The car owner will find in the article a description of the automatic transmission on the Toyota Verso of the CVT modification. He will also learn how you can and cannot drive a car with CVTs installed and how they differ from an automatic. We will talk about the malfunctions of such boxes and their treatment.
On Japanese Toyota Verso vehicles, the manufacturer installs Aisin automatic transmissions. They are famous for their long service life, unpretentiousness to weather conditions, provided that they receive regular annual maintenance at a service station.
What kind of gearbox does the Verso model have?
You can often hear the question from new car enthusiasts: is there a Toyota Verso CVT or does this vehicle use a conventional automatic transmission ? Experts answer that front-wheel drive CVT modifications K311 were installed on Verso car models produced from 2009 to 2013.
This type of CVT was devoid of almost all childhood diseases of CVTs from the Aisin company. Only cars with a 1.8 liter engine are equipped with this box. Like any other transmission, it requires clean oil, operation without sudden starts and movement without warming up on the driver's side.
Toyota CVT vehicles are more reliable than transmissions installed on Nissan vehicles.
Robot design from Toyota
In terms of design, Multimode is a manual gearbox, which is equipped with electric drives powered by an electric motor. The system includes the following components and mechanisms:
- electronic throttle control system;
- clutch drive;
- gear selection and shift drive;
- sensors;
- shift lever and TCM.
The Multimode robot has an automatic switching mode E and a manual switching mode M. The operating position of the drive is determined by dual contactless travel sensors. They are installed on each drive. Each actuator operates in accordance with signals from the TCM. The TCM receives data from the ECM and sensors and controls the engine and multimode transmission.
The FREETRONIC robot has a radial piston type pump with an electric drive system. With its help, the working pressure in the membrane accumulator is maintained. If the sensor detects a drop in pressure, it activates the pump. Liquid flows are redistributed by a spool valve with an electromagnet.
CVT differences
A CVT transmission differs from an automatic transmission in that it does not have gear shift stages. This means that the driver does not feel the jolts and jerks typical of automatic machines when accelerating. This happens because the gears change due to the movement of pulleys connected to each other by a belt.
The pulleys change their position, which means the transmission changes. For example, when the drive and driven shafts are shifted, the vehicle speed does not exceed first gear. The further apart the pulleys move, the faster the machine speeds up.
Results
A robotic gearbox is a kind of synthesis of an automatic and manual gearbox. From the mechanics the system received practicality and reliability, from the automatic - comfort during operation. Such a system as a whole is distinguished by its reliability and high technology. But she also has glitches. They are mainly associated with wear of parts, for example, when the manual transmission is randomly thrown into neutral. Or, due to a broken actuator, one or another gear does not start.
In order for the robot to function smoothly on the Toyota Corolla, it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance, during which the robotic gearbox on the Toyota Corolla will be subject to thorough diagnostics. It is also necessary to follow the rules for using the robot box for Toyota Corolla. If you follow the above recommendations and tips, you can avoid serious damage to the Toyota Corolla robot.
Oil and belt change interval
Experts say that after the main question: what CVT is on the Verso, beginners are interested in the transmission fluid change interval. Changing the lubricant at the wrong time will lead to overheating and failure of the CVT. And also on those cars where a belt is used instead of a chain in the variator, you must follow the regulations for replacing the belt.
Transmission fluid is changed in several ways:
- complete. This method is used after the car has traveled 70 thousand kilometers. To change the oil, a high-pressure apparatus is used, which, under pressure, completely expels waste fluid from the distant components of the automatic transmission. Experts do not recommend changing the fluid at home. Although some craftsmen manage to do this procedure using a five-liter bottle and a hose from the radiator return;
- partial. This type of replacement can be done at home. It is recommended to carry out a partial change of lubricant after a run of forty thousand kilometers. This type of replacement is done at home. The used oil is removed and the seals in the box and the filter device are replaced.
If a car owner changes the oil, he must fill in the original lubricant. Since Toyota Super CVT is used only on CVTs. It has an adhesive base and glues the belt with the wedges for better performance of the elements. This function appears after the variator warms up to 60 degrees Celsius. Therefore, experts advise warming up the gearbox before starting and never accelerating when it’s cold.
