Ok so since I got my 2005 Scion tC I've noticed the shifting hasn't been as smooth or as responsive as other cars. So I read up and found out the cause of the weird feeling of shifting was that the throttle is controlled by a computer instead of a cable like most cars.

So after learning that I accepted that I was just going to have to live with it, until today. At work I drove a 2006 tC and the shifting felt much more responsive. I could drop the clutch and step on the gas in any gear and the car would pull foward smoothly, no jerky motions. So I'm wondering many things.

Did Scion fix this problem after the 2005 models? Or is there something wrong with mine that makes the computer controlled throttle more noticable? or the only other thing I can think of is maybe the intake and exhaust my tC has screws with the computers timing or something?

Any answers would help me alot.

Thanks.

 

im pretty sure the 05 tc has cables also.

 

There are no throttle cables in any tC. They're all electronic.

Some people have fixed this with a little DIY process that you can search for. It eliminated the first 1/2 inch or so of 'dead space' behind the gas pedal. Its supposed to be a little bit more responsive with less delay.

 

... cables? what cables?

it's all drive-by-wire

 

I think he meant CABLES as in Cable shifting. The tC has cables from the manual shifter to the transmission to shift the gears, unlike other setups that can have a shifter rod into the transmission.

If those cables are binding in the manual shifter, then you'd have a binding linkage and shifting wouldn't be smooth.

 

The "delay" is nothing but the effect or rotating mass. Proven by those that have switched to a light flywheel and seen the "delay" go away. The tC IMO is so simple to drive I cant imagine having an issue with it. The longer time taken for rpm to drop due to a heavier flywheel makes shifting easier (which is one reason manufacturers use heavier flywheels). This has all been covered a million times.

The only complaint I have is the cable setup rather than linkages in the shift mechanism. While this reduces NVH by dampening vibrations via the cable, it doesnt provide as precise of a shift as a solid linkage could.

But overall I think the tC is just as easy (actually easier than some) as any other manual car I have owned to drive. And I have owned 5.. still own two including the tC.

The 06 should be just like the rest of the tC's. no change in the shifter setup that I know of.

That "dead spot" mod to the gas pedal really does nothing but preload the pedal, which has zero effect on throttle response. If that makes the car easier to drive for some, that is great, but they could have simply trained themselves to push the pedal 1/8" further to start with. Driving manual tranny cars means learning to be adaptive, since every one is a little different. It just takes time. Spend enough time in them and you will eventually adapt to a new one instantly.

 

I have no problem shifting in my car and I agree it's very easy to drive but when it comes to shifting hard and fast this is where this problem rears it's ugly head

What I meant was that in my 2005 tC lets say i'm shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I let off the gas, step on the clutch, shift into 3rd, I want to shift fast so I drop the clutch and floor it. Now any other car with a cable controlling throttle response would shift into the next gear and pull forward hard but in my tC it kind of just falls flat on it's face, the car kind of jerks a little and then accelerates normally.

So I thought this was cause of the computer controlling the throttle but I drove the 06 tC at work and I did the same thing. I shifted into the next gear, dropped the clutch and stepped on the gas, and in this one the car pulled hard and smoothly like I would expect.

I've really been down on myself about it because I didn't become aware of this problem until my chance for returning the car at the dealer was over so now I may be stuck with this thing for a while.

 

The 06 also has the ecu controlling the throttle.. all tC's do.

But it is just a matter of adapting. After a day or two, I got to the point where I can shift about as fast as I can move the shifter. Just practice a bit and you will have it down.