I drive my 08 tl 99% of the time in "manual mode". Reason being is i like having full control of the car. Needing to downshift quickly and bringing the car to to a stand still quicker in this Los Angeles traffic. I dislike how the car gets to 5th gear very quickly in "normal auto mode". Guess its to save gas? Not my cup of tea.

Anywho, my question is

How well does the transmission handle this constant upshifting and downshifting?

I will do the 3x3 after the holidays and also will change 3rd and 4th gear pressure switches.

Thanks!

 

Ive toyed around with Manual mode and I just don't get how to use it.. can you help?

When I'm pressing gas it seems like it shifts on it's own without me shifting. Still seems like automatic to me

 

even though i upshift in manual mode, it takes a full 2 seconds to shift

my transmission could be going though, i've been counting the days

 

You must have a 2004-2006 model. They are known for automatically up shifting from 1st gear to 2nd. It's just how your model TL auto transmission was programmed. There's nothing you can do about it aside from buying a real manual.

From 2nd gear on you have complete control of it and the transmission will not auto up-shift for you while in manual mode.

2007-2008 TL (base and Type-S) transmission will hold all gears including 1st regardless of rpm and will not automatically up-shift like the early model 2004-2006 TL

 

Sounds like a manual is what you should have bought seeing that you want total control. That's gotta be a terrible experience always driving ur automatic in that cheesy manual mode.

 

Downshifting an automatic sounds like disaster waiting to happen. I don't even downshift my manual without double clutching when revs are far off.

 

Not really i still have my truck which is manual. The tl is a nice change.

If the tl wasnt made to downshift "im not freaking racing around with the car" why was the manual mode even an option to add to the car? Ive read that the 07/08 transmission are alot stronger than the 04/06.

 

I think mostly for upshifting since the computer tends to shift early in most situations. Downshifting causes stress on the drivetrain and I can imagine the engine brake pressure going through the complicated automatic transmission. Premium brakes cost nothing compared to a transmission for the amount of mileage they give you.
Manual transmissions are a bit more forgiving and less parts involved but I would still minimize downshifting excessively.

 

Shift early? isnt that only with 04/06 tl? But i understand what your saying. This is why i was asking my og question. I have a great base tl brake system i just installed and very happy with the options i went with. Anywho i still dislike how when the car is shifting on its own just lags since its in 5th gear going 45mph on the street

 

The car was designed with drivers in mind. It's why the auto has rev matching when you down shift hard. Its a car, drive it.
131k vtec miles and counting.

 

I drove mine in manual mode all the time, and while I agree that it's cheesy, I still prefer it much more over the fully automatic mode. And yes, the 07/08 models don't exhibit the behavior that some of you are describing, and it's nowhere near 2 full seconds to shift. I agree with James though...a manual is what I should be getting - but the problem is that they are so hard to find.

Being able to just hold 2nd gear in stop and go traffic, upshifting at will instead of slamming the accelerator, and staying in one gear in parking lots and other slow speed situations, among others, are all reasons I prefer manual mode. Also, the transmission will shift straight to first gear (or to 3rd gear and then first, depending on speed) when coming to a halt. I'm pretty sure that it reduces wear on the gears rather than cycling through all the gears (under load) every time, however minimal that reduction may be.

 

Let me chuckle at that for a second. You don't downshift on manual cars even? *smh* please purchase a prius.

 

have fun with the gimmick, guise!

A DCT with paddle shifters would be soo much more fun than this archaic 5 speed transmission.

 

Well, justnpace while I agree its stupid and gimmick to drive the manual mode, but finding the mt in the 3g TL is too damn hard. They are almost an unicorn in those days and I'm still looking and waiting for one on the market. But I'm still have fun driving that gimmick lol

 

Giggle all you want you little school girl. I don't excessively downshift without double clutching when the revs are far apart to help the synchromesh and get silky smooth shifts. Won't damage the transmission but I like smooth downshifts. If the revs are 1k apart single clutch remains smooth.
And I don't get what you mean by drive a Prius? You need some funnier jokes, don't bring that garbage. At least some real jokes *smh*

 

I'm still giggling over here! Do you sometimes accelerate moderately quickly? Are you a tape cassette user secretly hiding amongst the aziners? Don't worry, I'm just teasing.

