Warning - New problem for Gen 2 ECM module

[angelo]

May I ask who is investigating this issue?? Where can I find more information??

and is there really a TSB for that and if yes what is the #

[mhood]

no, there is no tsb for this application yet---toyota does know about it and is in the process of developing new software for it. please all of you be patient about this. i do not own a solara and have never personally felt what you are talking about but---when a new software is being developed--it first has to be proven to fix the problem--or at least help it, then it still has to go through all the new car smog requirements---its not an overnight thing--not even a month long thing-------it takes time.

[cablemn]

no, there is no tsb for this application yet---toyota does know about it and is in the process of developing new software for it. please all of you be patient about this. i do not own a solara and have never perswonally felt what you are talking about but---when a new software is being developed--it first has to be proven to fix the problem--or at least help it, then it still has to go through all the new car smog requirements---its not an overnight thing--not even a month long thing-------it takes time.

Well Mr. Hood, why not take this opportunity to introduce yourself. Do you work for toyota? Can we expect some insider information from you? Are you our conduit to toyota? If so, can youtell them to lower the prices for the xm sat radio and make the body kit available at a more realistic and affordable price? Anyway, even if you do not own a solara welcome to the boards.

[mhood]

i can tell you some things and some i can not---yes i actually work for a toyota dealership---i have worked with toyota since mid 92 and was in a t-ten class the year before that---i am very highly respected in the toyota technical field. i have absolutely no and i mean no call on any prices.---and i really really hope that the 'mr. hood' thing was not meant out of anything but a welcome

[mhood]

and the main reason that i joined this is to specifically address this topic--as one of my customers sent it to me.

[theflow]

....i am very highly respected in the toyota technical field.....

Yeah Toyota might take some time to address it. So during this "fix developing period," is Toyota liable if somebody is injured/killed because of this? It is not something simple like the CD not working or power seat not working, which both are not life threatening. I personally think this 'lag" is a "glitch" (if you say it's related to software) that impairs the safety of the vehicle. Having a "lag" in downshifting is the last thing I want to have when trying to merge onto freeway or during emergency manuvering. If you haven't experienced it please go drive one. Then come back and tell us how you feel.

Dealership's so called service advisor told me to use the manual mode. To me, it's not an acceptable solution because if I know I have to shift, I would have purchased a car with real stickshift in the first place.

I just hope nobody is injured/killed before Toyota can come out with something for this.

BTW, since you said you are highly respected in the Toyota technical field, what is the reason for this lag?

[slingshot]

This post says keeping it in manumatic mode at fifth gear means you don't have to ever manually shift, it'll shift by itself from first to fifth. I presume he means you never have to upshift but still have to manually downshift if you want acceleration.

http://www.zer0.info/solaraguy/viewtopic.php?t=12348

[cablemn]

i can tell you some things and some i can not---yes i actually work for a toyota dealership---i have worked with toyota since mid 92 and was in a t-ten class the year before that---i am very highly respected in the toyota technical field. i have absolutely no and i mean no call on any prices.---and i really really hope that the 'mr. hood' thing was not meant out of anything but a welcome

I can assure you mhood, that i speak to everyone with respect and nothing but a true welcome was my intention. i really appreciate having someone on the boards who may be able to shed some light on some of the common problems us solara guys are having. Is there anything you can tell us about the suspension noise in the rear? that is another very common problem we are all having. One of us had it fixed by changing out the struts and strut mounts in the rear. The tech that did the job said the change was due to "poor material, poor fit." Can you shed any light on this subject? And again, please accept my welcoming you to the boards.

[falaniz]

mhood, Welcome! I am the person cablemn mentioned as having the suspension problem and it appears that I am the only one to have this problem corrected with out getting a run arround (See post "2004 Solara SLE rear end noise"). The solution may be due to the mechanic improvising and installing a higher quality/sronger strut, I'm not sure, but others state that a strut change did not work. I posted part #s that were on the work order in the hope that others could pass that info on to their mechanic.

I am also experiencing this lag problem and looking to have it corrected. This, as I am sure you are aware, is a serious threat to the safety of all Solara drivers.

[mhood]

....i am very highly respected in the toyota technical field.....

Yeah Toyota might take some time to address it. So during this "fix developing period," is Toyota liable if somebody is injured/killed because of this? It is not something simple like the CD not working or power seat not working, which both are not life threatening. I personally think this 'lag" is a "glitch" (if you say it's related to software) that impairs the safety of the vehicle. Having a "lag" in downshifting is the last thing I want to have when trying to merge onto freeway or during emergency manuvering. If you haven't experienced it please go drive one. Then come back and tell us how you feel.

Dealership's so called service advisor told me to use the manual mode. To me, it's not an acceptable solution because if I know I have to shift, I would have purchased a car with real stickshift in the first place.

I just hope nobody is injured/killed before Toyota can come out with something for this.

BTW, since you said you are highly respected in the Toyota technical field, what is the reason for this lag?

ah ha, you found one thing that i will not discuss----i will never ever talk about legal issues unless there are concrete things that i know that i can talk about---and this is one of the ones. and you dont have to downshift as slingshot said---and also---i do not have privy to everything, such as the actual software settings and such---and if you know about it, my suggestion is to drive it like you know it and not put yourself in any dangerous situations--i.e. dont pull out into fast moving traffic..--not being a wiseguy, just my opinion.

[mhood]

mhood, Welcome! I am the person cablemn mentioned as having the suspension problem and it appears that I am the only one to have this problem corrected with out getting a run arround (See post "2004 Solara SLE rear end noise"). The solution may be due to the mechanic improvising and installing a higher quality/sronger strut, I'm not sure, but others state that a strut change did not work. I posted part #s that were on the work order in the hope that others could pass that info on to their mechanic.

I am also experiencing this lag problem and looking to have it corrected. This, as I am sure you are aware, is a serious threat to the safety of all Solara drivers.

there are a few different things that can make this noise--or a similar noise, dont be hard on your dealership just because they have not corrected it yet, it also is being investigated to find a root cause

[It_Paved]

It's been mentioned that you can reprogram the ECU by disconnecting the battery cables for 30 minutes. However, the Owner's Manual recommends a dealer doing this, which could void warranty items or give them a reason to charge me $$$$. Does anyone know the risk associated with disconnecting the cable?

I have the trottle and transmission lag, especially when I turn a corner and accelerate. I wonder if the ECU "learned" my driving habits during the break-in period when I drove it very slow and easy . Now I'm driving it normally ....

[mhood]

well, that doesnt 'reprogram' the ecu. it erases the ecu memory which only means that the codes and learned values are reset. it may or may not temporily change the way the car acts

[It_Paved]

well, that doesnt 'reprogram' the ecu. it erases the ecu memory which only means that the codes and learned values are reset. it may or may not temporily change the way the car acts

But, will it "relearn" my current driving habits?

[It_Paved]

well, that doesnt 'reprogram' the ecu. it erases the ecu memory which only means that the codes and learned values are reset. it may or may not temporily change the way the car acts

But, will it "relearn" my current driving habits?

Just got my car back from the shop (hit in rear QTR panel, but that's another discussion topic) where the battery was disconnected for a while. The Solara runs so much better now. Both the throttle AND the transmission hesitation issues are gone. I couldn't duplicate the 2-second hesitation that I always got at a rolling right-turn that I take everyday. It always hesitated at this spot before, now it doesn't. The car drives completely differently, and is a blast to drive. Seems to shift smoother, too.