shift solenoid / code p0770

[jmtottleben]

hey everybody,

i rock a 98 camry LE with 237k miles and she is a sweet one. the check engine light came on 3 days ago, so i went to a dealer to have my codes read...found out i've got a p0770 for shift solenoid. also, dealer says you can't replace a shift solenoid (?).

the dealer seems legit, but he's telling me to throw 2 grand at a tranny replacement, and im not sure it's a good investment for a car that's traveled the distance to the moon (!!) kelly blue book is 3 grand (private party value)

i would love any advice at all - should i listen to the dealer and replace it? is he feeding me some bull? should i try to find someone who will do a solenoid replacement? or start with a flush and fill? the car runs like a champ in every aspect, and the tranny i've got only has 80k miles (supposedly).

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hurl]

I had a solenoid code on my '98 camry at 180,000 miles.(A541E Tranny) It was P1765 Linear Shift Solenoid Circuit Fault
(Found it referred to as the SLN solenoid)

Mine ended up being the ECM not the solenoid. On my way to learning that I did change the Solenoid with a used one. Had to drop the valve body to get the SLN solenoid out. If I remember correctly the one you'll need to replace is on top of the valve body so it will need to come out.. It's not tough, just get your hands on a factory manual. I did mine in my driveway. unfortunately all for nothing since it ended up being the ECM.

here's some info..







Locations in Valve body

[hurl]

The manual is on e-bay now

Just double check that you have the a541e tranny

[jmtottleben]

dude,

thanks for your awesome and helpful reply. here's my problem, though - i'm not so hot with the technical skills. im probably not qualified to attempt an operation like the one you did. do you think i should take it to a different mechanic and see if they will fix the solenoid for me?

[kenwoodrunner]

any trans shop should be willing to solve this problem for you WITHOUT a rebuild.

[hurl]

Originally Posted by kenwoodrunner

any trans shop should be willing to solve this problem for you WITHOUT a rebuild.

I agree with that. At least you now know more going into the place.

[metroschultz]

I voted for the flush and fill.
Only because that is what I am going to do tomorrow.
I am an ASE cert. and have the same problem with my Avalon.
I'm going to;
Put cleaner in the fluid, (I use the BG stuff)
Drive like H--- for around 5 miles highway and 5 city,
drop the pan,
Test the solenoids,
If they test good -
Replace the pan and flush system.
If that doesn't work (and it may not, from what I've been reading)
More testing and reair next Sunday.

[metroschultz]

Well,
That didn't work. Wife told me light came back on last night picking up the grandson.
Guess I'm buying rebuild parts and building a trans soon.
I may start with replacing the solenoid anyway.
Maybe all of them just for CYA reasons.

[CAMRYTUNER20]

I work at a dealership and ive seen so many of these it's not funny. what happens is metal flakes from the transmission become loose and clogg up the soleniods causing this code. The dealer that you took it to did the right thing by recommending a tranny. You can replace the solenoid but there are still gonna be flakes in the tranny that could just mess it up again. My best advise is to FLUSH the tranny fluid and pray that the code doesnt come back.

[metroschultz]

I did flush the trans fluid. ($105.00 worth of new synthetic fluid and a BG flush kit)
also pulled the pan and tested the solenoids.
All checked good.
I have a contact at Greenbriar Toyota who says their first recommendation is to change the solenoid and flush.
Apparently this is fairly common and the solenoid can act up when it darn well feels like it.
He says they will hook up the test equipment and go for a drive. Force the solenoids to shifty and eventually you will find one that works intermittently.
So I am going to pop for a new solenoid and replace it. If there is still crud in the pan (it was reasonably clean last weekend) I will flush again.
I am a little hesitant about re-using the BG solvent twice in one month though. So maybe when I flush again I will just use clean fluid and see what happens.

[c32used]

Originally Posted by CAMRYTUNER20

I work at a dealership and ive seen so many of these it's not funny. what happens is metal flakes from the transmission become loose and clogg up the soleniods causing this code. The dealer that you took it to did the right thing by recommending a tranny. You can replace the solenoid but there are still gonna be flakes in the tranny that could just mess it up again. My best advise is to FLUSH the tranny fluid and pray that the code doesnt come back.

Question I replaced yesterday the EGR for code p0401 and waited til today to use a code reader to erase codes but before so I saw I had 2 warnings instead one being the one I wrote already and now p0770...my Camry is a 96 with over 225k on body and tranny....I acquired it after former owner replaced it with a used engine from Japan having about 60 or 80k on it. My Camry is my cheap daily driver during the week I use another car in the Spring/Summer/Fall on the weekends. It's time for Emissions before I buy new plate sticker..I wish to know if warning p0770 will make me fail emissions incase my EGR replacement fixes the p0401. I don't want to concentrate on p0770 if it doesn't effect emissions at all.

P.S car works and runs fabulous

[Pvt-Public]

I don't know about IL, but in VA just the CEL being lit, or the computer saying it should be is a FAIL. No questions, no recourse, and they charge you for the inspection they didn't do.