Help please (camry transmission)

[zaboss]

Hi, I am new to the forum. I have a 1988 camry, 4 cyl. with automatic transmission, When I drive the car and the transmission on Drive its very heavy and it dont want to move. it seems the car starts moving at higher gear like the second or the third. Also the O/D keep flashing all the time. I went to a transmission shop he told me may be i need to change the transmission control unit or the transmission computer. The problem is that I dont know where exactly is the TCU in the car so i can get it from the junk yard. I wnat to change it my self to save some money. So please help.
Thank you in advance.

[Tommy]

the transmission computer (if you have one) will be located under the dash board. you will need to remove the glove box entirely to access it, and possibly the lower dash.



First check that you have a A140E and not a A140L - L's are mechanically controlled and im not entirely sure they even have a computer.

[zaboss]

Thank you for your reply. I have a question how do i know if my car is A140E and not a A140L.
Thank you.

[Tommy]

stamped on the transmission there is a plate that will say what it is.

Im almost positive 87-88 were Mechanical. Also look to see if there are any large electrical connectors going to the tranny

[Doctor J]

If you have pwr/norm button near handbrake lever, you got a140e. The L model does not have diagnostic feature by flashing o/d mode.

[zaboss]

Thank you, yes I do have a pwr/norm button near handbrake lever.
I drove the car today manually, I start from L and kept shifting to D, the car drives good. but when I start driving from D it moves very slow until it gets to 20 to 25 Miles/hr then drives normal. so please advise, is it ok to keep driving this way or it is bad for the automatic transmission?
Thanks

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

If you have pwr/norm button near handbrake lever, you got a140e. The L model does not have diagnostic feature by flashing o/d mode.

haha, completly forgot about the PWR ECT button. what a useless feature that was.

[fredk]

sounds like the trans is starting off in 2, leave it in drive and from a stop count the upshifts in norm and power to 60mph

[88 LE]

Just wanted to clarify something. In the pic Tommy posted, the TCU (transmission control unit) is the silver box on the right.

[zaboss]

I left it at drive, only one upshift at 45-50 miles /hr, I think it is the 3rd gear. Is that means anything?. also I want to ask is there is any easy way to take the glove box and lower dash.
Thank you.

[Dave's]

I'm not sure on yours but for my gen 3 the blinking light should be a code telling you what the problem is. It could be as simple as pulling the pan and cleaning or replacing a solenoid valve.

[ironpig]

you can pull the diagnostic codes and tell which solenoid is giving you trouble. search for pulling codes or look at a shop manual for the instructions.

[Doctor J]

Check wires and connector near the t/m fluid level dipstick. These wires (Black and white) are going to solenoids. Your computer is probably good.

[66conv6]

My 88Camry LE did that and it was a bad solenoid valve inside the trans. It was replaced with a used one. My "home boy" price was $80 total. I would guess double that would be a more normal price. The car now shifts rather harshly from first to second as if I had some racer shift kit in it. The tires sometimes chirp from first to second if I mash the gas pedal especially on turns and sometimes a hint of a chirp from second to third on my automatic transmission.

[zaboss]

Today the car was shifting normal untill it warms up after 3-5 mins driving, and then the O/D start flashing and the car start moving at a higher gears again. Any suggestions. Thank you.