meZoom!

One of the few things I hate about my mom's 2001 Highlander is how the overdrive is ALWAYS engaged when you start the car, even if you left it off when before you turned the car off. On top of that, the overdrive button doesn't push in...meaning, even if o/d is on or off, the button doesn't go all the way in, it just stays at the same position. get it? I was wondering what the RX does...and WHY in the world would Toyota/Lex do this? I noticed it to some degree on most newer model Toyotas-the celica also has the o/d button that doesnt push in, but at least if you turn the engine off w/ the o/d off, it stays that way when u start the car back up. why oh why?

gsenthil

I hope someone has a reply to this. On the RX as well, the O/D is always off irrespective of its position when the vehicle was turned off. I usually put it off when I start from anywhere or on off ramps and put it on when enterting on-ramps.

meZoom!

hmmm. my best guess is that they did this for fuel economy, instead of performance driving. see, stuff sucks and driving is more of a hassle than fun when car makers start catering more towards driver/environmentally friendly than good performance. i hope they didnt do this cuz they know half the drivers of these cars are WOMEN. because that would be totally, totally in the wroooooong direction for a car maker to go.

Daddy-O

My O/D is always on.

The button is under my right thumb on the gear selector. Push it in and a warning light appears in the dash cluster that says O/D off and 4th gear is gone.

Push the button again and O/D is re-engaged and the warning light goes out.

mbmorgan

Same here on my 2001.

Here's another question. My '99 RX had another button in addition (I think) to the O/D button. I think it changed shift points. What was that button all about? And why did the they get rid of it?

Matt