 20k. The lexus is around 80k, the corolla around 86k, and the tacoma is somewhere around 197k. My old camry that one of my classmates rearended was also at 176k when wrecked. My brother drove the camry before i did. He downshifted (auto) and etc. The tranny had to be rebuilt at 155k.

[kris5597]

i think what he was saying that if u racing an auto u put it in L to stay in the lowest gear for the maximum amount of time till u are ready to shift up into 2nd. cause in an auto tc u arent reaching maximum hp when u leave it in drive. it shifts at 5500 or so. depending on what u have done to it as well im sure. but i get what your saying. take off in L hit 5500 rpm then shift so it will shift hopefully around 6 then your in 2nd then u hit 5500 rpm shift again to 3rd repeat then put it drive and take then when. if your against a stick tc he has, well already passed u lol.

[Aurora]

you shift ur auto??....so why did you get rid of ur stick in the first place??....or just buy a 5speed tC

I got rid of my stick because I literally outgrew the Toyota Echo. Didn't buy a 5 speed tC because I wanted to slow down a bit, haha. When I had my stick in the Echo, I got a speeding ticket and I constantly had the urge to see how fast I could shift. Needless to say, getting an auto didn't slow me down at all, hahaha.

[The_Game]

If your daily driving it than don't worry about it. If your at the track than I'd say start in L(1 start gear) than just go thru the rest(2 gear, 3 gear than Drive). The man reason they come out with those gears on automatic transmission is for towing or hauling things. D(drive) sometimes doesn't give you enough torque to move anything your towing from a dead start. Its not that hard to understand, I knew how it worked when i was like 10.

The manual doesn't tell you if it will tear up your car if you use this feature on the auto.

[JoshCrane1]

ok ok look I was just asking the Question so that I dont mess up my car, trial and error isnt very smart when your talking about something as expensive as your transmission, i rather ask and learn on the forums, so as to keep my car and transmission safe. thank you :nerd:
glad SOME of us could help, dont mind the counterproductive b.s.

good luck!!

[aalbertson3]

Had to clean this thread up a little. If members want to cause drama and stir up shit please keep it to PMs or some other site. This site is for everyone to use and not be bashed no matter how simple the question might be. If anyone has a problem with this send me a PM....... :smile:

[JoshCrane1]

:1036946487_gif:word!!!

[Jansy1]

ty everyone for the advise

[Krdshrk]

Do NOT shift an auto like a manual with that. It will confuse the ECU and screw up the shifts, as well as cause a lot of additional wear on the transmission. Just leave it in D.

I don't even shift like that at the track.

[Jansy1]

u race your automatic?

[mospeedtc]

Yes he does and I have as well. I have seenn friends mess their trans up because of shifting auto.... plain and simple if you want to shift you shouldve gotten a manual.... DONT DO IT.... that is all

[tCfrk86]

I went through my first tranny doing this. I dont recommend it.