Question for those with a 2007 automatic

[Astroman]

Ok, I'm puzzled, so I hope other '07 auto owners can help me out here.

I've been driving my '07 now for over 4 years and have been pretty happy. About a year and a half ago I had mine in for the side airbag foam recall, and they gave me a pretty much base model '08 as a loner for the day. I noticed that up by the fuel gauge and odometer it had a indicator for the gears, ie P, R, D, 3, 2, L. I thought "wow that's neat, must be a feature they added". And I didn't really give it much thought after that.

A couple weeks ago I was looking for something in the car and was using a flashlight when I remembered the '08 and shined my light on my gauge and sure enough I could see where the LCD had the markings for the gear indicator feature. Puzzled now I'm on here, trying to figure out if my yaris was defective new (I bought it with 27 miles on it), or if this was a feature that doesn't work for the '07. But if it isn't, why does the LCD have the marks? It's kinda hard to explain but you know with LCD clocks you can see where it could light up and its not (like it looks like 8) is what I can see.

If this wasn't a feature for '07 then can this be made to work? Why would they put this feature in, but not activate it until the next model year?

I'm well out of my warranty now. If this is a manufacturing defect what can I do?

[WeeYari]

It's not a defect. This was a featured activated in '08+.

My '06 is the same as yours.

[Astroman]

I just find it odd that the LCD panel has a spot for it...

But thank you for responding, at least I'm not going crazy.

[Brian]

The gear indicator works on the cluster in my '07.

[WeeYari]

^ Sedan is different. For some reason that feature was activated on the sedan but not the hatch.

[Astroman]

I wonder if there is a way to activate it on the LB? I don't want to just swap in a 08 cluster, I hate the orange. Besides if I'm going to do a cluster swap I'm gonna want one with a tach (I know, on a automatic, but its my car )

[auxmike]

The 08 cluster is not orange.
The cool thing is you get a flashing "R" when you put the car in reverse!

[Astroman]

That's nifty. But what I really want to know is if I can activate it on mine, or borrow from a newer cluster and add it....

Free set of decals to whoever can get me going

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Astroman

That's nifty. But what I really want to know is if I can activate it on mine, or borrow from a newer cluster and add it....

Free set of decals to whoever can get me going

It may be the ECM, rather than the cluster that you need to change to make it work. The ECM sends the shift position info over CAN bus to the cluster.

I have an 07 ECM on my test bench, with either an 08 or 09 cluster (depending on which is in my car and which is on the test bench at any given moment), but unfortunately the 07 ECM is from a MT. If I run into an 07 AT one cheap, I'll pick it up and let you know the outcome.

[Astroman]

That would be awesome. If I happen to come across one I'll be happy to ship it your way.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Astroman

That would be awesome. If I happen to come across one I'll be happy to ship it your way.

I got my hands on an 07 ECM from an A/T today. It's part number 89661-52F11. I tried it on my test bench and when I "switch gears", both my 08 and 09 clusters show the position on the ODO LCD.

So, it's the 07 cluster that doesn't respond to gear change CAN message, rather than the 07 ECM not sending it.

[teddy]

My 2008 hatchback looks exactly like the one here: http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3627 except right above the trip counter (top right of the LCD display) it shows the current selected gear.

Does this mean older HBs don't have any indicator of what gear you've selected? My in-law's sedan is a very different layout, with a top down layout of PRND32L and lights up the current selection.

I also noticed early on in the car the LCD has a "CVT SPORT" indicator, what's up with that?

[Astroman]

Originally Posted by CTScott

I got my hands on an 07 ECM from an A/T today. It's part number 89661-52F11. I tried it on my test bench and when I "switch gears", both my 08 and 09 clusters show the position on the ODO LCD.

So, it's the 07 cluster that doesn't respond to gear change CAN message, rather than the 07 ECM not sending it.

Now this is starting to get interesting. Why would the cluster "have" a spot for the gear selection, the ECM is sending the signal, but it's not active?

Weird...

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Astroman

Now this is starting to get interesting. Why would the cluster "have" a spot for the gear selection, the ECM is sending the signal, but it's not active?

Weird...

That's nothing - Our friends in Australia get a cool digital cluster that has the ability to display fuel efficiency, but it's not active either. When you are designing something like a cluster, you add all of the hardware up front, and then in software you enable it as you see fit. You never want to have to go back and redo the hardware if you can avoid it. The problem though, is that upgrading the cluster SW is not a field doable thing.

[birdman]

They did this so the '08 model would have an upgrade over the '07. It's like the front wipers having multi speed intermittent wiper capability but the wrong stalk to activate them. Cheap ways to offer improvements on new model years.

[Astroman]

So in theory putting in a '08 cluster would make it work. Probably won't do it unless I can get one for free

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Astroman

So in theory putting in a '08 cluster would make it work. Probably won't do it unless I can get one for free

Yes. It definitely works, as I put the 07 AT ECM on Crashy and the gear indicator still worked or her 08 cluster.

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by Brian

The gear indicator works on the cluster in my '07.

Mine doesn't. This really pisses me off to find out actually. This is like when Brian and I were talking about the foldable side mirrors. Mine go both in and out however Brian said his only fold out so he thought that was the way it was supposed to be.

CTScott....since Brian's works and mine doesn't how can that be addressed?