Engine braking if done properly does not wear out the clutch noticeably faster. Rev matching is pretty much the key to proper engine braking and is a great way to slow down quickly as well as manage your speed in downwards slopes.

Ironically, you're double clutching from what you say, so I'm surprised engine braking isn't a technique you're using.

 

I like driving in manual mode. I use both the stick AND the paddle shifters. My problem is that I don't use them enough, so when I'm at a stop light, I forget I'm in Manual mode and forget to shift......

 

This.

 

dct evo shifts like lightning

 

I am so guilty of this. PCDs and jpipe help me remember now since the exhaust gets so loud in the cabin.

 

my problem is that I use manual mode so much that I'll accidentally leave it in D, and push up on the gear lever to shift, only to push the transmission in neutral and end up revving in neutral. this happens to me maybe once 2 weeks.

 

I've had that happen to me too. The first time it happened, I panicked and put the transmission back into drive, making the tires skid momentarily. Really embarrassing.

 

Oh man, that happens to every of us at least once. Happened to me twice so far, my face must have been priceless. Luckily though that happens when I'm just cruising around and want to get in 3rd @ 20mph.

 

The worst is doing this while pulled up next to a cop car and the light turns green...

Whoops... :X

 

I don't even ask DCT quick like evo or GTR but if its can shift as quick as TLX 4 banger I would be happy. I rarely leave my in MT mode since its not something that I get used to shifting gear in AT, I get the motion shifting gear really well when come to MT car tho.

 

i dont even mind the shifting on the TL, its not THAT bad, but what I really wish was faster response time on the manual mode

 

How slow is yours? Mine doesn't take over a second that's for sure. I'd have to time it, but I'd say it's around 1/2 a second at worst.

 

1st to 2nd gear took forever to shift.

 

What? I find the tape deck much more useful than the "wait a minute" paddle shifters! This way I can listen to mixes of the Talking Heads, Joe Jackson, Devo, and The Romantics while the car shifts for me! (dang I miss the 80s)

 

It's ok, the TL was after all manufactured for ... aging people.

 

Hey,

Let me ask all of you a question... even thought this has probably been answered before....

How do you prefer to drive your TL when using Manual Shift mode? Do you keep the gas pedal down the whole time or do you slightly release the gas pedal right before the shift or right after?

Some people have said if you shift and then quickly take you foot off the gas in that 1/2 second after you up shift, it's sometimes shifts a lot smoother (I find this to be true more in 2nd and 3rd gear) than if you keep the gas pedal down the whole time....

In my experience, the above seems to be smoother when driving in lower RPM's but if you are pushing it, then I haven't really seen a benefit in taking my foot off the gas...if even for a 1/2 second.

As for down shifting, I don't know if there is really any good or bad way... I try to down shift at lower RPMs because when I don't, the kick back from the car seems..... hard... makes me nervous!!

I don't know... I know it comes down to everyone's own unique driving style... but... back to my original question.... How do you like to drive your TL when in Manual Shift mode?

 

If I'm cruising I don't give it gas for half a second while shifting. Just a habit.

If I'm pushing it and floor it I don't lift my foot.

 

I don't let go of the gas when shifting, because it's not necessary. The car doesn't have a real manual transmission - all it's doing is waiting for the signal from the driver to shift, and it does the rest.

 

Your tranny is constantly upshifting or downshifting in "auto" mode anyway, you're not hurting it.

 

I lift the gas when I shift out of habit.
If i do this this in 1st or 2nd it backfires and a little flame sprouts from the exhaust pipes. Sometimes if I dont shift at all its crackle and pop.

 

Have you seen this for yourself? I find it hard to believe flame comes out your tailpipes from up shifting 1st to 2nd

 

I mean.... If i high rev and let off the gas and then shift. It does some popping. Ifk bout flames

 

I'm gonna have to LOL at the people that let off throttle when manually shifting automatics. Some of you guys are hard core at driving an automatic hahaha.

 

The triptronic is too delayed. Letting of the gas gives a smoother shift. Dont be so fast to hate on us. Not like i only drive like that.

 

Lets not try to re-invent the wheel here. It's automatic, put it in drive and go. Besides, constantly shifting manually and ontop of that letting off the gas during shifts has to be putting unnecessary stress on some parts... Atleast I would think anyway.