MPG Mystery SOLVED! - Toyota Yaris Forums

otterhere · 12-12-2008, 09:04 AM

Okay; I'm a dipstick... Was driving some guys around for the first time since I got the car and was complaining mighily about my disappointing mileage... One remarked that the engine seemed to be running awfully hard and fast; then they started listening for the gears to shift (it's a automatic) and determined that they weren't shifting correctly... Of course I'm having visions of days and weeks spent taking this LEMON back and forth to the dealer or arguing with them about replacing the car when someone noticed my gearshift... Apparently I've been driving it in "3" all this time instead of "D" (I thought it was kind of strange that I had to pull it down and then over, but figured this was just *more* bad design). Boy, did that engine ever settle down and drive smooth after that (also takes care of the "loud engine" complaint), and the guys also all assured me my mileage would improve from now on...

Just goes to show; sometimes it takes a guy!!!

33OH · 12-12-2008, 09:34 AM

Glad to see you got it figured out! =)

PreciousPups4U · 12-12-2008, 09:35 AM

You are not the first to do this. There have been numerous discussions about it..................and most of them were guys.

It would be nice if the sales people would take a bit of time and explain about the transmission though. I was aware of it when I bought mine, but not everyone has access to YW.

otterhere · 12-12-2008, 09:38 AM

Well, I maintain it's really bad design; what's with all the little indentations, and why double-up two of the gears together? My Swift (not to go on and on about my Swift) had just a straight line of gears, all separate; user-friendly for the "dumb girl" driver.

Klink10 · 12-12-2008, 09:41 AM

I too am glad you got that figured out. The Yaris really is a good on gas car.

songa · 12-12-2008, 09:47 AM

wow thats rough! glad to hear u found it ok tho. how long have u been driving like that? also, the autos are 4 speed transmissions, not 5, right?

dybbuk · 12-12-2008, 09:49 AM

I like the back and forth design. I know exactly what gear I'm in by feeling it go back and forth. And no offence, but, going from D to 3 is a straight line. They aren't doubled up, you have to move the stick in a straight line to get from D to 3.

YAR1S · 12-12-2008, 09:53 AM

HAHA! I did that when I first drove my yaris ... i was like "wow... this sounds like crap...does it always sound this bad??" sure enough, I was driving in 3rd and not "D".

enjoy your new yaris... hah.

YAR1S · 12-12-2008, 09:55 AM

I tend to occasionaly bump it into 3rd sometimes (clumsy) and it sucks when that happens on the highway, scared the bujeezes out of me the first time.

KCALB SIRAY · 12-12-2008, 10:08 AM

Yay! Now you can master the 4th to 3rd in and out of traffic shifting, lol. Nah have fun with the MPG's =)

otterhere · 12-12-2008, 10:15 AM

After figuring it out, I put it back in 3rd for a minute and thought, man, no WONDER I was griping!!! hahahahaha

Anyone happen to have a photo of that gear thang so I can redeem self to friends???

voodoo22 · 12-12-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otterhere

Okay; I'm a dipstick... Was driving some guys around for the first time since I got the car and was complaining mighily about my disappointing mileage... One remarked that the engine seemed to be running awfully hard and fast; then they started listening for the gears to shift (it's a automatic) and determined that they weren't shifting correctly... Of course I'm having visions of days and weeks spent taking this LEMON back and forth to the dealer or arguing with them about replacing the car when someone noticed my gearshift... Apparently I've been driving it in "3" all this time instead of "D" (I thought it was kind of strange that I had to pull it down and then over, but figured this was just *more* bad design). Boy, did that engine ever settle down and drive smooth after that (also takes care of the "loud engine" complaint), and the guys also all assured me my mileage would improve from now on...

Just goes to show; sometimes it takes a guy!!!

Full respect for admitting you were making a mistake

Hard to do and rarely done these days.

otterhere · 12-12-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo22

Full respect for admitting you were making a mistake

Hard to do and rarely done these days.

That others might be saved, LOL...

gid · 12-12-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YAR1S

I tend to occasionaly bump it into 3rd sometimes (clumsy) and it sucks when that happens on the highway, scared the bujeezes out of me the first time.

did that when we 1st test drove an '08 YARIS sedan . Very easy to do and could be a hazard if on ice , snow , or very wet roads . This is where VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL could help the situation .

dybbuk · 12-12-2008, 02:24 PM

How would a stability control you hitting your shifter? Not trying to sound arrogant, but, I've never had one problem with, have never bumped or anything like it. If you're knocking your shifter in traffic you should try putting both hands on the wheel.

33OH · 12-12-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dybbuk

How would a stability control you hitting your shifter? Not trying to sound arrogant, but, I've never had one problem with, have never bumped or anything like it. If you're knocking your shifter in traffic you should try putting both hands on the wheel.

