91 Camry has AT shifting problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

alkon · 09-15-2007, 03:57 PM

I drive a 91 Camry LE with auto trans and it has its original trans. In the past two weeks I have problems with shifting. When I shift to Reverse (R), I can only go into reverse by moving the shifter to Neutral (N) and then back up to R. To go into Drive (D), I have to shift to 2 where it will drive as if it is in D. From the 2 position, I can put it into D and it will also drive as if it were in D. I cannot get into 2 or L. In the R and D positions it drives normally. I tried adjusting the shifting linkage at the shift lever on the trans as described in the shop manual. This did not seem to improve the situation. Also, I double checked my trans fluid and it appears clean and properly colored. I would appreciate suggestions on what it could be. Thanks.

Doctor J · 09-15-2007, 04:42 PM

When I was fixing similar condition on 84 toyota cressida, it turned out that the square on the selector shaft that comes out of transmission was rounded off.Therefore, the lever was moving about 30 degrees back and forth on the shaft without rotating the shaft.
Remove the lever and ispect hole in the lever/square on the shaft.

alkon · 09-16-2007, 10:40 AM

It was mentioned that the problem with my shifting problem with my Camry may be as follows: "on the square on the selector shaft that comes out of transmission was rounded off.Therefore, the lever was moving about 30 degrees back and forth on the shaft without rotating the shaft".
Do I need to take the plastic shrouding off from the stick or do I need to access it from underneath??

Also, one more question..... I was trying to pull codes from the computer by going to the diagnostic receptacle from the engine compartment. After shorting out terminals Tt and E1, I understood that the "OD off" message should flash on and off, even if there is no code. I did not have this flashing message at all. I read how to do this procedure from the shop manual. Any reason why this didn't work. By the way, my car is a 91 Camry LE with 6 cylinder engine.

Doctor J · 09-17-2007, 12:26 PM

This shaft is coming out of the transmission.
It goes into the buttom hole of the short lever.The cable that you adjusted is going to the upper slot of this lever.
The shift lever on the console is on the other end.If it shakes from side to side and gear indicator is not lining up correctly then the problem is with the shifter.

mk2-1jz · 09-17-2007, 03:44 PM

Check the fuse for the Tranny Control unit, its under the dash. If this fuse blows for whatever reason your transmission can't exchange data with the ECU, so it doesnt know what to do. Its a blue 15 amp fuse located in the fuse box behind the drivers side kick panel. Its worth a shot. The location is marked like ciecu or something odd like that. I figured this out when i blew a fuse for my radio, i looked quick and thought i pulled the cigarette lighter fuse to replace the blown radio one for a quick fix, i took out the tranny fuse by mistake and that was rougly what my car was doing... good luck

Jamie

Doctor J · 09-17-2007, 06:59 PM

Even with unplugged solenoids and speed sensors, there still will not be a problem with gear selection.The reverse will work as normal ,but with selector on D the car will move forward in overdrive, low and second will work as usual either, and lock-up will not work.

mk2-1jz · 09-18-2007, 01:34 PM

we'll my car must be special then. when it happened to me the car was taking off in 3rd overdrive, reverse was fine, but i had to put the car into first which then made it take off in second, then shifted it up from there. the engine was bogged down and had a hard time picking up momentum becasue of the gear it was in. The overdrive button also didnt work, when i put the fuse back everything was fine.

alkon · 09-20-2007, 05:06 PM

Continuing with my saga to cure my tranny of its problems with shifting, I have tried the following or have questions regarding prior posts:

1. For "88CamryCrazy". I tested the fuses as you suggested and all of mine were sound.

2. For "Doctor J". I pulled the shifter cowling to take a look at the way the shifter is attached to its linkage. I thought that the point at which the shifter might be worn would be located in this area. However, from your last post:

"This shaft is coming out of the transmission.
It goes into the bottom hole of the short lever.The cable that you adjusted is going to the upper slot of this lever. The shift lever on the console is on the other end.If it shakes from side to side and gear indicator is not lining up correctly then the problem is with the shifter."

I get the impression that the "short lever" that you described in on the engine side of the firewall. Am I right? If so, is it closer to the firewall itself or the radiator? Also, when you refer to the shifter on the console, you mentioned that if the shifter shakes for side to side the gear indicator is not lining up correctly. When you say "side to side", do you mean laterally or in the direction of the shifting?

Lastly, should I try removing the electrical connection at the trans, underneath the battery and put it in manual mode. I have read that this will eliminate the possibility of an electrical problem.

Thanks, Al

Doctor J · 09-21-2007, 09:21 AM

The short lever is in front of the neutral safety switch on the transmission itself.The shifter cable is attaching to it.It is on the tranny side facing the radiator.

Fig. 2: Exploded view of the switch mounting

The picture is from www.Autozone.com
The lever is the third part from the left; the slotted shaft is coming out of transmission

alkon · 09-22-2007, 04:38 PM

Doctor J... Thanks for sending along the diagram of the trans and the location of the lever. It helped a lot. I checked it out this morning and it appears ok. However, I think I did find the source of the problem. Upstream of where the cable attaches to the shifter lever, the cable housing goes through a space where it appears it should be secured. In other words, without the cable housing secured, the cable itself has too much play at the selector. It appears as though it just needs a clip of some sort to secure the housing to the location on the trans. Do you know where I can get a diagram of this?? It is just 5 or 6 inches from where the cable attaches to the selector, and just ahead of the rubber boot on the cable. I tried looking at the AutoZone site where you found your diagram, however, I didn't have any luck. I also have a Camry shop manual for my year car, but it also does not have this diagram.

Doctor J · 09-23-2007, 01:00 PM

Yes, right there is a clip similar to this that secures the door lock cylinder to the door skin.
On the on-line manual, section automatic transaxle,page AT-54 you could find the image of this clip next to the control cable.

alkon · 09-24-2007, 09:34 AM

Doctor J, In your last reply, you referred to the online manual so that I can locate the clip that secures the cable to the trans. Is this located on the AutoZone site. If so, I couldn't find it. I would appreciate a URL of the site so that I can find it. Thanks.

Al

Mike Gerber · 09-24-2007, 02:36 PM

Here's the link:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t132391.html

Incidently, your 1991 is the last year of the generation 2 Camry.

Mike

alkon · 09-24-2007, 03:36 PM

Thanks for the referral to the website that has all those great camry manuals. What a great resource! Also, thanks for clearing me up on my Camry.... I now know that it is a Gen 2 and not a Gen 1. I will be ordering the cable clip that I need that I assume will resolve my trans problems. Thanks all for the help you have given me!

alkon · 09-28-2007, 04:56 PM

I just wanted to mention that I got the $1.84 clip from my local Toyota dealer yesterday and installed it. And walla! The trans problem was resolved! The only mystery in this whole thing is how the old clip fell out in the first place. It is the type of part that is fit into its home pretty securely and doesn't seem to be easily dislodged.

Thanks for all of the help all of you provided.

Al