88 Camry automatic 4cy loses acceleration in 3rd gear

[1988camwagon]

88 camry wagon
4 cylinder
automatic

alternator died
had it replaced

When I went to drive it home this is what happened...

on takeoff from stop, accelerates normal
shifts to next gear, normal
accelerates normal
shifts to next gear...

now I have little/no response. No matter how much gas I attempt to give the RPMs stay flat and the car barely accelerates. after a slow painful crawl

shifts to next gear, normal
accelerates normal


At first(right after alternator change), this happened 50 percent of the time. But after 15ish miles of driving total, it happens 90+ percent of the time.

My shop couldn't figure out the issue, the transmission specialist says it isn't giving any codes or any that are useful.


Any ideas?

[Doctor J]

If your tranny is computer controlled (A140e) unplug the solenoid harness and go with manual shiftinglow > second> drive ( shift @15 to second and @25 to D) and see if the issue happens when car is at SECOND. If not, shift from low to second @20 mph and accelerate to 40 mph (without shifting to D).Post your findings here.

[1988camwagon]

Dear Doctor J

Great, I'll be glad to do it and report back.

Please note, I am a complete car lightweight, so I will need instructions on unplugging the solenoid harness.

I'll ask the google pigeons to see if they can point me in the right place. And/or if you can point me to instructions, I'd be ever so grateful.

Would hate to give up my ole' girl, so I better learn fast.

[Doctor J]

The transmission harness connector for A140e transmission is located on the side close to the radiator and looks like this(see the link).Ignore the black cable going out - it is for a/t tester I madeWhen you will disconnect it the transmission will not be controlled by the transmission computer, but by manual shift valve (selector lever) instead. In that mode low is equal to 1st, second is equal to 3rd gear, and D is equal to 4th. The second gear is not available in manual mode.http://www.toyotanation.com/photos/data/504/Figure2.jpg.

[1988camwagon]

Thank you for the info and pict!

I will hope to be able to test this tonight!

[1988camwagon]

Originally Posted by 1988camwagon

Thank you for the info and pict!

I will hope to be able to test this tonight!

Ahhh, hope springs eternal. I was going to test this last night and she won't start. Sigh.

So, when I get back from Labor Day travels, I'll see to the lack of power and the transmission testing.

Thanks again, have a GREAT Labor Day weekend.

[Doctor J]

Hopefully it will be an electrical issue