John, it sounds like your tranny isn't going into first when you take off. Try this. When at a stop, manually bring the shift lever into "1" then back to "D". Try taking off now. (Make sure the light is greeen)!

If this makes a difference and you take off in first, it sounds like you need to follow the tranny flush and fill procedure.

I had the same symptoms as you describe. My tranny didn't want to go into 1st without help, and I didn't notice too much difference with part throttle take off's, so it took a little bit to find out what it was.

I had to do a complete flush and fill. I dropped the pan and did the filter and gasket at the same time, so I know I got it good and changed. That is what cleared up my problem.

JP 745T

1--- Tranny's need fresh oil changes also, has this followed manuf. recoms. or has it been a while?
First signs of tranny failure usually can be noticed during shift-down operations, -when a car comes to a normal stop. You can never hear this stuff with engine sounds -during acceleration!
To hear this you need three things; a quiet area [nighttime], an up-grade in the road and a good ear/open windows [maybe two people -who know shift-down sounds]. Switch OD off, -Get going in 'D' and deaccelerate without brakes by going up-hill. This should isolate-out tranny sounds.
There should be even-spaced[timed] down-shifting 2X, that nice reproducable whine-sound and no klunks. If you start to go again and the tranny then shifts into first, when reloaded by the engine drive, you may have the beginings of a tranny problem. A normal down-shift into first should be completed by idle-torque alone.
Consult a professional, it never fixes itself, and will cost less if dealt with early on.

But probably...

2--- my 94 945T takes forever to get going in first, it's called a granny gear. Normal shifts are 2500 on mine. You won't find a granny gear in a Toyota --But then again a rice-burn'n Toyota can't tow 3300lbs of trailer either! It's a trade off, first gear power vs. rabbit starts.
Simply stated however, That Toyota will disappear fast, if you crack the boost on him, and let it wind up / Yea-Baby!

3--- The turbo spools continously! The gauge is just showing the difference in neg./vac and pos./boost pressures across the throttle plate. The red color means nothing. The unit has an exhaust-waste gate to avoid high press. which could blow-out thoes big plastic air-hoses. The engine can take a lot more boost, but thoes big air-hoses will blow out long before you can hammer the engine.

DBurge