I recently got my hands on a brand new 2022 Toyota Corolla base model with 3k miles. There was nothing wrong with it at all. I then took for a test drive to see how it drives. The driving experience was interesting. While I was driving it, it felt like I was driving a Nissan CVT.
Are Toyota CVT transmissions the same like the other Japanese manufacturers or are they different?
Also adding gearbox aficionado
@Dan
Per Wikipedia , the 1.8L is mated to an Aisin 'K' CVT: The K313 (Wiki)
In 2014, Toyota introduced the K313 Continuously Variable Transmission in their 1.8L Corollas vehicles. It utilizes a torque converter eliminating a forward or reverse clutch-release strategy when in gear at a complete stop.
exploded parts diagram: https://japancars.ru/index.php?route=catalog/toyota&area=EU&cat=166520&blk_id=3401
"This transmission is a very reliable transmission solong you do the maintenance on time ( every 40000 km ) and use the right CVT oil.
It is used in several middle class Toyota vehicles like the Corolla,Aurus and more
Bearing issues are most of the times caused by lack of maintenance or using the wrong oil"
Where did you get the information to change every 40000 km? That's appropriately 24000 miles. I don't mind changing it if it has to be done that early, but I have never been able to find that information.
I have seen that for the Jatco transmissions. I thought since the other cvts were some what better they didn't need the same change cycle.
Some photos of wrecked K313's:
lack of maintenance causing belt wear and drum gouging
Overheated. (Driver was rocking the stuck car back and forth in the snow)
Yep, all non-launch gear CVTs are roughly the same.
Unlike the K11X CVTs that are almost identical to Jatco units,
The K31X installed on most older generation Toyotas are just similar.
They have less issues but when they begin to whine, it's your que to dump the thing. @mmj linked great pictures of what damage to the cones and the belt looks like - it's not a question of "if" this is going to happen it's a question of "when" and "how much damage is there".
Speaking of CVT gearboxes that are different from most other Japanese offerings,
If you want a Toyota, get only ones with a manual - Maybe the Launch gear CVT won't be bad but when I was testing the Yaris Cross, I didn't like the way it shifts under load (the 1->CVT shift lets the RPM fall too much. kinda of like my old Toyota MMT, but there I don't feel anxious keeping 1st gear until 4k rpm, but on a launch gear CVT? I'd be anxious to hit the CVT with that kind of torque).
From a design standpoint, the cones aren't disengaged in 1st so the belt is still slipping and wearing out, also the whole CVT range engagement (the Cones get spun up and "pinch" the belt) sounds to me like something that will eventually snap the belt (not to forget to mention it's a thinner belt and the cones are at a more aggressive angle).
Also, Toyota brags about using smaller bearings, which, as I see it, this will definitely be an issue in the long run. Considering their bearings on older K31X are already trashy and are known to whine (if the owner goes by Toyotas service recommendations), making them even smaller sounds like the wrong thing to do.
They claim that these smaller bearings are sufficient because due to the launch gear there's less load on the transmission internals - but what will happen after 120k-150k miles when it won't be as smooth as it used to be? will those bearings still be sufficient to hold up to a jerky or frequent 1->CVT shift?
Hopefully Toyota engineers will prove me wrong and the K120 will be a decent gearbox, but I am skeptical if it will ever reach the same reliability levels as an average 4/5/6 speed automatic.
Personally I got so tired of all of these DCTs/CVTs I just bought a the last new car with a 6 speed automatic still available in my region.
My transmission guy doesn't like them either.
Add to that the fact that if it goes out, you have to buy a new one from manufacturer. There are no rebuild suppliers.
@mmj I have a friend who is still doing transmissions, and his entire business nowadays is only CVTs and DCTs (out of a small-ish shop, it's not a big business or anything)
Although it requires more skills than what it used to back in the day, It's do-able and I don't understand why more shops in the US don't do it.
-
Looking at Honda's absolute nightmare of a CVT's service bulletins, it doesn't seem like it would require too much labour - even with inflated dealer times and pricing.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10108297-9340.pdf
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/SB-10086143-2280.pdf
-
(Side tracking a bit, but In general Honda isn't in good shape, reading through their 'manufacturer communications' you find things like this (translated from corporate speak) "We know he have terrible AC compressors that constantly breakdown, and we won't take responsibility so warranty only those with leaks" https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10176145-0001.pdf )
Hatchback or sedan? It depends. Was it the 1.8L or 2.0L i4?
Base model only comes with the 1.8. All 1.8 get the cvt without the launch gear.
It was the sedan.
Also the sedans and hatchbacks use the same transmissions.