Cruise Control issue? Looking for a little feedback

[ToyotaTrk]

So I just got back form my 1st covered Toyota Care scheduled service. Due to my driving conditions - lots of stop and go and dusty roads and some towing, I was expecting to get the 5000 mi oil change. However it was explained that I was not to get a covered one until 10000 miles when I checked out. Not exactly the way it was explained to me on purchase, I went to my sales guy who told me it should be covered now. He then came back and told me its not covered now, but that im entitled to 2 oil changes and 4 tire rotations in I think 20,000 miles and that I could get the free one now. I said ok. I then went back to the service area and he came back later and told me sorry, he was mistaken and that the manager said no. They wouldn't cover it now and that I had to pay. Just curious.....

What are others experiencing?

I also am looking for a little feedback on the cruise control - I explained that when using the cruise control and going highway speed, 55-65, and going up overpasses the car downshifts to speed up and keep speed. From about 1500rpm to about 2300 I think. So far normal I think.... But on the downside on the overpass, the truck downshifts to slow down and keep speed and the rpm's jump to 3400-3500 - heres the issue - its pretty jerky. It bucks a bit - a little too much I think. Then when it slows back to speed it bucks agin. Just seems rough to me. Also, related or not - sometimes in city driving 35-40 or so when I have to stop a little quicker than normal, the car stops but at the last minute it seems as if the rear end has to catch up / kinda a bump if you will almost at the very end of the stop. Kinda hard to explain.

Not ever had a Toyota before, is this CC operation seem normal? Maybe im expecting it to be too smooth. Ive been using cruise controls and ACC one's too for a while now and this one seems off. Maybe its normal for a Toyota? Any help appreciated as this is my first Toyota. The stopping bump?

The service writer said they test drove the car and all is well. Said the camera for the CC is in the front grill and that it is reading the cement when on the downside of the overpass and that its ok... HUH?!?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Sounds like that should be your last visit to that dealer. Utter rubbish on the CC reading the pavement.

 

[Dan Higgins]

The CC is not reading the pavement on the downside. Just think about it. If there was any issue with the CC reading the pavement it would be on an uphill where the slope is rising in front of the vehicle. But even if that were the case, the car would come to a stop as the road is not "moving" with or away from you. So common sense says that this claim is absurd.

I have a 2016 so the gearing and CC is the same. As for the jerkiness, it is not the smoothest. It is in fact downshifting to slow the vehicle, not using brakes. This is a good thing. If you are not using CC and if you are facing a lengthy descent it is (rightly) recommended that you switch to S mode and manually lower the upper limit of the automatic shift so as to force some engine compression. 3,000-3,500 RPM is a good number in general but it depends on how fast you are going when the downshift occurs. As for the CC doing this, how jerky it feels can depend a lot on the slope and the weight of your vehicle (loaded or not, etc.) I don't think there is a way for it to know this. Is the CC better at determining when to downshift than you are. Not clear to me. I prefer to control that myself on significant descents. On minor descents it may not even downshift. I also see it typically let the vehicle run a bit above the CC MPH setting. And if you are coming up quickly on traffic it may need to downshift and brake to maintain distance.

BTW, on the oil changes, their policy is for the most part consistent with what I have seen. The "free" service for the first 20K includes 2 oil changes and the recommended mileage between oil changes is 10K unless you go offroad or tow. I like to change mine more often (7500) so I paid for an extra oil change or two in those first 20K.

 

[Sandroad]

On the oil change.....if you want one at 5000 you have to pay for it. The services provided for free are in the Toyota Care agreement and not in what a salesperson tells you. I paid for one at the 5000 mile service (and again at 15,000 miles) because my LC tows almost every mile it runs.

On the cruise.....what you describe is what I experience with my LC. The cruise programming using adaptive cruise control is amazingly rough in hill country, even when I’m not towing. Mine even anticipates cresting a hill and bangs into a lower gear expecting to need engine braking, even if I top out on level ground. Weird, but I don’t use cruise when towing so it doesn’t really matter to me. For me the 8 speed is not as easy to live with as the 5 speed in my 100 because of all the unintuitive and unexpected gear changes. I would never admit to talking to my vehicles, but sometimes I tell the transmission to make up its mind.

On the stopping bump....it could be the transmission downshifting. Sometimes those last shifts are noticeable.

 

[Jmivorm]

After talking to my dealer, im skeptical that they even use toyota brand oil when doing oil changes. I actually bet they do not. I know they do not lube the driveline. I am approaching 5000 miles on my 2019 but have already bought everything needed for services through 60000 miles. Im going to skip the free services as im not really convinced they are worth the price.
Plus i had rather slip away from work and slide under my car for a little wrench therapy than sit in a toyota dealership anytime.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

Thanks all for the help and input. I figured this might be normal but wanted to hear what others experience. The quality of service help down here is not the best at all and its always a me against them fight - or so it seems. When I got the bit about the pavement, I gave up. Heck, I had a service MANAGER and Land Rover here in New Orleans tell me that the "air is different down here" as to why my TPMS on a Range Rover was malfunctioning.

I dont mind paying for the oil change its just confusing when I get conflicting stories. Tks again.

 

[Bob Frame]

I am experiencing exactly what you've described with the cruise control shifting roughly. I DETEST this and may sell my LX over it. This is really pissing me off. I had a 2006 LX470 for 11 years and loved that car. I am pretty disappointed with the LX570 to be honest.

