1985 Camry Transmission issue!

[Kingdom934]

Okay...for all you trans guru out there. I did a bunch of reading in the Gen3/4 and in this gen forums to see if anybody was having something similar to what I just started to see...but it's either their trans slip from the start or have no reverse. I'm having something a bit different...

So a week ago, I notice that when I was driving, when I was hitting around 35mph, i just started to rev. Checked to see if I somehow hit in Netural, but it was in Drive. I was able to reverify my problem yesterday as I was able to reproduce the problem. There are currently no CEL or blinking O/D. Here's the Enviroment...



After driving the car for about 45minutes in rural cruise speeds (25mph~45mph) in no traffic since it was 11pm with some stops and go, I noticed it started to act up. This is what I've come out so far.






If the car is in Drive with O/D ON...

It will shift 1st>2nd w/o issue, but hold 2nd. I keep pressing the gas and it still holds in 2nd going at like 40mph. If I let go of the gas and press the gas again, it'll just rev as if it is in netural.

-If I drop below 25mph, car downshifts back into 2nd and continues.
-If I drop the gear selector into '2' or 'D2', it will shift into 2nd.

Now if I get lucky, sometimes by dropping speed to around 30mph, it'll get into 3th and then OD w/o issue but thats by after doing the above method of getting to 40mph and slowing down.




If the car is in Drive with O/D OFF...

It will shift 1st>2nd w/o issue, but hold 2nd. I keep pressing the gas and it still holds in 2nd going at like 40mph. If I let go of the gas and press the gas again, it felt like it was engainging and disengaging 3rd (It can only go to 3rd since OD is off)

-If I drop below 25mph, car downshifts back into 2nd and continues.
-If I drop the gear selector into '2' or 'D2', it will shift into 2nd.





If the car is in Drive with O/D ON and manage to have the car running 40mph in O/D...

-The transmission will downshift if needs to (say climbing a steep hill) from 4th(O/D) without issue to 3rd>2nd. NORM and PWR seems to be working OK from what I've tested also.






In summary: The problem seems to be the car has issue getting into 3rd and/or 4th gear after the car has been driven a while. My car's Reverse has no problem (from what I tested briefly) I have NOT gone and check today after the problem started happening yesterday while the car was warm if the problem happens at cold also. I did check fluid levels today in the morning and found that it was at the 'hot' level when car was cold. I'll drain and refill the fluid to correct level today. Fluid color is still red, but it is slightly dark. 'L' and '2' works as how they should be. Car will lanch normally and get to 1>2, but it's just that the 3rd and 4th is a bit iffy.



Sorry if this was a long explanation. I just wanted to be clear. If anything, ask me something and I'll clear it up.

Thanks for your reading and advice in advance!

[zythr]

Have you tested the solenoids to see if they're working correctly?

[Doctor J]

Unplug the connector to the transmission and do manual shifting
select L,
begin to move

at 20 mph shift to Second [this will be actually the 3r or D gear];

then at 35 mph shift to D [this will be O/D]

Post the results

[Kingdom934]

Thank you all for posting. I drained and refilled the trans (no full flush). Fluid was actually pretty dark. Took it around for a spin for about 1 0minutes w/o issue. I'll try take it out for an hour drive to see if this happens again after the fluid drain and refill. If it does, I'll proceed with doctor j advice

Originally Posted by zythr

Have you tested the solenoids to see if they're working correctly?

That has crossed my mind. I'll keep that in watch

Originally Posted by Doctor J

Unplug the connector to the transmission and do manual shifting
select L,
begin to move

at 20 mph shift to Second [this will be actually the 3r or D gear];

then at 35 mph shift to D [this will be O/D]

Post the results

I'll get that done. I should be able to test that out maybe later tonight or perhaphs tomorrow.

[Kingdom934]

Soo this is a slight update...

I drove the car for an hour last night trying to get the problem to reoccur. Could not get it to happen. Then today as I drove around town(s) to take picture of the tsunami 'panic' around here, it semi slipped on me (rev'ed up when trying to get into 3th and then engaged) when I was heading home (wth...). Since the roads are hell right about now, I'm going to try this again AFTER this panic and what not

[fredk]

do another fluid change

[Kingdom934]

Originally Posted by fredk

do another fluid change

Planning to do that...ONCE the weather stops raining!

Sorry folks. No real update from the last one. Just keeps on raining each day. Problem is that I don't like driving in the rain since I got rust on the roof (it WILL LEAK) and CV joints exposed (boots long gone). Gotta get new CV axles in along with temp patching the roof. Doesn't help all the four tires are bald and safely due next month.

I'll be doing a fluid change again along with an oil one. I did take the Camry for several short spins without issue, sooo it could just be the fluid (cross fingers!)

[Kingdom934]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

Unplug the connector to the transmission and do manual shifting
select L,
begin to move

at 20 mph shift to Second [this will be actually the 3r or D gear];

then at 35 mph shift to D [this will be O/D]

Post the results

I finally did this.



Transmission started to do the first post.

I unplugged the transmission cable so it was in manual mode.

The transmission was able to select L (1) and 2 (3th) and D (4th) gear without any issue. No issue with it slipping in netural while in any gear.

So I connected my transmission cable and it still was in manual mode. I had to pull out the ECU-IG and ECU-B fuse and insert it back in before it would then automatically shift. I'm assuming it had to be reset.

I noticed now though that it would not at all to shift in 3rd or 4th (in D) now. I'm assuming this could be now an electrical issue since it used to sometimes do that, but after disconnecting and reconnecting the cables, it no longer shifts into those gears. I also was able to diag the transmission more.

If it is in O/D off in (D), it will go to 1 > 2 and I press the gas, it will rev before it shifts back into 2 and accelerates.

If it is O/D on in (D), it will go to 1 > 2 and it will keep reving until drop below 25mph.


Any ideal on what else to look for besides checking the transmission connector?

[Kingdom934]

UPDATE: I just took it to a spin after i let the car sit for about 2 hours. It shifts fine in all gears in automaticc now (unlike previous post).

Sooo I think it's electrical related along with heat as when the car is run for 1+ hour, the heat I think is affecting the wires/cables in the engine bay causing the issue with the shifting. Sounds reasonable?