Get WhenDriving -> 3-3. Transaxle Guide for Toyota Yaris 4 Door Fourth Generation (2021-2026)

177

3-3. Transaxle

Manual Transaxle Operation

Manual Transaxle Shift Pattern

The shift pattern of the transaxle

is conventional, as shown.

Depress the clutch pedal all the

way down while shifting; then

release it slowly.

Neutral position

3

Your vehicle is equipped with a

device to prevent shifting to R

(reverse) by mistake. Push the

shift lever downward and shift to

R.

If shifting to R is difficult, shift back into neutral, release the clutch pedal, and

try again.

WARNING

■Do not use sudden engine braking on slippery road surfaces or at high

speeds

Shifting down while driving on wet, snowy, or frozen roads, or while driving

at high speeds causes sudden engine braking, which is dangerous. The

sudden change in tire speed could cause the tires to skid. This could lead to

loss of vehicle control and an accident.

■Always leave the shift lever in 1 or R position and set the parking brake

when leaving the vehicle unattended

Otherwise the vehicle could move and cause an accident.

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3-3. Transaxle

NOTICE

●Keep your foot off the clutch pedal except when shifting gears. Also, do

not use the clutch to hold the vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the clutch will

cause needless clutch wear and damage.

●Do not apply any excessive lateral force to the shift lever when changing

from 5th to 4th gear. This could lead to the accidental selection of 2nd

gear, which could result in damage to the transaxle.

●Make sure the vehicle comes to a complete stop before shifting to R. Shift-

ing to R while the vehicle is still moving may damage the transaxle.

Gear Shift Indicator

The gear shift indicator supports you to obtain optimum fuel economy

and smooth driving. It displays the selected gear position in the com-

bination meter as well as notifies the driver to change to the most suit-

able gear position corresponding to the actual driving condition.

1

2

Selected gear position

Suitable gear position

Indication

Condition

Numeral

The selected gear position is displayed.

Shift up or down to the indicated gear position is rec-

ommended.

and numeral

The gear shift indicator turns off when the following operations are performed.

●The vehicle is stopped.

●The vehicle is put in neutral.

●The vehicle is driven in reverse.

●The clutch is not fully engaged when accelerating from a stop.

●The clutch pedal remains depressed for 2 seconds or longer while driving.

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3-3. Transaxle

WARNING

Do not rely solely on the shift-up/shift-down recommendations by indica-

tions. The actual driving situation might require shift operations different

from indication. To avoid the risk of accidents, the road and traffic conditions

have to be judged correctly by the driver before shifting.

Recommendations for Shifting

■ Upshifting

For normal acceleration, Toyota recommends these shift points:

Gear

Vehicle speed

3

1 to 2

2 to 3

3 to 4

4 to 5

5 to 6

17 mph (27 km/h)

27 mph (43 km/h)

37 mph (60 km/h)

47 mph (76 km/h)

55 mph (89 km/h)

For cruising, Toyota recommends these shift points:

Gear

Vehicle speed

1 to 2

2 to 3

3 to 4

4 to 5

5 to 6

11 mph (18 km/h)

19 mph (30 km/h)

30 mph (48 km/h)

39 mph (63 km/h)

51 mph (82 km/h)

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3-3. Transaxle

■ Downshifting

When you must slow down in heavy traffic or on a steep upgrade,

downshift before the engine starts to overwork. This reduces the

chance of stalling and gives better acceleration when you need

more speed.

On a steep downgrade, downshifting helps maintain safe speed

and prolongs brake life.

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3-3. Transaxle

Automatic Transaxle Controls

Lock-release button

3

Various Lockouts:

Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal and hold in

the lock-release button to shift (The ignition must be

switched ON).

Indicates the selector lever can be shifted freely into any

position.

Indicates that you must hold in the lock-release button to

shift.

The Sport AT has an option that is not included in the traditional automatic

transaxle that gives the driver the option of selecting each gear instead of

leaving it to the transaxle to shift gears. Even if you intend to use the auto-

matic transaxle functions as a traditional automatic, you should also be aware

that you can inadvertently shift into manual shift mode and an inappropriate

gear may be retained as the vehicle speed increases. If you notice the engine

speed going higher or hear the engine racing, confirm you have not acciden-

tally slipped into manual shift mode (P. 185).

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3-3. Transaxle

Shift Position Indication

The selector position is indicated

when the ignition is switched ON.

■ Gear position indication

In manual shift mode, the “M” of the shift position indication illumi-

nates and the numeral for the selected gear is displayed.

Warning Light

The warning light turns on when the system has a malfunction.

Refer to Warning Lights on P. 173.

