Going up steep hill from full stop - new 4runner - excessive roll back -transmission issue?

Same here, I guess I wasn't expecting the noise or the extent of rollback. As long as it's normal and one is prepared to "Two Foot" it's okay.

 

Happened to my wife within 500 miles of ownership. She freaked out and called me asking if the car was broken, but it just sounded like traction control was kicking in from what she was describing to me. I just figured these are heavy trucks and the stock Dunlops didn't have good grip from sand, dirt or whatever.

 

This is the way.

 

My heart sank when it happened, but I am feeling a lot better after everybody's feedback. I don't know why I was so worried, this is a freaking Toyota! Aisin is the best transmission maker, bar none.

 

Just a shitty primitive design with poor integration between transmission, braking, and engine subsystems.

Scared me when it happened the first time.

Now I use both feet holding the brake with with the left as I feather the throttle in and slowly let off the brake.

I have driven antique vehicles for the last 30 years so compensating/improvising is second nature to me . . . but on a contemporary vehicle?

Surprised this has never been raised as a serious safety issue.

Jason

 

I guess I don’t understand why this would be considered a safety issue, at least any more than the vehicle rolling forward at idle if you let off the brakes.

And if it is a safety issue, they already have a system that checks rearward roll by applying the brakes. (In a loud and obnoxious manner )

 

^^^ agreed, how would not letting a vehicle roll backwards in drive a serious be a serious safety issue? That’s like saying ABS is bad because it’s noisy.

 

Well, both your comments prompted me to think about it some more.

I've owned maybe 5-10 cars with automatic transmissions in the last 35 years.

I've also lived some areas with very steep hills (see: Manayunk, Philadelphia).

In ever other car where I've stopped on a hill for a stop sign or light, proceeding has been matter of taking my right foot off the brake and onto the accelerator and we're on our way.

In the 4runner . . . the whole car JUDDERS loudly and warning lights flash and beep on the dash. The car will NOT proceed until I reapply the brakes, hold the brake with my left foot and use my right foot on the accelerator.

I'd say that's a major safety issue and not an easy procedure or safe, calm experience for unsuspecting drivers who have never encountered it before.

I was really surprised that the vehicle behaves like this. I'm over it (after the WTF on the first few occasions) and have learned to compensate, but I've driven countless shitboxes and antique cars and motorcycles with handshifts, foot clutches, manually advanced timing, sketchy clutches, shitty brakes, etc. Compensating for non-optimal vehicle behavior is almost subconscious to me now.

Do your 4runners just leave the hill stop when you put your right foot on the accelerator without the light show? Without the beeping? Without the shaking? Without two-footing it?

Maybe there's something wrong with mine.

Jason

 

I’ve experienced the juddering “atrac-like” braking and beeping if I let it roll in reverse. But I’ve always been able to press the gas and proceed forward.

That said, I don’t contend with very steep hills in daily driving situations, so I cant say for sure if mine would do what you describe with having to re-apply brake before it moves forward. That sounds annoying, and I agree it shouldn’t default to leaving you dead in the water when you are applying throttle. Even if this automatic braking is to protect the transmission, I’m of the thought that the brake and gas pedals should always do what the driver wants them to do.

 

I just got back from a road trip to the Boise, ID. area from the Western MT. area.
And I must say that, I really hate anti-lock brakes. I think it's primarily designed for dry, high traction surfaces and that's great engineering. But, when I apply the brakes hard on a loose dirt surface, I, as in me, want it to skid and not, not roll through the place that I wanted to stop at. To me that is the stupid part of these nannyfied engineering wonders. And sometimes I do wonder.
Let me drive the damn thing.

I guess maybe next time I'll take my low geared TJ and leave my house four hours earlier to be at my destination on time.
And it will be a more fun drive to go slower. Sucks if you're behind me cuz I won't go over 60.

 

Dr KDSS makes a shutoff kit.