Mmt Gearbox Lurching

[mdmuddin]

Hi,

I just bought a 2007 Auris 1.6 MMT (auto clutch) with 109k on the clock.

In first and second gears (approx) if you don't apply ample gas, the car judders a lot like when in a manual and you lift the clutch too quick. It makes parking quite difficult as you can't crawl like you would with a normal auto.

The guy I bought it from, when I later asked him, said he had been told the catalytic converter had some build-up inside it which caused that but he didnt really sound like he had any idea what he was talking about. I had a bump in the car the first day I bought it so can't really ask t return it or anything.

What do you thing the problem is and what would be the solution?

On a side note, does the Auris require a cam belt change and when would it be advisable to do that?

Thanks

[FROSTYBALLS]

The 1ZR-FE engine is chain driven.

[Cyker]

This sort of thing seems to be a fairly common issue with MMTs, esp. when they get older, but usually on smaller engined cars. I don't think anyone's found a real solution, but sometimes resetting the MMT controller (Either by getting Toyota to do it, or unplugging the Battery for a few minutes) helps. It may just be the MMT clutch is wearing out and needs replaced tho'.

[Devon Aygo]

On a flat surface when releasing the brake the car should creep forwards/backwards if it is not then the simple answer may be that the MMT system needs calibrating. If the calibration is not successful then a new modified MMT ECU and or Clutch may be required.

[mdmuddin]

On a flat surface when releasing the brake the car should creep forwards/backwards if it is not then the simple answer may be that the MMT system needs calibrating. If the calibration is not successful then a new modified MMT ECU and or Clutch may be required.

thanks for all of the replies.

okay, so i will try to disconnect the Battery for a while first and hope that helps.

if not, could you please advise where i can get it recalibrated from and how much it should cost.

if that fails, where can i get the new ecu put in and for how much and likewise for the clutch, where can i get it put in and how much.

how long can i expect for it to carry on as it is and is there any danger for the cars health or safety risks?

thanks again.

[Devon Aygo]

On a flat surface when releasing the brake the car should creep forwards/backwards if it is not then the simple answer may be that the MMT system needs calibrating. If the calibration is not successful then a new modified MMT ECU and or Clutch may be required.

thanks for all of the replies.

okay, so i will try to disconnect the Battery for a while first and hope that helps.

if not, could you please advise where i can get it recalibrated from and how much it should cost.

if that fails, where can i get the new ecu put in and for how much and likewise for the clutch, where can i get it put in and how much.

how long can i expect for it to carry on as it is and is there any danger for the cars health or safety risks?

thanks again.

Recalibrating the MMT system is a Toyota only job and should cost around 1/2 hours labour

The modified MMT ECU and latest spec clutch would have to be bought from a Toyota dealer, fitting of the ECU and recalibrating would have to be Toyota, fitting the clutch could be done by a specialist so long as they know how to handle an MMT, As for costs call your local Toyota dealer or give Partsking a PM

[mdmuddin]

how about salvage parts taken from a breaking vehicle?

is that, in theory, possible? if so, whats to be looked out for?

im just concerned that i may end up having to spend over 1k on a 3k car.

[mdmuddin]

I am sorry to revive this old thread but I needed a bit more advice. I decided to just live with the lurching as I was getting used to driving with it. Recently whilst driving, a couple of times, the car has suddenly started to rev as if the accelerator is stuck or something and even though I pressed the break, it seemed like it still wanted to accelerate. It was a sudden thing so I am not sure exactly what happened but I basically had to break hard and then turn the engine off. Luckily nobody was behind. Is this a related problem and can anybody please offer some advice?

[TomdeGuerre]

Let me give you a bit of advice Muhammad, get rid of that Auris right now. Why do you think the previous owner got rid of it?

I had an Auris SR 1.6 MMT, bought it brand new and had nothing but trouble with that transmission. I had it back at the dealers umpteen times under warranty and kept at them until they changed the Transmission Control Module to the one with the second software update. Even then it was still problematic ie hesitating and hitting flat spots at roundabouts. On country road it would get all out of ideas as to which gear it should be in and if I had to stop at a junction after travelling say 60 mph on a main road, when I pulled away it would often stick in first gear so I would have to switch it into manual mode to clear. It was hopeless in stop and go traffic and a nightmare to use in snow and icy conditions, hopeless to use as a tow car also.

I'm a pretty experienced driver, an ex-motor mechanic from the old days and have drive everything from old motor bikes and cars with crash gearboxes as well as pre-select and automatic gearboxes and various other types in a whole variety of cars, vans and commercial vehicles including 8 wheelers and artics. So I found ways to handle the MMT but for my wife, who can only drive automatics, it was a dreadful transmission to use.

I swore I would never buy another Toyota but I bought a 1.6 CVT Auris which has a much better transmission altogether although far from perfect.

[mdmuddin]

Let me give you a bit of advice Muhammad, get rid of that Auris right now. Why do you think the previous owner got rid of it?

I had an Auris SR 1.6 MMT, bought it brand new and had nothing but trouble with that transmission. I had it back at the dealers umpteen times under warranty and kept at them until they changed the Transmission Control Module to the one with the second software update. Even then it was still problematic ie hesitating and hitting flat spots at roundabouts. On country road it would get all out of ideas as to which gear it should be in and if I had to stop at a junction after travelling say 60 mph on a main road, when I pulled away it would often stick in first gear so I would have to switch it into manual mode to clear. It was hopeless in stop and go traffic and a nightmare to use in snow and icy conditions, hopeless to use as a tow car also.

