1986 Camry Auto Transmission Problem - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ehauptma · 01-16-2010, 07:06 PM

I just got a 1986 Camry with 160K. Car was not running when I got it due to a seized water pump, which I replaced, along with the timing belt and all the other components in there. Car runs great now, but I don't seem to have a 1st gear. When in "L" the car revs up but does not engage. When in "D" it goes, but real slow at first, meaning, it seems, that 1st and possibly 2nd gear are not engaging at all. I was about a 1/2 quart low on ATF which I filled up and it didn't make a difference. I drained the ATF completely and refilled - still no difference. Fluid looked fine coming out and there were no metal pieces or other junk. Car was apparently running fine before the timing belt snapped due to the seized water pump, so I'm a bit baffled that the automatic transmission is pretty much dead. Where should I start? Thanks...my first post btw!!!

Doctor J · 01-16-2010, 09:50 PM

how does it run in reverse?

ehauptma · 01-16-2010, 09:57 PM

Reverse seems good, but the only part of reverse I have tested so far is backing down my 30 degree slope driveway. After driving around a bit a realizing it wasn't shifting, I went to a high school parking lot, put it in "L" and the car revs up fine but doesn't go anywhere. It does go when in "2". Hope that helps...thanks for the fast response.

ehauptma · 01-17-2010, 11:58 AM

Update: I went for a road test today and the reverse gear is also a big problem. Car needs to rev up to about 2000 RPMs before moving in reverse and once it starts moving it bucks. When in "L" the car does move, but it acts a lot like reverse and with and added whining noise. When in D or 2 it never seems to get into 1st gear at all. The OD does work fine though, and it goes on/off when I hit the o/d button on the shifter. Not sure what the PWR button does, but the light goes on/off as it is supposed to (I assume it makes the shifts in all gears occur earlier).

Doctor J · 01-17-2010, 12:04 PM

You may need to try the revese backing UP the drive way; if upon accelerating the engine speeds up but the car is not going up it may indicate slipping 1st and reverse brake (pressure loss due to hardened rubber seal)

ehauptma · 01-17-2010, 12:36 PM

Yeah, this is what I'm starting to think. How hard is this to fix or should I just go for a used transmission?

Doctor J · 01-17-2010, 08:40 PM

In the past the issue like that on A40 tranny (79 Corona, 145 kmi) have been fixed by adding 1/2 pint of TansX transmission treatment. It made the seal to swell up which helped; the tranny had been in use after that for 35k miles then the car was retired.

ehauptma · 01-17-2010, 10:11 PM

OK, I'll try that. I did put some Lucas ATF conditioner in there today and no change (wow, that stuff is super thick). I'll pick up the Trans-X tomorrow and let you know what happens...not expecting any miracle, but for $6 I guess it is worth a try. Thanks for your continued suggestions.