Topic: Motor Trend names Camry Car of the Year

[MKII]

Not every Camry 4 banger owner has the warm and fuzzies like articsteve. And if you take the time to read the link supplied you will notice the Toyota instructuions given to the disgruntled Camry owners, on how to drive your dummy proof self adaptive Camry auto-tranny, that this is not a fix for the hesitation being experienced. Its IMO all about the set up for matching rated fuel economy

What transmission issues    That 5 speed slush box in my wife's 07 4 banger SE is the best, smoothest, auto shifter I have driven.

Mitlov:  Before you read consumer complaints and become a repeater of same, as if you have actual first hand experience.  I should explain to you that the issues with the 5 speed auto are not with the tranny, but with the LAG due to the drive by wire.  If one gets the car with near zero miles new and then drives it hard then the computer learns the behaviour right from the get go; literally for the first 20 miles.  However, most 4 bangers are driven lightly during this period.  Consequently, they need to have the computer cleared and then re-programmed while driven hard by the reprogrammer.  That is what Toyota dealers are doing for ppl with pre-October Camrys. 

[ktm525]

Camry. Isn't that some type of blender?

[Arthur Dent]

Interesting with the transmission issue - unintented result of a "smart" tranny I guess. I'm sure we'll be seeing more and more of these issues. Instead of wiping the computer perhaps so therapy to make it more assertive?

[UmroAyyar]

I am not sure whether I can post the full TSB document here.

I'll post some instructions from the TSB.

After reprogramming the ECM (PCM)

- Start the engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature before test-driving
- Test-drive vehicle to confirm proper vehicle operation and to complete the ECM learning process.
   (A). Complete the first ECM learning process:
          Allow the vehicle to accelerate 5 times while maintaining steady accelerator pedal angle (approximately 25 degrees) during the transmission upshifts.

   (B). Complete the second ECM learning process:
         Moderately accelerate engine until vehicle speed is over 45 mph and transmission has completed all shifts including torque converter lockup.

[MKII]

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1465387&postcount=105

[articsteve]

Interesting with the transmission issue - unintented result of a "smart" tranny I guess. I'm sure we'll be seeing more and more of these issues. Instead of wiping the computer perhaps so therapy to make it more assertive?

Interesting with the transmission issue

Arthur; go out and get into a 4 cylinder 07 Camry automatic and LEARN.  Don't take the word of net surfers who have never driven one.   It's not a transmission issue.  It shifts silky smooth.  I defer to the only other Camry owner in this thread; Umro.   Like he says it's a lag, like a dead zone in a gear when you go to hit the gas, not while it shifts.  It's dependant on how the car was originally driven from the very day it hit the road.  As for the 4 cylinder Camry; it is what it is:  a 7 air bag equipped, quality head restraint equipped, quiet, bullet proof,  roomy, 4 door, appliance car that has sold to date, in the US alone, 350,000 units. 

[Julie]

I have a copy of the relevant TSB EG656-06 which addresses this hesitation issue. Its described as follows.

"ECM Calibration: Enhancement To Shifting Performance & Smoothness". Applies to Models 2007 Camry (2AZ-FE), 5-Speed A/T).

To enhance shifting performance and smoothness during acceleration, the Enging Control Module/ECM (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) calibration has been revised.

The hesitation or LAG when first encountered feels severe the first time. Its not such a big deal, it doesn't accelerate faster as you want it to, may be I've gotten accustomed to the required pedal pressure, I don't mind it as much I did in the beginning. The ECM is calibrated to accelerate slowly to conserve fuel?, it can be recalibrated to accelerate faster, don't know if it will affect fuel economy.

- My 05, 4-cylinder Camry has no lag whatsoever, and it's a drive by wire. I love that. That's the best for feeling of safety.

- My Civic had a lag on hard acceleration.

- One of the TSXs I tested lagged on one of the hard accelerations I tested.

- Even the TL had slight lag, but less than the TSX.

In my daily driving of the TSX (up to 2300 km now), there is a slight lag under hard acceleration. It doesn't feel as bad as the test car, whose lag I have not been able to reproduce, so I am wondering if it's because I am "training" it better than the test car was "trained."

There was too much to read on the theories out there on how to break in a car (I tried but gave up). I am just using what "I sense" the car is ready for. I want to gradually increase the aggressiveness of the accelerations. Just a gut feeling that, if you don't use it, it won't be "well oiled machine" - have no idea if that's true or not. Anyways, I'll see if there's any effect on the lag over time and report back...

EDIT: Outside of hard acceleration, there's no lag. And actually, today, I had to aggressively accelerate to avoid a potentially dangerous situation, and if there was a lag, I didn't notice it. I just felt, "Yipee, my car goes fast!" (I've never had a car as powerful, as modest as it may be for enthusiasts...)