Warning Autos - Only drive in 3rd while towing.

[Fedorgnp]

Hey guys. Some helpful info that i had to learn the hard way and if it saves someone some money or the experience that i had then this post is worth it.
I was driving from Perth to Coffs harbour to spend xmas with family in my 09 Hilux dual cab SR5 which had just done 100k. Towing a pop top caravan weighing around 2 tonne max. Had a transmission cooler installed and air bags in the rear so the caravan sits perfectly level. (Already have had susspension done)
Got 10kms past a town called Yunta and all of a sudden the car reved really high like it was out of gear. I pull over. Turn everything off and restart with the A/T light on. I crawl back to the town going very slowly.
I then get the car towed back to port augusta for a cost of $1500 after joining RAC.
The local mechanic which was great and who specialised in auto transmissions tells me that hiluxs are not really designed for towing in drive. The torque converter cant handle it.
Along with a hefty worse case senario quote of $5500 and the fact the parts cant get delivered as all the suppliers are shut down over xmas break. We are screwed.
I have to retrieve the caravan back to port augusta so I hire a landcruiser 70 series dual cab ute. This was great. It did not even know the caravan was on the back.
But to get to the point. Some of you on the forum will know not to tow in drive and probably think i am an idiot for doing so. But i was never told by Toyota when buying the car new not to tow in drive. Nor i thought having an unbreakable hilux would it struggle so much when towing under the recommended towing capacity.
Anyways guys i hope this helps. And if anyone would like to add advice on where to go from here would be appreciated. I think Toyota should be giving warnings on thier vehicles saying do not tow in drive on autos. Have a great xmas.

[storm450]

Was the torque converter locking up and unlocking. Watch the rpm and you will see it happening. Autos are great for towing but most don't want they are doing and just put the boot in in drive.

[Gipsy]

Yes the common advice is don't tow in drive, use 3rd because drive allows overdrive which will kill most auto's, and manuals for that matter, overdrive as the name implies gears up the transmission over 1:1 and thus adds extra load to all the driveline components, similar and exaggerated effect if you run large diameter tyres... extra load=something must give. Just think why a 4X4 has low ratio... to lower the driveline load and allows better connection to the road surface without straining... even manuals need some care not to overdrive (overload) the driveline. The torque converter tries to fix the problem but can't because the gearing is still to high. Just my 10c worth. (10c for inflation )

[Viper82]

Sad to hear of your problems. Not many people know it but manuals are the same. Don't tow in overdrive because those gears are to small to handle the load. Even 200 series you don't tow in overdrive because they will fail too. Of course you use more fuel but thats alot less than repairing your gearbox. I use a specialized 4wd mechanic and they told me not to tow in overdrive. Toyota don't tell you alot lf things.

[rory18]

Same goes with the 79 series dual cab, tow in 4th not 5th

[Ben80]

Its in the owners manual twice.

[Fedorgnp]

Its in the owners manual twice.

The only two sections i saw it is listed below. And it only talks about maintaining engine braking and hill climbing in second and low. one would assume that when not wanting to maintain engine braking or hill climbing then it would be safe to be Towing in D.


Trailer towing tips section
Page 215
In order to maintain engine braking and electrical charging performance, do not use fifth gear (manual transmission) or "D" (automatic transmission).

Automatic Transmission Section
Page 118
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time in the "2" or "L" position. This may cause severe automatic transmission damage from overheating. To prevent such damage, "3" position should be used in hill climbing or hard towing.


Am i missing any other areas of where it mentions it?

[cmilton54]

Only ever towed caravan in 3 after first time AT light came on, SR with 4 speed trans,
Like the manual says 3 gear if hills or heavy/hard towing, A caravan I would class as hard towing.
The SR 2010 in 3 gear gave nearly as good fuel use as in D anyway, with doing it easy.

[ktm300]

Most people should have a trans cooler fitted makes a world of difference

[cmilton54]

Agree kmt300
Have on fitted to Prado. When new bar turns up for new HiLux, I will fit one when bumper comes off to fit bar.

[davo94]

Get the biggest oil cooler you can get. Plumb it up like a prado so that the new oil cooler is befor the factory one and the most important tip is use your brain. Spend lots of tine researching the effects on oil temp on transmission life. Service the auto even tho toyo say not to.

[nickoslux]

What's the recommendation on the gen 8? I would have thought the electronics would be smart enough with all the sensors and computer monitoring to just be able to leave it in drive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MarkTGood]

What's the recommendation on the gen 8? I would have thought the electronics would be smart enough with all the sensors and computer monitoring to just be able to leave it in drive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nico,

I've read the manual cover to cover several times trying to find reference to gear selection and towing for the new hilux and can't find anything. After towing in drive though it very quickly locks out of 6th.

Mark

[Viper82]

Most people should have a trans cooler fitted makes a world of difference

Had a transmission cooler installed and air bags in the rear so the caravan sits perfectly level.

What's the recommendation on the gen 8? I would have thought the electronics would be smart enough with all the sensors and computer monitoring to just be able to leave it in drive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a gen 8 and it pretty much states the same as the gen 7 for towing

Manual transmission : To maintain engine braking efficiency and changing system performance when using engine braking, do not use 5th gear (5speed manual) or 5th and 6th gear (6speed manual)

Automatic transmission : To maintain engine braking efficiency and changing system performance when using engine braking, do not use the transmission in D. transmission shift range position must be in 4 or lower, in S mode

[Gipsy]

So toyta does know a little bit
Fedorgnp says "Automatic Transmission Section
Page 118
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time in the "2" or "L" position. This may cause severe automatic transmission damage from overheating. To prevent such damage, "3" position should be used in hill climbing or hard towing. !!!!!!! that means towing!


Am i missing any other areas of where it mentions it?"

[Fedorgnp]

So toyta does know a little bit
Fedorgnp says "Automatic Transmission Section
Page 118
Do not continue hill climbing or hard towing for a long time in the "2" or "L" position. This may cause severe automatic transmission damage from overheating. To prevent such damage, "3" position should be used in hill climbing or hard towing. !!!!!!! that means towing!


Am i missing any other areas of where it mentions it?"

One would think towing on a hard flat road not to be classified as "hard towing"

[Gipsy]

If your tow is 2 tonne it is hard towing even on the flat

[Tigesinaus]

At what point is it hard towing? I tow a tinnie that would only just be over the 750Kg mark. Should I worry about towing in drive?

[nickoslux]

I thought the idea of buying an auto is so the vehicle can select the correct gear without input from the driver if you have to be selecting the gears for it it's seems a bit pointless. The only thing you are saving is not having to push the clutch pedal. Surely this pos gearbox must have loadsensors to deal with the extra weight. Prob more likely an overheating issue and just needs a trans cooler


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gipsy]

Nope even a manual should not tow in OD and yes a 750kg tinny isn't a heavy tow but if your transmission keeps shifting too much then use 3rd on the hills, good practice anyhow as you approach a hill. A bonus is your turbo spools up before the engine needs the boost hence you have more power on tap as you need it. Otherwise why does the transmission offer 3rd? It is there if you need it. Any drivers who know anything know that all transmissions sometimes need a gear change whether manual or automatic, otherwise you would just stick a manual in 6th and chug along stressing the whole drivetrain. You wouldn't do it in sand under load, so why is towing different?