I'm a pretty experienced driver, an ex-motor mechanic from the old days and have drive everything from old motor bikes and cars with crash gearboxes as well as pre-select and automatic gearboxes and various other types in a whole variety of cars, vans and commercial vehicles including 8 wheelers and artics. So I found ways to handle the MMT but for my wife, who can only drive automatics, it was a dreadful transmission to use.

I swore I would never buy another Toyota but I bought a 1.6 CVT Auris which has a much better transmission altogether although far from perfect.

Thank you very much, I think I will de exactly that. Will probably end up trading it in to Toyota though. Any idea if the Auto CVT box on the new MY15 Yaris is any good?

[mdmuddin]

My brother has the HSD Yaris and it is very smooth, unless you're in a rush when it revs really loudly, but doing about 5k a year, I don't think the hybrid is cost-effective at all for me. Is the petrol CVT a smooth drive and is it known to be reliable in the long run. Will hopefully test drive it soon.

[Wiz201]

Let me give you a bit of advice Muhammad, get rid of that Auris right now. Why do you think the previous owner got rid of it?

I had an Auris SR 1.6 MMT, bought it brand new and had nothing but trouble with that transmission. I had it back at the dealers umpteen times under warranty and kept at them until they changed the Transmission Control Module to the one with the second software update. Even then it was still problematic ie hesitating and hitting flat spots at roundabouts. On country road it would get all out of ideas as to which gear it should be in and if I had to stop at a junction after travelling say 60 mph on a main road, when I pulled away it would often stick in first gear so I would have to switch it into manual mode to clear. It was hopeless in stop and go traffic and a nightmare to use in snow and icy conditions, hopeless to use as a tow car also.

I'm a pretty experienced driver, an ex-motor mechanic from the old days and have drive everything from old motor bikes and cars with crash gearboxes as well as pre-select and automatic gearboxes and various other types in a whole variety of cars, vans and commercial vehicles including 8 wheelers and artics. So I found ways to handle the MMT but for my wife, who can only drive automatics, it was a dreadful transmission to use.

I swore I would never buy another Toyota but I bought a 1.6 CVT Auris which has a much better transmission altogether although far from perfect.

Thank you very much, I think I will de exactly that. Will probably end up trading it in to Toyota though. Any idea if the Auto CVT box on the new MY15 Yaris is any good?

CVT auto box is lovely to drive, I had a Jazz with a CVT auto box and recently drove a new Yaris as a courtesy car with CVT and it was gorgeous. I've got an Aygo MMT only because I can't afford a CVT Yaris.

[TomdeGuerre]

I've never driven the Yaris CVT Muhammad but if you have a recommendation from your brother and the car is big enough you might want to go for it.

I agree about the high revs. If you're on a slip road with 4 or 5 people aboard and trying to accelerate hard to merge with fast flowing traffic then the revs climb really high and if you put it in Sports mode then it screams like a banshee. Not that women drivers ever drive that fast or would notice anyway (sorry Isobel, that was just me being chauvinistic but I'm an old dinosaur anyway).

Talking about Sports mode, on my '04 Corolla automatic the switch was mounted on the gearshift lever where it could be reached intuitively without taking your eyes off the road. Whoever at Toyota decided to mount the CVT Sports mode switch way lower down on the console - and right next to another switch - needs rodgered.

[Wiz201]

I've never driven the Yaris CVT Muhammad but if you have a recommendation from your brother and the car is big enough you might want to go for it.

I agree about the high revs. If you're on a slip road with 4 or 5 people aboard and trying to accelerate hard to merge with fast flowing traffic then the revs climb really high and if you put it in Sports mode then it screams like a banshee. Not that women drivers ever drive that fast or would notice anyway (sorry Isobel, that was just me being chauvinistic but I'm an old dinosaur anyway).

Talking about Sports mode, on my '04 Corolla automatic the switch was mounted on the gearshift lever where it could be reached intuitively without taking your eyes off the road. Whoever at Toyota decided to mount the CVT Sports mode switch way lower down on the console - and right next to another switch - needs rodgered.

No its okay, actually I would admit the Jazz used to scream when I used to really put my foot down with it. I like driving fast so my little 1 litre Aygo gets a work out on its lower revs most days.

[Cyker]

The Toyota CVT should be pretty reliable, but it's still relatively new; It's been generally well praised but hasn't really had long enough to show up common problems. CVTs can be a massive PITA when they go wrong, but we won't know until it starts to wear, so I'm reserving judgement.

The Toyota CVTs are quite lightly loaded and limited by the ECU tho' so they may wear better - One thing CVTs hate is having too much torque put through them, which is why few CVTs are rated for towing compared to e.g. torque converters and automated clutches.

Still, it's already been a much better gearbox than the crummy old MMT and one thing CVTs have always had going for them is that they're some of the smoothest gearboxes you can get. :)

If you want proven reliability tho', get a manual or a HSD.

[Miseryguts]

All this takes me back to when a friend had a test drive in a MMT box Yaris.

He said to the salesman "this is terrible".

Salesman said "couldn't agree more,I don't know what Toyota are thinking".

He said if you have NEVER driven an "proper" automatic you could be ok.

If you HAVE driven a proper auto you will hate the MMT box.

My CVT box on my Auris 1.6 if fine except when you give it the beans,then not so fine (more like a spin dryer ).