the4chews

I have just hit 1,000 miles on my '04. I have an automatic transmission and am loving the car. However, I am feeling a pretty hard down shift going into 3rd from 4th in the automatic mode. It seems to happen at about 40 MPH. I never feel the other downshifts as everything else seems so smooth. I have looked around and did not see any other treads that addresses this. Is this normal??

Ron A

What are the circumstances when you feel this hard downshift? Are you going downhill or are you on level ground. Are you slowing down gradually? Are you manually downshifting from 4 to 3 or is it downshifting because you are slowing down?

the4chews

I am feeling this when I am in total automatic mode. I do notice this more at one particular intersection that is a little downhill (I live in Oklahoma City so we do not have many true hills) and it is when I am slowing down gradually. I feel it when slowing down from about 45 to 50 MPH.

Repecat

Isn't that the protocol for the "grade logic" system to downshift when decellerating? However, I thought the gear transition was supposed to be seamless rather than abrupt. This sounds like a job for Mr. Hondawrench.

Ron A

It is probably the grade logic control that is causing the feeling of a hard downshift, because it slows you down a little more abruptly than it would when coasting to a stop on level ground.

the4chews

Thanks for the information. I will take it out today and try to determine if it is only happening when going down a hill. If so, I guess there is no reason for concern.

I'll let you know what happens.

TheNip73

The issue you are describing is the grade logic as others are decribing it. It happened a lot when I got my new TL as well. Give it a few weeks and the car will "adapt" to your drivign and it will happen less often - I promise. I'll admit to having it happen on occasion still, but maybe once a week compared to 2 or 3 times daily when first getting the car. My guess is it happens when you are about to enter into turns and are just slowing down a bit for the turn? That is when it was mostly happening for me. Sometimes it would happen when slowing down for a stop sign, but not too often.

the4chews

Thanks for the information. You are all correct it only does it when I am going down hill a little. It does not do it on level ground.

I appreciate everyone's input. You saved me a trip to the dealership!!

U8INIT

I like that feeling personally.