He's saying it would help in case you accidentally downshifted on ice, snow, rain, etc.

landrym28 · 12-12-2008, 02:27 PM

Glad you figured it out, but why is there two separate threads about this?

33OH · 12-12-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landrym28

Glad you figured it out, but why is there two separate threads about this?

The first thread was her complaining about Yaris gas mileage.

Second thread is her saying that it was because she was in third gear the whole time.

12-12-2008, 09:04 AM	#1
otterhere Drives: 2008 Yaris 3-door Meteorite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 398	MPG Mystery SOLVED! Okay; I'm a dipstick... Was driving some guys around for the first time since I got the car and was complaining mighily about my disappointing mileage... One remarked that the engine seemed to be running awfully hard and fast; then they started listening for the gears to shift (it's a automatic) and determined that they weren't shifting correctly... Of course I'm having visions of days and weeks spent taking this LEMON back and forth to the dealer or arguing with them about replacing the car when someone noticed my gearshift... Apparently I've been driving it in "3" all this time instead of "D" (I thought it was kind of strange that I had to pull it down and then over, but figured this was just more bad design). Boy, did that engine ever settle down and drive smooth after that (also takes care of the "loud engine" complaint), and the guys also all assured me my mileage would improve from now on... Just goes to show; sometimes it takes a guy!!! Last edited by otterhere; 12-12-2008 at 09:18 AM.

12-12-2008, 09:35 AM	#3
PreciousPups4U I really LOVE this car!!! View User's Garage Drives: 08 Bayou Blue LB AT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lexington, SC USA Posts: 887	You are not the first to do this. There have been numerous discussions about it..................and most of them were guys. It would be nice if the sales people would take a bit of time and explain about the transmission though. I was aware of it when I bought mine, but not everyone has access to YW. __________________ Cindy “If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” - Will Rogers

12-12-2008, 10:08 AM	#10
KCALB SIRAY それを吸ってください View User's Garage Drives: black sand lb Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 8,894	Yay! Now you can master the 4th to 3rd in and out of traffic shifting, lol. Nah have fun with the MPG's =) __________________ http://lifesdailypimpslap.tumblr.com/#me My Build

12-12-2008, 02:27 PM	#17
landrym28 3,300+ at one point.. >:( View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Hatchback RS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Saint John, NB, Canada Posts: 542	Glad you figured it out, but why is there two separate threads about this? __________________ Remember, you're unique.....just like everybody else.

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12-12-2008, 09:34 AM	#2
33OH Drives: '08 Yaris Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Dover, Ohio Posts: 7,606	Glad to see you got it figured out! =)

12-12-2008, 09:38 AM	#4
otterhere Drives: 2008 Yaris 3-door Meteorite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 398	Well, I maintain it's really bad design; what's with all the little indentations, and why double-up two of the gears together? My Swift (not to go on and on about my Swift) had just a straight line of gears, all separate; user-friendly for the "dumb girl" driver.

12-12-2008, 09:41 AM	#5
Klink10 View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 910 Posts: 1,229	I too am glad you got that figured out. The Yaris really is a good on gas car.

12-12-2008, 09:47 AM	#6
songa View User's Garage Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan (Black) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: MA, USA Posts: 139	wow thats rough! glad to hear u found it ok tho. how long have u been driving like that? also, the autos are 4 speed transmissions, not 5, right?

12-12-2008, 09:49 AM	#7
dybbuk Drives: 2008 Yaris HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fredericton Posts: 50	I like the back and forth design. I know exactly what gear I'm in by feeling it go back and forth. And no offence, but, going from D to 3 is a straight line. They aren't doubled up, you have to move the stick in a straight line to get from D to 3.

12-12-2008, 09:53 AM	#8
YAR1S View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris 3dr LB (Bayou Blue) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,602	HAHA! I did that when I first drove my yaris ... i was like "wow... this sounds like crap...does it always sound this bad??" sure enough, I was driving in 3rd and not "D". enjoy your new yaris... hah.

12-12-2008, 09:55 AM	#9
YAR1S View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris 3dr LB (Bayou Blue) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,602	I tend to occasionaly bump it into 3rd sometimes (clumsy) and it sucks when that happens on the highway, scared the bujeezes out of me the first time.

12-12-2008, 10:15 AM	#11
otterhere Drives: 2008 Yaris 3-door Meteorite Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 398	After figuring it out, I put it back in 3rd for a minute and thought, man, no WONDER I was griping!!! hahahahaha Anyone happen to have a photo of that gear thang so I can redeem self to friends???

12-12-2008, 02:24 PM	#15
dybbuk Drives: 2008 Yaris HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fredericton Posts: 50	How would a stability control you hitting your shifter? Not trying to sound arrogant, but, I've never had one problem with, have never bumped or anything like it. If you're knocking your shifter in traffic you should try putting both hands on the wheel.