Transaxle Ranges

• The shift position indicator light in the combination meter illumi-

nates. Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on P. 173.

• The selector lever must be in P or N to operate the starter.

■ P (Park)

P locks the transaxle and prevents the front wheels from rotating.

■ R (Reverse)

In position R, the vehicle moves only backward. You must be at a

complete stop before shifting to or from R, except under rare cir-

cumstances as explained in Rocking the Vehicle (P. 145).

■ N (Neutral)

In N, the wheels and transaxle are not locked. The vehicle will roll

freely even on the slightest incline unless the parking brake or

brakes are on.

Apply the parking brake or depress the brake pedal before moving the

selector lever from N to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.

■ D (Drive)

D is the normal driving position. From a stop, the transaxle will

automatically shift through a 6-gearsequence.

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3-3. Transaxle

■ M (Manual)

M is the manual shift mode position. Gears can be shifted up or

down by operating the selector lever. Refer to Manual Shift Mode

on P. 185.

WARNING

■Always set the selector lever to P and set the parking brake when park-

ing

Only setting the selector lever to the P position without using the parking

brake to hold the vehicle is dangerous. If P fails to hold, the vehicle could

move and cause an accident.

■If the engine is running faster than idle, do not shift from N or P into a

3

driving gear

It’s dangerous to shift from N or P into a driving gear when the engine is run-

ning faster than idle. If this is done, the vehicle could move suddenly, caus-

ing an accident or serious injury.

■Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle

Shifting into N while driving is dangerous. Engine braking cannot be applied

when decelerating which could lead to an accident or serious injury.

NOTICE

●Shifting into P, N or R while the vehicle is moving can damage your tran-

saxle.

●Shifting into a driving gear or reverse when the engine is running faster

than idle can damage the transaxle.

●Do not shift into N when driving the vehicle. Doing so can cause transaxle

damage.

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3-3. Transaxle

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)

Active Adaptive Shift (AAS) automatically controls the transaxle shift

points to best suit the road conditions and driver input. This improves

driving feel. The transaxle may switch to AAS mode when driving up

and down slopes, cornering, driving at high elevations, or depressing

the accelerator pedal quickly while the selector lever is in the D posi-

tion. Depending on the road and driving conditions/vehicle operations,

gear shifting could be delayed or not occur, however, this does not

indicate a problem because the AAS mode will maintain the optimum

gear position.

Shift-Lock System

The shift-lock system prevents shifting out of P unless the brake pedal

is depressed.

To shift from P:

1

Depress and hold the brake pedal.

2

Start the engine.

3

Press and hold the lock-release button.

4

Move the selector lever.

●When the ignition is switched to ACC or the ignition is switched off, the

selector lever cannot be shifted from P.

●The ignition cannot be switched to OFF if the selector lever is not in P.

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3-3. Transaxle

Shift-Lock Override

If the selector lever will not move from P using the proper shift proce-

dure, continue to hold down the brake pedal.

1

Remove the shift-lock override

cover using a cloth-wrapped flat

head screwdriver.

Cover

2

3

Insert a screwdriver and push it

down.

Press and hold the lock-release

button.

3

4

5

Move the selector lever.

Take the vehicle to your Toyota dealer to have the system checked.

Manual Shift Mode

The manual shift mode gives you the feel of driving a manual tran-

saxle vehicle by allowing you to operate the selector lever manually.

This allows you to control engine rpm and torque to the drive wheels

much like a manual transaxle when more control is desired.

To change to manual shift mode,

shift the lever from D to M.

To return to automatic shift mode, shift the lever from M to D.

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■ Indicators

3-3. Transaxle

1

Manual shift mode indication

In manual shift mode, the “M” of

the shift position indication in the

instrument panel illuminates.

2

Gear position indication

The numeral for the selected

gear illuminates.

■ Manually shifting up

You can shift gears up by operating the shift lever.

M1  M2  M3  M4  M5  M6

To shift up to a higher gear, tap

the shift lever back

once.

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3-3. Transaxle

■ Manually shifting down

You can shift gears down by operating the shift lever.

M6  M5  M4  M3  M2  M1

To shift down to a lower gear,

tap the selector lever forward

once.

3

■ Second gear fixed mode

When the selector lever is moved back while the vehicle speed is

about 6.2 mph (10 km/h) or less, the transaxle is set in the second

gear fixed mode. The gear is fixed in second while in this mode for

easier acceleration from a stop and driving on slippery roads such

as snow-covered roads.

If the selector lever is moved back or forward while in the sec-

ond gear fixed mode, the mode will be canceled.

