94 Camry Transmission Question

[primo382]

My sister is the proud owner of a 1994 Camry LE 2.2L Auto. Yesterday she was driving home from school and the transmission began slipping while running errands (she says it actually only slipped once to where she thought she bumped it out of gear but when she let off the gas and pressed it again the car drove normal). She parked it at a store and when she came back out the tranmission quit working altogether i.e. would not engage in any gear R - 1 - 2 - D (overdrive on/off). Fluid level is perfect and the oil doesn't appear abnormal.

I know that if a transmission slips you can at least get it creep along slightly if you get the RPM's up pretty good but this car did nothing when I revved.

What electrical components should I diagnose (and how) before I swap trannies?

Thank you in advance for your help!

[Camry LE 94]

Originally Posted by primo382

My sister is the proud owner of a 1994 Camry LE 2.2L Auto. Yesterday she was driving home from school and the transmission began slipping while running errands. She parked it at a store and when she came back out the tranmission quit working altogether i.e. would not engage in any gear R - 1 - 2 - D (overdrive on/off). Fluid level is perfect and the oil doesn't appear abnormal.

im just going out on a limb here... but I believe her overdrive went on the transmission. however like I said, im just going out on a limb because I don't know what type of driving she does, or what type of driving the previous owner did. I just know my overdrive went a year ago and it wouldn't engage in any gear. I let the car sit until the fluid cooled down slightly and it was able to engage in gears until the fluid got back to its maximum operating temperature. needless to say I got about another quarter mile down the road and it bogged out again.

[frenum49]

Generally speaking, if the fluid level is up and your transmission clutch packs slip when in gear you need to rebuild or replace the transmission. Check all connectors going into the transmission are fully seated and are not corroded. There are instances when a torque converter lock-up solenoid can fail causing similar problems. If you wish to check this solenoid and the other shift solenoids you can ohm them out using a digital ohm meter. You should be able to find shift solenoid ohm numbers and connector pin-outs somewhere on the net. Another thing to check is that the shift linkages are intact. Have someone move the shifter in and out of gear while you watch the linkage arm on the transmission for movement. You can also drop the transmission pan and make sure the internal linkages are intact and functioning. I found this problem only once on an old Chevy pick-up where a nut came off an internal linkage arm. Still it sounds to me like the trans needs replacing.

[primo382]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm going to check the connections and test the converter lock-up switch. The car was sitting for about 7 hours by the time it was towed to my house so it was ice cold and still no response from the tranny.

frenum good call on the linkages, i'll make sure to check that as well. I also have had an internal nut come loose on my 79 F-250 tranny that I rebuilt when I was a kid. Modified 7/8" wrench and I was back on the road again!

I really feel like the issue is electrical since it gave no indication prior to the 1 slip and then completely quit. Does a Haynes manual give a test procedure for the torque converter lock-up switch?

[frenum49]

Originally Posted by primo382

Thanks for the replies!

I'm going to check the connections and test the converter lock-up switch. The car was sitting for about 7 hours by the time it was towed to my house so it was ice cold and still no response from the tranny.

frenum good call on the linkages, i'll make sure to check that as well. I also have had an internal nut come loose on my 79 F-250 tranny that I rebuilt when I was a kid. Modified 7/8" wrench and I was back on the road again!

I really feel like the issue is electrical since it gave no indication prior to the 1 slip and then completely quit. Does a Haynes manual give a test procedure for the torque converter lock-up switch?

Probably. Can always flip through before you buy.