 

[jeproks]

Since we are talking about Cruise Control, is the CC stalk on the 200 LC backlit or not? Wife’s ‘15 Highlander’s CC stalk is backlit/illuminated while the ‘19 LC is not.

 

[Jmivorm]

If you push the button on the end of the stalk in and hold it for several seconds it will bypas the radar and go to old fashioned cruise control. This bypasses all the downshifting and just maintains the speed you set, although it will maintain it right into the rear of the car ahead of you, but thats what i use. The radar leaves just enough space everyone cuts in on you and then it slows down and more cut in. Circle of life.

 

[Bob Frame]

If you push the button on the end of the stalk in and hold it for several seconds it will bypas the radar and go to old fashioned cruise control. This bypasses all the downshifting and just maintains the speed you set, although it will maintain it right into the rear of the car ahead of you, but thats what i use. The radar leaves just enough space everyone cuts in on you and then it slows down and more cut in. Circle of life.

Does this work on the LX570? You're talking about the cruise control stalk?

 

[Jmivorm]

Does this work on the LX570? You're talking about the cruise control stalk?

I am speculating but it works on my 2019 200 series. You have to hold the button for several seconds and there is even a different green dash light for the non radar cruise mode. Yes i am referring to the button on the end of the cruise control stalk.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

Don’t know about the LX, but the stalk on the 200 is not back lit. And yep, the CC bucks like a mule in my opinion. Going up overpasses is not bad, but going down is poor.

 

[Bob Frame]

Don’t know about the LX, but the stalk on the 200 is not back lit. And yep, the CC bucks like a mule in my opinion. Going up overpasses is not bad, but going down is poor.

This is a good description of what I'm referring to. It feels like it is shifting unnecessarily...slamming into gears. Makes for an uncomfortable ride. Really pronounced when cruising at 55 or so. First time it happened my wife asked if there was something wrong with the vehicle. I really hate this.

 

[CLHickman]

After talking to my dealer, im skeptical that they even use toyota brand oil when doing oil changes. I actually bet they do not. I know they do not lube the driveline. I am approaching 5000 miles on my 2019 but have already bought everything needed for services through 60000 miles. Im going to skip the free services as im not really convinced they are worth the price.
Plus i had rather slip away from work and slide under my car for a little wrench therapy than sit in a toyota dealership anytime.

They usually don't use the Toyota brand due to the sheer cost. Most use Mobile 1, as that is who makes the Toyota OEM oil anyway. You can usually call them and see what they're using.

 

[Bob Frame]

If you push the button on the end of the stalk in and hold it for several seconds it will bypas the radar and go to old fashioned cruise control. This bypasses all the downshifting and just maintains the speed you set, although it will maintain it right into the rear of the car ahead of you, but thats what i use. The radar leaves just enough space everyone cuts in on you and then it slows down and more cut in. Circle of life.

I checked this out and found that "Constant Speed" cruise control does work like this in my '18 LX. Does anyone know if this mode of CC (as opposed to the "Radar" controlled/adaptive CC) changes how the transmission reacts to elevation changes? It is the elevation changes, even slight ones, that seem to challenge my LX...someone described it as a bucking mule.

 

[CLHickman]

I checked this out and found that "Constant Speed" cruise control does work like this in my '18 LX. Does anyone know if this mode of CC (as opposed to the "Radar" controlled/adaptive CC) changes how the transmission reacts to elevation changes? It is the elevation changes, even slight ones, that seem to challenge my LX...someone described it as a bucking mule.

Bob, try cruise with ECT selected. There have been favorable responses with this on and CC activated. Also, you could just pop the gear lever over into Select mode. From there just choose the highest gear you're comfortable with.

Unfortunately, @Dan Higgins is spot on that this is how the vehicle is designed. It will attempt to keep you within the speed range you've selected by using engine braking.

 

[ToyotaTrk]

Bob, try cruise with ECT selected. There have been favorable responses with this on and CC activated. Also, you could just pop the gear lever over into Select mode. From there just choose the highest gear you're comfortable with.

Question - I seem to remember trying it ECT on and thinking it solved the problem, only to find out that it was just minimized somewhat. I have not though to try it with ECT and Select mode. Do you mean using ECt and Select mode at the same time? Okay to do so? Just asking as a new user to Toyota..... Tks. If so, there is a expressway here in town with a number of overpasses where the vehicle bucks, jerks, whatever, while on CC. Let me now and ill try it as soon as I can and report back.

 

[CLHickman]

@ToyotaTrk, that is a good question. I have a 2013 and the older transmission. I can't speak to the symptoms you're having with the 8 speed.

ECT adjusts the shift points of the transmission to provide greater bands of power. It is kind of the "Sports" button in reality. This is primarily used when towing to ensure you're getting before the next shift. There are a few folks on here who tow heavy that could probably chime in.

Selecting the highest gear doesn't change the shift points, so I believe ECT could still be beneficial. Worth a try.

EDIT: Added a thread specifically for ECT

How many run in ECT/Power mode 100%

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Noah Miller]

15 LX570 Cruise is hit the button Radar is selected. Push forward on the stalk to go CC Normal and everything works as it should. Radar CC is herky jerky at best.

 

[Bob Frame]

Is there any consensus that "Normal CC" shifts differently (i.e.less herky jerky) than "Radar CC"?