please help about auto trans.

[te72 Pilot]

i've got a 91 camry four cyl. automatic. Replaced the engine and tranny with a "japanese" engine and tranny. have it all installed, no check engine light and everything seems to be working fine. The only thing that I noticed is that when I shift it into reverse, it seems to shift in really hard and makes a clunk noise and sometimes doesn't even go into reverse at all, sometimes other gears as well. The engine will just rev and the car won't move. Checked the axles and they seem to be in correctly, checked the torque converter bolts, and they are torqued down, but still can't find anything. Please will someone please point me in the right direction. Could it just be the tranny that is bad?? By the way the tranny didn't come with the engine, they came seperated.

[Doctor J]

1)Inspect the shift cable, make sure it is secured to the transmission housing bracket with clip.
2) if it is ok, drop the pan and clean the filter.
What place did you get the tranny from? In some places they are just pulled from wrecked U.S cars and sold to the general public as "japanese". Also if transmission is seating for the long time idle the friction discs are deteriorating.
The best thing is to get a good core , rebuild it to the specs and put it in, but it may cost as mush as the factory rebuild one.

[toyomoho]

Transmission codes are readout by a flashing O/D light. To check for codes turn ignition on and jump the E1 and TE1 terminals in the small Diagnostic box located in the engine compartment passengers side and mounted on the shock tower.

See if the shift lever on the trans (controlled by the shifter cable) is moving in sync with the gear selector in the car. How is the transmissions fluid level? Was this a newer trans with ECU controlled solenoids to shift the gears? Once the trans engages into a gear does it work OK or does it disengage when driving? How does the trans shift when driving?

Keep in mind the trans has various clutches, brakes, valves that control gear engagement. It may be one if these have a problem.

[ModifierMR]

all toyota engines are "japanese". Its the cars themselves that are assembled in the USA

[te72 Pilot]

got the engine and trans from makoto auto in gardena, CA. The transmission shift lever is in sync with the gear indicator in the car, but sometimes the transmission doesn't go into gear. Once it is in gear, it works fine, but sometimes I can move the shift lever into R or D or any of the other gears and nothing. Sometimes it works fine. Tranny fluid is brand new, and the level is good as well as diff fluid. Will check up on the clip and check the screen tomorrow, thanx a lot guys. I'll keep you updated. By the way, camry manuals has saved my life.

[Doctor J]

Many used engine or transmissions businesses are claimed that their units are imported directly from Japan. however they just pulling their stuff locally from the near-by junkyards, steam clean them , spray them with laquer coat and sell out.

[te72 Pilot]

okay, I sent the tranny back and got another one. Installed it and the same problem. Reverse won't work. First time shame on them, second time shame on me. What could cause it not to go into reverse. Tried adjusting the shifter cable and that didn't change anything. Grrrr starting to get really frustrated.

[fredk]

get someone in the car to hold the brakes, take the cable off the trans to the shifter and move the lever from park to reverse and see if it pulls every time

[Doctor J]

If the cable housing correctly attached to the bracket with the clip, the cable bracket is not bent, and you have park and neutral as well as other gears then the second transmission is defective too.

[te72 Pilot]

okay it's weird. Installed the transmission, put it in reverse, drove it 20 ft. Then put it in reverse and the engine just revs. No reverse. All the forward gears are working but not reverse. Neutral safety switch is in correctly because car won't start. Shift cable moves in correspondence with the shift lever. The transmission sounds like it's going into reverse, but still no movement. Could it be the torque converter? Just put new tranny fluid in it, so don't want to buy a new filter and fluid.

Okay, what could cause the reverse gear not to work. Torque converter? Internal? Electrical? Oh, I did the jumping trick with the o/d light and it blinks normal. No codes.

[Doctor J]

The loss of reverse is common complaint about A140E/L transmissions made after 1988.
According to the TSB issued in early 90s, the loss of reverse is caused by defective C0 (overdrive clutch) If this is a problem, it could be fixed by removal of the side cover and changing the overdrive clutch (I never did this repair myself, though)
It just my opinion, that used transmission places are selling junk units which they are pulling locally or these trannies are just seating on the racks for decade or longer.The tsb:ATRATB340 JAN 96 A/T - A140 Slips or No Reverse

[te72 Pilot]

holy moly thanx soooo much. I talked to them and they are saying now that the japanese transmissions use a different tranny fluid than the american types. However that wouldn't caused the trans not to work because all the forward gears are working fine. They are going to give us another transmission. I'll keep you guys updated. The owner or manager said that he would tell us what type of tranny fluid when we give them the old tranny.

[fredk]

he doctorj, hiperlink us the tsb?

[Doctor J]

Well I can give link to www.Alldata.com but you must have subscription to see the electronic version of this TSB. I have paper copy (the print out of it only which is missing the last page.
The transmission fluid have nothing to do with loss of R gear.

[fredk]

i got alldata, ill find it