Leaderboard

In conventional autos, the torque converter is there to allow the car to be in gear and stationary with the engine running, as there's no clutch to disconnect the drive from the wheels. It also allows gear changes without a clutch. Very simply, the torque converter is like two windmills facing each other inside a sealed chamber full of oil. One is connected to the engine, the other to the wheels. So the engine turns one of the windmills, which throws oil at the other. At idle, it does nothing while the brakes are on, but take the brakes off and the car creeps because the oil thrown at the second windmill forces it to turn - it wasn't something the designers wanted to happen, just a byproduct of the way the torque converter works. As the engine runs faster, so the windmill attached to the wheels is forced to turn faster and the car accelerates. There are energy losses here which is why automatics used to be much thirstier, especially small engined automatics. A small 1.3 litre automatic I owned in the 1970s was lucky to reach 30 mpg except on very long trips and driving very carefully. In town it often only got about 23 mpg! My Dad had the same model but manaul, and his did about 10 mpg better. More recent autos also had a mechanism that (put simply) locks the two windmills together when driving at a steady speed, with improved fuel consumption (especially on journeys with extended steady cruising). Automated manuals like Toyota's with MultiMode or VW/Audi DSG are much more economical as they are effectively manual gearboxes with one or more conventional clutches operated by a sort of robot under the bonnet. Many of these creep, by the system partially engaging the clutch to make auto drivers feel at home and help on hills. The Hill Start Assist can be useful on a very steep hill if the car will roll back too much (not that there are many in Norfolk, where I live!), more so in the Prius because the foot operated parking brake can be slightly more fiddly to use as aid hill starts. On older versions of the Prius that didn't have HSA, I would sometimes press the parking brake pedal and keep my foot on it without fully releasing it, as it then worked like a handbrake lever with the button held in - I could increase or decrease my pressure on it without it locking on again, until after I'd fully released it.

Thinking about it - how beneficial is HH for the CVTs? I understand now more and more manual s have it. And some auto s (without creep or is it called torque converter) need it as they will roll backwards on an uphill like manuals. But most autos don't need it , as they hold their own on an uphill (unless steep or face downhill). Even on a steep the auto just SLOWLY rolls back as the auto has that little auto hold (unlike a manual that just free rolls backwards). Hence like me (and now Colin and YarisHybrid) we never needed to engage HH (even though I have a heavier Auris). But now I know how it works, I may (just may) use it when stuck in traffic longer than usual (uphill or downhill) - lol :) :) :)

"One feature that is missing on my car, is that the EPB does not engage when the engine is switched off. Renault Scenic drivers using this car will have to remember this! " It does on the facelift.

It doesn't "tell" you... It "advises" you and you don't necessarily need to obey. The shift indicators advises you when to shift gear for better economy. If the shift up light comes on and you keep pushing it, the car "knows" you are in a "race mood/mode" and the light goes off, then comes on again at much higher RPM's. Tells you, reminds you, prompts you, suggests to you – how about nags you? As a married man I can tell you it’s all the same. When my wife wanted me to put up a bookshelf, I got the whole gambit; hints, sighs, suggestions, reminders, prompts – you name it. I swear she got me with subliminal messages while I was sleeping because one morning I woke up and for some inexplicable reason went and got wood, my drill, screwdriver, spirit level etc and just did it. Very subtle but very effective they are. I got my own back though and took about a year or so to paint it. So I reckon car manufacturers employed females to design these wee “nag” lights in the instrument panel – after all, if you want something done why not go to the experts. Jeeeeeeesus... If we said "I'll do it", then we'll do it! No need to remind us every six months! What's wrong with these women...? :lol2:

It doesn't "tell" you... It "advises" you and you don't necessarily need to obey. The shift indicators advises you when to shift gear for better economy. If the shift up light comes on and you keep pushing it, the car "knows" you are in a "race mood/mode" and the light goes off, then comes on again at much higher RPM's.

Yes, the Mk1 Auris with the 5 speed box is too low geared, much better when they introduced the 6 speed. Personally I'd rather have seen them introducing a higher final drive ratio rather than an extra gear, i'm fine with 5 gears if i'm driving a manual, i just don't get this 1-2-3-4-5-6 every time from rest and if you use block changing then 'Yo frown on that.

See http://blog.toyota.co.uk/how-to-adjust-the-time-on-your-toyotas-clock Don't forget clocks should be changed at 2am

Hi Kez, as i mentioned in my opinion the gearbox is the big letdown, i agree with your take on needing a 6th gear, i always feel its like your driving in a lower gear i.e. 5th feels like 4th, 4th like 3rd & so on. i don't know if theres a solution out there, pity as overall the car is absolutely sound mechanically, in fact i have spent less in 2yrs ownership with this car than any car i have owned in 30yrs, so 90% fine, pity about that gearbox, if you get the gearbox/transmission oil changed let us know if it makes a difference, as i have said i did at Toyota but didn't notice any change but someone else may notice a difference.

The previous issue with the power window switches was where the switch became worn and difficult to operate, and it was found some owners were lubricating the switch with unsuitable lubricants. These lubricants could cause the switch to overheat. The previous recall involved checking the operation of the switch, and either replacing the switch or lubricating it with the correct lubricant. Remember Renault had a problem with the bonnet catch on the Clio II, where on some cars the catch didn't always lock the bonnet shut, and some owners had the bonnet fly up when the vehicle was in motion, smash the windscreen, and reduce visibility somewhat whilst the owner tried to stop with limited visibility. Renault refused to recall the cars despite being featured on BBC Watchdog, and stated it was a problem with the owners not maintaining the catch. Think I prefer Toyota's way ..........

I bought a cheap one for my laptop from ebay, IIRC about £20. Look for mini vci Toyota techstream.