Auto Trans SHifting Issues...TPS? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TurboATM · 11-28-2011, 10:18 PM

So I finally got my All Trac out of the shops parking lot, and realized...the trans wont shift when its at about 75% throttle or more...as soon as I let off the gas a little, it shifts. Also, its only getting to about 4500 rpm and not going any higher.

I was told by two other people, this happened on their cars, both chevys, and it was the TPS. Ive never heard of that causing tranny issues, but I know nothing of autos.

Does this sound right? And if so,does anyone have one for sale?!

dem2757 · 11-28-2011, 10:38 PM

can you rev the car in neutral past 4500?

the autos slapped in these cars like to die by having the first gear/reverse go first.

does it seem like the transmission is freewheeling like a bad clutch or is it just sticking in gear? it could be tps, throttle cable, fluid level, etc. not hard to troubleshoot these cars once the symptoms are listed

TurboATM · 11-28-2011, 10:51 PM

Its any gear doesnt want to shift up to the next gear while in hard throttle. everything else feels 100% fine, it just get up to about 4400/4600 and holds between....then finally shifts after letting off the gas a little. I did a trans flush, drove it a bit, and another flush after...so it should be pretty good there.

white90dx · 11-29-2011, 11:29 AM

The auto trans is *very* sensitive to fluid levels 1/2 quart up or down can cause pretty serious shifting issues. Make sure you check the fluid levels before going any farther - warm up the engine/transmission (drive 10+ miles), stop the car, shift through each gear P-R-N-D-2-L-2-D-N-R-P waiting a few seconds in each gear. After that, while the car is still running in Park you can check the fluid level. It must be exactly at the hot/full mark.

If that isn't the problem... If you leave the car in L or 2nd gear, you should be able to get the engine up to redline (6k+rpm). If you can't, you'll have to diagnose that next. The shift point is right around 5k rpm at full throttle (5.5k if the 'power' button is pressed)- if the engine never gets there, the trans won't shift.

-Charlie

TurboATM · 11-29-2011, 12:59 PM

Even when the car is in neutral the car won't go above 4500 rpm. Also, I did a tranny flush using dextron 3. Should I have used toyota type t or is dextron 3 acceptable? Is there a way to make sure that my tps is bad or not? I don't want to spend the money to buy a new one if it's not that, even with my discount at work its 106.

Also, I just realized that when at idle and giving a little bit of throttle, it has a slight hiccup. Would this also be a sign of a bad tps?

dem2757 · 11-29-2011, 08:08 PM

thats not good that you cant rev past 4500. im more of a v6 guy but maybe timing is off?

white90dx · 11-30-2011, 12:47 PM

The Alltrac auto trans calls for Toyota Type-T fluid (all other gen2 autos use Dexron). I don't know how different they are, but that won't cause or solve your revving problem. Do any future trans flushing with the correct fluid.

How's the ignition system? TPS won't keep the motor from revving past 4.5k in neutral. I would guess that you need an overhaul of the ignition system... Denso/NGK copper plugs, OEM wires/cap/rotor and possibly coil.

Does the car have decent power during 'normal' driving?

-Charlie

TurboATM · 11-30-2011, 04:59 PM

Yea, ive realized its not a shifting issue, its a 'wont rev correctly' issue.

I have replaced the plugs and wires.

And it has almost no power at all-At 1st i was just thinking it was normal, as my other car is a 13 sec turbo car...but now im realizing its pretty slow. Cruising around isnt so bad, but getting up hills, its pretty much 30-35 mph til the top, lol

white90dx · 11-30-2011, 07:59 PM

Yeah... An auto Alltrac is slow but it still keeps up with normal traffic (steep hills and freeway merging are the only challenges).

So you'll want to check the timing (warm engine, idle, jumper between T and E1 in the diagnostics connector in the engine bay) and make sure its at 10*BTDC. Maybe you should try a compression test while you are at it just to make sure the engine isn't tired.

Let us know what you find.

-Charlie

TurboATM · 11-30-2011, 08:04 PM

Will do...!

Will that cause the issue of not getting above 4500?

I feel like such a lost noob with this car...its my 1st non-DSM, lol. With those, any issue is fixed by "Ditch that, get this, go faster!"

white90dx · 12-01-2011, 02:58 PM

Does it feel like it his a fuel cut or similar at 4500 or does it just kinda stop?

Things I would suspect:
Ignition components (the stuff you haven't changed plus the igniter)
Timing
Timing belt (loose)

-Charlie

TurboATM · 12-01-2011, 04:31 PM

its not fuel cut, its more of a just stops. Its like there is no difference in power in 15% throttle to WOT, other than a little downshift.

Driving home just now, i started in 1st, and got it up to 5500! Then while its in 'Normal" mode, it shifts right at 4500. But in Power mode and having it in D, its the same thing, just stops at 4500.

All i did today was played with my intake, trying to figure out what the hell that box secret door thingy is, lol. I was going to go check my timing, but my girl got off tonight and its "stay at home with her" night, lol

TurboATM · 12-03-2011, 08:10 PM

So i have yet to go check my timing, i havent had a chance to get down to my bud's shop...I came across this thread-88 Camry NO HORSE POWER

I think this is a little of what im getting...today i got on the turn pike...BIG mistake. i topped out about about 45 trying to get up the damn steep grade, lol. It just has zero power it seems...it made my girlfriends Versa feel like i was in my Talon, super responsive and quick.

Also i noticed, when im in the throttle, i hear a sound like a small loose plastic piece spinning-i take it i may be hearing a bad rotor? Im going to replace the distributor and rotor and see what it gives me!

white90dx · 12-05-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboATM

So i have yet to go check my timing, i havent had a chance to get down to my bud's shop...I came across this thread-88 Camry NO HORSE POWER

I think this is a little of what im getting...today i got on the turn pike...BIG mistake. i topped out about about 45 trying to get up the damn steep grade, lol. It just has zero power it seems...it made my girlfriends Versa feel like i was in my Talon, super responsive and quick.

Also i noticed, when im in the throttle, i hear a sound like a small loose plastic piece spinning-i take it i may be hearing a bad rotor? Im going to replace the distributor and rotor and see what it gives me!

Ouch - check that timing immediately! It sounds like what you are describing is pinging - this motor has no knock sensor and will eat itself if the timing is set wrong...

So, list to check:
Timing
Timing Belt (condition and cam/crank phase)
Ignition coil and other ignition components

-Charlie

TurboATM · 12-05-2011, 05:31 PM

I changed the rotor inside the distributor today, it was really bad...the cap and plugs were changed back when it "didnt run" and the guy was trying everything he could, so i didnt change that, they look new.

This did help a good bit in power, but im still limited at 4500! Driving home, I got up to about 30, put it in N, and revved...at 1st it would hit 4500 and stay, then after a sec or 2, it broke out and would go all the way to redline. Back in Drive, it would do 4500...back in N, redline.

I dont have any check engine light, nothing feels bad...I guess i should just stop being lazy and go check timing. If i didnt have to just fork over 180 bucks in getting it registered, 100 for insurance, 100 in brakes and random parts, and another 100 im going to fork over for inspection, id just have the entire timing belt and such redone!