The belt should be changed once every 90,000 km. If it is not replaced in time, it will lead to rupture. Belt debris can damage the mechanical parts of the CVT and cause transmission failure. Restoration and major repairs will cost the car owner the same price as a contract automatic transmission.
Attention! The car owner should check the oil level after driving 10 thousand kilometers according to the recommendations of experienced mechanics. Oil starvation leads to rapid wear of the tread grooves on the cones that hold the belt.
What causes the Corolla's manual transmission to go into neutral?
Operation of a robotic gearbox implies the presence of a malfunction such as engaging neutral gear.
Often on a Corolla robot this happens as follows: the car is quite well warmed up, moves along the highway smoothly and without any obvious deviations, the check light suddenly lights up, neutral is switched on, and the car loses speed until it comes to a complete stop. In order to fix the problem, you need to turn off the engine, wait a certain time and turn it on again. However, this move does not completely eliminate the problem.
Often, failure occurs due to wear of a pair of release bearings, as well as the guide. If you replace these components, then diagnostics will not be required, and the replacement process can be carried out at home.
The design of the robotic gearbox is not the same on different Toyota models, only the principle is the same - its design contains a manual gearbox with a gear control system and a clutch. The clutch in the Toyota Corolla gearbox is of a friction type. An important innovation here is the double-clutch device, thanks to which torque is transmitted continuously and there is no power gap in this scheme.
Usually, when designing a robot box, gearboxes that already exist for this Toyota Corolla model are used. Only control units are replaced. The robotic gearbox has an electric drive with a servo mechanism, which includes an electric motor with a mechanical transmission. The electric drive is characterized by a low operating speed of the control mechanism (0.3 - 0.5 seconds), which is why such units are installed on budget models. Sports robotic boxes have a hydraulic drive, which has a very high switching speed - 0.05 seconds.
There are two modes of operation of the Toyota Corolla robotic box:
- semi-automatic;
- auto.
When operating in the automatic version, the box control algorithm is implemented by an electronic unit based on signals from input sensors. This happens through the execution mechanism. But in semi-automatic mode, the robotic gearbox allows you to switch from low to high gear using the gear selector lever and switches located under the steering wheel.
For this reason, in various literature, a robotic gearbox is often called a sequential gearbox (sequential).
CVT malfunctions
The Toyota Verso CVT is a rather different design. But it all depends on the driver's driving style. Aggressive driving and sudden starts lead to the belt breaking out of its place on the pulleys.
The Aisin manufacturers solved this problem by programming the box to limit sudden starts. Now the car enthusiast will not be able to destroy the variator by quickly picking up speed from a standstill by pressing the gas pedal to the floor.
Dirty oil leads to the death of solenoids in the valve body. Therefore, regular replacement of the lubricant and filter will protect against such CVT diseases.
Pulleys may wear out faster than usual due to sudden overloads. This is possible in cases where the car owner uses the car mainly for traveling on country or dirt roads.
The valve body rarely fails. If you take care of it: wash and clean it on time, and also replace the transmission fluid, then it will last a long time.
Attention! Annual maintenance will save the CVT of a Japanese manufacturer's car from major repairs. Also necessary: checking the transmission fluid level in the box and regularly changing the oil. A calm driving style will also extend the life of the gearbox.
Correct operation of manual transmission
In order for the automated gearbox to last as long as possible, you need to follow a number of certain rules:
- It is advisable to use a calm driving mode and do not press the gas pedal sharply;
- If shocks occur during gear shifting, you need to reduce the engine speed;
- Slipping must be avoided;
- During scheduled maintenance, it is recommended to carry out a full diagnosis and initialization of the box.
Therefore, before performing scheduled maintenance or any repair work, it is recommended to carry out a diagnostic check using special equipment and, if faults are identified, carry out the necessary repairs.
Reviews of Toyota Verso with CVT
Car owners who already drive a Toyota Verso leave the following reviews about the car.
Shrubchenko Grigory Pavlovich, 36 years old, Saratov
I recently bought it on the advice of a friend. Nice and roomy car. The variator was replaced only after 200,000 kilometers. The previous owner did not change the box at all. That's why I think it's durable. I'll see how long the new CVT lasts.
