2006 transmission issues

[youaskedforit]

My fiancee just bought a 2006 XLE with the V6 with 66,600 miles on it. Of course, it is past the factory warranty, and she thinks she might have some issues with the transmission. It does have a 30 day power train warranty from the dealer, which ends at the end of this month. Hence the need to determine quickly if there is a problem or not. Since this is the first Toyota either of us have had, we don't know what is "normal" with the Toyota's.

What we notice, is there seems to be something happening with the transmission when cruising at highway speeds....you can feel a subtle, but distinct shift or "bucking". It happens regularly, but at indistinct intervals....meaning you never know when it might happen.

The Toyota mechanic says he thinks it is OK, and that they checked it out and found no codes indicating any problems. But we are not sure if they are just trying to get to the end of the 30 day warranty.

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.

[cocoLatte]

Those transmissions are usually pretty robust...so it might be something else. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[youaskedforit]

What else could it be but the transmission?

[dtownfb]

My guess is it's likely NOT the transmission, meaning the physical part, but likely something with how the computer/engine/throttle response. If there are no codes, it could be just a "characteristic".

You say it happens regularly and you have a couple of weeks until the warranty ends. Try charting when it happens for the next few days so you can better isolate when it happens. Does it happen at certain speeds, climbing a hill, while the car is still cold, etc. Also look at the tachometer when it happens. It could be the car shifting in and out of the final gear.

I own a 1996 Camry (4 cyl.). I do feel the shifts more when the car is warming up which is completely normal. And the car does shift frequently from 4th to 5th and downshift from 5th to 4th at highway speeds with the lovely rolling hills in south central PA. You can "feel" it shifting but noting out of the ordinary.

[Donald E. George]

Is the AT shifting out of converter lock-up because of a changing load on the engine due to terrain? I get that often with our hilly landscape.

[rlb81]

I have a 2006 Camry with the 4 cyl. I loathe the transmission. So much so that I avoid driving the car unless I need to avoid racking up the mileage on our lease.

Here's the scenario that bugs me most: Crusing at a steady speed (whether it be 35 mph on a local road or 75 on the highway). Take your foot off the gas to scrub some speed, maybe 5mph. Then press the gas again, enough to maintain speed (not enough for a downshift). I always feel a distinct "thud" when the transmission reacts, or engages, or does whatever it's doing. It almost seems like a broken mount or something.

I had it checked out immediately after I bought it (bought in 2009 w/ ~36k miles) and the dealer said they found no problems with it. So my "exchange period" was long gone when I went for my first oil change (local mechanic, not the dealer) and they inform me that the trans fluid was black it's supposed to be a deep red). So they flush and give me fresh fluid. The next oil change was the same thing. The 3rd oil change they said it looked ok, and I honestly haven't looked at the fluid since. However I've noticed no change in the "thud".

This might not be what you're experiencing, but it sounds similar. So either we bot have crap transmissions, or they're all crap and not many people seem to notice. I'd take mine back (or better yet never would have bought it) if I could do it all over again.

[LE05]

Originally Posted by youaskedforit

My fiancee just bought a 2006 XLE with the V6 with 66,600 miles on it. Of course, it is past the factory warranty, and she thinks she might have some issues with the transmission. It does have a 30 day power train warranty from the dealer, which ends at the end of this month. Hence the need to determine quickly if there is a problem or not. Since this is the first Toyota either of us have had, we don't know what is "normal" with the Toyota's.

What we notice, is there seems to be something happening with the transmission when cruising at highway speeds....you can feel a subtle, but distinct shift or "bucking". It happens regularly, but at indistinct intervals....meaning you never know when it might happen.

The Toyota mechanic says he thinks it is OK, and that they checked it out and found no codes indicating any problems. But we are not sure if they are just trying to get to the end of the 30 day warranty.

Any help or input would be greatly appreciated.

check the service records... has the transmission fluid been changed at all? you don't know how the previous owner drove the car, and transmission fluid should really be changed at the very least every 60,000 miles. changing the fluid may smooth out the shift or "bucking" feel.

also, i don't know if the V6 has the drive by wire throttle system, but my 2005 I4 does. the drive by wire throttle system learns and adapts to how you drive. since the car was bought used, it's a good idea to reset the ecu and clear the previous owner's driving habits. you can reset the ecu by disconnecting the battery.

[JohnGD]

The 2006 V6 used the Aisin U151E 5-speed transmission. The next year they switched to the 6-speed U660E that had flare problems out of the factory. The U-series could be more reliable. Sometimes the transmissions can't decide which gears to be in during shifts (hunting for gears), other times harsh/delayed shifts and flares.

See if there are applicable programming updates or see if the dealership can perform a transmission relearn procedure. It's just a little "computer time" for them, so there is no material cost (filter/fluid) out of their pocket.

The 06 uses the T-IV dino ATF fluid. I wouldn't do a filter/fluid change within the warranty period but probably more about if she can get into another car before the 30 days period is up (unless you guys are stuck with this car). It's probably a crapshoot with another U-series anyways. IMO the T-IV should be serviced 15-20K miles.