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■ Shift gear (shifting) speed limit

For each gear position while in the manual mode, the speed limit is

set as follows: When the selector lever is operated within the range

of the speed limit, the gear is shifted.

0 mph

60 mph

(0 km/h)

(100 km/h)

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

● Shift up

The gear does not shift up while the vehicle speed is lower than

the speed limit.

● Shift down

The gear does not shift down while the vehicle speed exceeds

the speed limit.

If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and the gear does

not shift down, the gear position indication flashes 2 times to

notify the driver that the gear cannot be shifted.

● Kickdown

When the accelerator pedal is depressed fully while driving, the

gear shifts down.

The gear also shifts down using kickdown while in the second gear

fixed mode.

● Auto-shift down

The gear shifts down automatically depending on the vehicle

speed during deceleration.

If the vehicle comes to a stop while in the second gear fixed mode,

the gear remains in second.

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3-3. Transaxle

■ Recommendations for shifting

● Upshifting

For normal acceleration and cruising, Toyota recommends these

shift points:

Gear

M1 to M2

Vehicle speed*¹

15 mph (24 km/h)

25 mph (40 km/h)

40 mph (65 km/h)

45 mph (73 km/h)

50 mph (81 km/h)

M2 to M3

M3 to M4

M4 to M5

M5 to M6

3

*¹: Always observe local speed limit regulations.

● Downshifting

When you must slow down in heavy traffic or on a steep upgrade,

downshift before the engine starts to overwork. This gives better

acceleration when you need more speed.

On a steep downgrade, downshifting helps maintain safe speed

and prolongs brake life.

■Manual Shift Mode

●Changing to manual shift mode while driving will not damage the transaxle.

●If you change to manual shift mode when the vehicle is stopped, the gear

will shift to M1.

●If you change to manual shift mode without depressing the accelerator

pedal when driving in D range, 5th gear/6th gear, the gear will shift to M4/

M5.

■Indicators

●If the gears cannot be shifted down when driving at higher speeds, the gear

position indication will flash twice to signal that the gears cannot be shifted

down (to protect the transaxle).

●If the automatic transaxle fluid (ATF) temperature becomes too high, there is

the possibility that the transaxle will switch to automatic shift mode, cancel-

ing manual shift mode and turning off the gear position indication illumina-

tion. This is a normal function to protect the AT. After the ATF temperature

has decreased, the gear position indication illumination turns back on and

driving in manual shift mode is restored.

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3-3. Transaxle

■Manually shifting up

●When driving slowly, the gears may not shift up.

●In manual shift mode, do not run the engine with the tachometer needle in

the RED ZONE. When the engine rpm is high, a gear may shift up automat-

ically to protect the engine.

●When depressing the accelerator fully, the transaxle will shift to a lower

gear, depending on vehicle speed.

■Manually shifting down

●When driving at high speeds, the gear may not shift down.

●During deceleration, the gear may automatically shift down depending on

vehicle speed.

●When depressing the accelerator fully, the transaxle will shift to a lower

gear, depending on vehicle speed.

WARNING

■Do not use engine braking on slippery road surfaces or at high speeds

Shifting down while driving on wet, snowy, or frozen roads, or while driving

at high speeds causes sudden engine braking, which is dangerous. The

sudden change in tire speed could cause the tires to skid. This could lead to

loss of vehicle control and an accident.

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3-3. Transaxle

Driving Tips

■ Passing

For extra power when passing another vehicle or climbing steep

grades, depress the accelerator fully. The transaxle will shift to a

lower gear, depending on vehicle speed.

Some models:

The accelerator pedal may initially feel heavy as it is being depressed,

then feel lighter as it is depressed further. This change in pedal force

aids the engine control system in determining how much the accelerator

pedal has been depressed for performing kickdown, and functions to

control whether or not kickdown should be performed.

■ Climbing steep grades from a stop

3

To climb a steep grade from a stopped position:

1

Depress the brake pedal.

2

Shift to D or M1, depending on the load weight and grade steep-

ness.

3

Release the brake pedal while gradually accelerating.

■ Descending steep grades

When descending a steep grade, shift to lower gears, depending on

load weight and grade steepness. Descend slowly, using the

brakes only occasionally to prevent them from overheating.

WARNING

■Do not let the vehicle move in a direction opposite to the direction

selected by the selector lever

Do not let the vehicle move backward with the selector lever in a forward

position, or do not let the vehicle move forward with the selector lever in the

reverse position. Otherwise, the engine may stop, causing the loss of the

power brake and power steering functions, and make it difficult to control

the vehicle which could result in an accident.

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WhenDriving -> 3-3. Transaxle for Your Toyota Yaris 4 Door Fourth Generation (2021-2026)

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