I recently bought a 2010 ES 350. I like it as a comfortable place to be, but I’m not happy with how it drives. The car has the same engine and transmission as the Camry V6 and Avalon, and I used to own an '06 Avalon. That car felt fun to drive with quick shifts and good road feel. This ES 350 feels very different.
I tried resetting the ECU (following a guide on this forum), and for a few days it drove the way I wanted, but eventually went back to the original sluggish behavior. I tried it again, and the same thing happened. I doubt I can keep resetting the ECU every day.
Is there a way to make this change permanent without causing any damage? What’s different about the Avalon and the ES 350?
Every Toyota and Lexus I’ve owned in the past decade shifts to the highest gear as quickly as possible. I think it’s due to Toyota’s focus on fuel efficiency for meeting MPG standards.
I had a 2022 4Runner, and a lot of owners recommended a product called ‘Pedal Commander’ to improve throttle response by changing how the accelerator works. It might be worth checking out if there’s something similar for your car. They’re usually not too expensive.
I ended up buying a Toyota with a manual transmission. It’s nice to control the gears myself.
@viviana
Pedal Commander is fine, but if it breaks, you lose throttle control entirely. If you’re considering something like that, the Banks version is a safer bet. It costs more, but it’s more reliable.
Are you driving the car before it has a chance to warm up? In my experience, all automatic Toyotas shift very early when the engine is cold, especially at wide open throttle. My 2008 Sienna and 2015 Highlander did this, and even my old 1991 FJ80 was the same.
The 2006 Avalon and 2010 ES350 aren’t exactly the same mechanically. They have different transmissions: the U151E in the Avalon and the U660E in the ES350. I’ve owned both, and one big issue I had with my old ES330 was the slow, lazy transmission. My 2012 ES350 is much better and I can get up to 32 mpg on the highway, compared to 21 mpg with my old ES. Also, the ES350’s ECU adapts to your driving style and adjusts shifting. I really like the newer drivetrain a lot more.
@Shakesphere
Yeah, the ES is designed to be a smooth and relaxed car. You could try unhooking the battery to reset the ECU and see if that helps. But if it feels underpowered, then there might be an issue with the car.
@Delilah
I tried that. It didn’t work, but resetting the ECU did make the car drive the way I wanted (as mentioned in the original post). I don’t get why it went back to its old behavior after just three days.
@Shakesphere
Are you sure about the transmission? I read on Wikipedia that it came with both a 5-speed and a 6-speed version, and the 6-speed is the U660E. I think mine had the 6-speed.
Alton said: @Shakesphere
Are you sure about the transmission? I read on Wikipedia that it came with both a 5-speed and a 6-speed version, and the 6-speed is the U660E. I think mine had the 6-speed.
After some reading, it looks like the 6-speed was only available after 2008. I guess the previous owner swapped the transmission after damaging the original one. I wonder if that’s why it feels different.
You might want to check for error codes. A clogged catalytic converter or an issue with the input shaft speed sensor can cause sluggish shifting. Also, check the intake boots behind the MAF sensor for any tears to make sure no unmeasured air is getting in.