Saveliy Gennadievich Andreev, 23 years old, Moscow
I liked the car's ground clearance - low. This is what I love. The seats are made of artificial leather, although when I bought them they assured me that they were made of real leather. Peeled off in the first months of using the vehicle. CVT – this is worth talking about separately. My father assured me that there was no need to race or take off abruptly in the car. But after driving 100,000 km I had to change it completely. Installed an automatic machine. The car began to drive much faster.
Typical gearbox faults
Why did the Toyota transmission get the reputation of being an unreliable unit? The owners of Toyota Corolla, in particular those produced in 2007-2008, had to face the greatest difficulties. The vast majority complained that the robot did not engage gears. The box could be repaired at service centers, but for this it was necessary to find real professionals, since diagnosing the cause of a manual transmission malfunction is not so easy.
The reasons for this were the following:
- “frozen” gear shift sensor, knocking Multimode into neutral gear;
- faulty actuator - usually it had to be replaced;
- in the summer, the box often overheated, which caused a lack of speed;
- clutch overheated.
Toyota Auris owners, no less than Corolla drivers, discuss the robot’s shortcomings and problems. Almost everyone agreed that Multimode was a box produced “in haste.” One of the main drawbacks is that the transmission does not change gear when braking. The car slows down, but Multimode does not react to this in any way. It also happened that the car did not pull, but the gearbox stubbornly held the “highest” position. In some cases, the robot did not react at all to changes in speed until the car almost stopped completely. Naturally, with such problems it is impossible to drive comfortably in the city. Usually the control unit was changed, sometimes several times, but this did not solve the problem. In 2009, Toyota carried out a recall campaign to change the control unit; at the service center such a service costs approximately 80-90 thousand rubles.
Another problematic mechanism is the clutch. Often it did not “live” even to 50 thousand kilometers. Expensive mechanical actuators, as already mentioned, were also not reliable. In some cases, car owners managed to reach a manual transmission life of 100-150 thousand km, which could already be considered a good indicator. Frequent transmission problems, constant breakdowns and the high cost of repairs are only part of the reasons why the demand for cars with a Toyota robot has begun to plummet. At the same time, there were few complaints about the cars themselves, but just from the word “robot”, potential buyers who had heard about the problems of the gearbox were horrified.
Positive and negative sides about Toyota Verso with CVT
Having tested the box themselves and collected feedback from Toyota Verso car owners, experts came to the conclusion and indicated the following pros and cons of the car.
Pros:
- comfortable and roomy;
- reliable and at the same time nimble;
- electric power steering;
- economical.
The disadvantages include:
- poor sound insulation;
- no electric folding mirrors;
- the plastic of the dashboard and the fabric on the seats quickly wear out and become unusable;
- The heating is weak, in winter the seats and instrument panel squeak until the interior warms up.
There are many more disadvantages of the car. But for many, the reliability and capacity of the car is more important than minor flaws from manufacturers. Moreover, the absence of childhood diseases in CVT makes it even more valuable compared, for example, with an automatic transmission from the Peugeot-Citroen concern. The Al4 gearbox will seem like a rattling, knocking and kicking giant against the CVT from a Toyota Verso vehicle.
Robot "Multimode" - functions and purposes
As mentioned earlier, the Toyota Corolla Multimode CVT is an excellent option for those drivers who are tired of thinking about manual gear shifting. The MMT consists of automatic and electric clutch control elements. The main component that performs the specified functions by the system is the actuator. This is one of the few elements that experiences wear and tear on its components (brushes, bushings and the drive motor itself).
MMT Toyota Corolla
“Multimode” is an improved variator created by Toyota for even smoother torque shifts. The new variator “Multidrive S” released by the Japanese has become even more productive. Now fuel consumption is reduced by 10-15%, and gear smoothness is reduced to a minimum.
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The advantageous characteristic of the Multimode variator is the ability to travel in emergency mode. After any malfunction, the sensor transmits a signal to the TCM, which turns on the emergency lamp. In such situations, autonomous driving mode is activated.