Ok..bad Auto trans issues now!!

[JetspeedCamry]

Help!!
My auto trans (A540E) has weird issues! While driving (doesnt matter if O/D is on or off) it'll appear to go just drop out of gear and into neutral. However, it's not, because, while im coasting (thru a friggn tunnel with no service lane!!!) i'd push the accell pedal down and the revs come up to about 5-6 and it would feel, although very slightly, that it starts to pull, very jerk tho, as the revs still climb and i have to back off (at 7.5k rpm ) Anyways, the only thing i could do is keep doing this to get thru the tunnel and then pull over. Pull over, stopped the motor..waited about 1 minute, then started again..all is fine. Has happened a few times now. Also, when it happens, shifting the lever to 2nd or 1st or even N (i didnt try R or P!!) doesnt do anything. And also, the little display on the dash showing the selected gear goes all funny. Like really dim. It shows R (very dimmly) when in N and 1 2 D you can hardly see. When i pull over, i put it into P, and the P light was dim. When i started the car again..all was fine with the display! What the hell could be wrong!!!??

Thanks.

[Toysrme]

Shift linkage/wiring is falling out/grounding. I would doubt the tranny itself decided to go explode on you.


I'm asuming you put the ECU into diagnostic mode to check the ECT computer. and the O/D light flashes steady as it should.

[JetspeedCamry]

No. It flashes anytime when the O/D is on.
It is a very annoying problem, becuause it requires me to pull over and stop/start the car.
How can I fix it? What could be the problem? The O/D light shouldnt flash..so it tells me..theres a problem.

[amerikim]

Autotrans are a bitch to work on. Expensive.
Bring it in and have it diagnosed.
Sound like the issue could be blocked oil pump in tran, you have to drop the pan to get to it. Replace the filter (or clean he screen if you don't have filter) if you would like to try this. What the condition of your oil?

Accelerate your manual conversion..To get a rebuilt tran in, about $1600.

[JetspeedCamry]

Thanks, yeah thats what i was thinking..getting this conversion going.
Ill take it to a auto trans specialist. Get him to tell me whats goin on. If its a simple filter, fluid or electrical issue, i'll get him to fix it. Otherwise, ill just leave it, and pray it doesnt slip at a cruicial moment or thru a tunnel where i have to hobble along at 25mph, waiting for the exit!!!

[Toysrme]

No. It flashes anytime when the O/D is on.

Then you still have the problem you told us about weeks ago.

[userlain]

Are you sure your torque converter is filled with fluid?

Check your tranny fluid level

[JetspeedCamry]

Originally Posted by Toysrme

Then you still have the problem you told us about weeks ago.

Thats right. Except now it's slipping and it's getting more often. Its not just flashing anymore.

Ill check the tranny level today sometime. When the engine is off, it's really really high, like 5 times higher than the top marker, like i posted a while back. Ill check it with the engine running and see what happens.
1) Start car and let warm up
2) Drive for 10 minutes
3) Stop on level surface
4) Run thru gears and end in Park
5) Check fluid level with engine still running

Is this the correct procedure?

[Toysrme]

Check it dead cold tomorrow morning. Then check it again whever you get where you're going.

[JetspeedCamry]

Ok. Ill prob to it this arvo. I havnt started the car since yesterday arvo..so should be "cold" by now!! Then ill go for a short drive and check it as per that list i did above.
Ill let ya know how is goes!

[amerikim]

I do not use cold readings anymore cause I installed a tran cooler. I want the heated stuff, as in when its in operation. It's not good if you are experiencing problems still but your warning quit blinking. I bet money your tranny is shredding, if you did full fluid change, it will turn filthy in days. To repair that would cost more than if you did a tran swap. I do no think its electrical, but thats my HMO.

Balls in your court..

[JetspeedCamry]

Ok. Checked it all just before, both engine and transmission.

Transmission:
Cold - Started the car, in Park. Fluid is about a centimeter higher than the hot marker.
Hot - After driving for 10-15mins, parked back into garage, car in Park, flat surface, fluid is about 2 centimeters higher than the hot marker.
Fluid wasn't obviously red either. On the stick, it looked yellowish to clear. When i put it on my finger, you could see it had a very light red color.

Engine:
Checked the timing. Was at 14 degrees, becuase i set it to that!!
Checked the CEL codes. Found 2!!!
Code 24 - Intake Air Temp Sensor signal
* Intake Air Temp Sensor Circuit
* Intake Air Temp Sensor
* ECU
Code 31 - Air Flow Meter Signal
* Air Flow Meter Circuit
* Air Flow Meter
* ECU


I need some help on thse problems!! Like these error codes...how do i identify where the problem is. I know is gives areas to look at, but its a bit broad. What to a check/test?
Also, where is the Intake Air Temp Sensor on my 2VZ?? I didn't know it had one! On other cars, ive always seen it as a plug that goes into the airbox. I dont have that though!

And the transmission..how does that diagnosis sound? Looks to be a bit overfilled to me.

Thanks everyone.

[JetspeedCamry]

Anyone? I need detailed description on how i can overcome these probs!!!

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by JetspeedCamry

Also, where is the Intake Air Temp Sensor on my 2VZ?? I didn't know it had one! On other cars, ive always seen it as a plug that goes into the airbox. I dont have that though!

The IAT (intake air temp) sensor is within the AFM.

There is a way to test the AFM, but I don't have the specs or troubleshooting info for a 2VZ-FE.

[JetspeedCamry]

Ok. Thanks 88LE.

New revelation with my auto problem. (I think i make a new thread for my engine error codes!!)
I was in the garage, just coasting back and forth thru R and D. (reverse up..drive in...etc etc.)
I can tell when the problem occurs because the display which tells me which gear im in dims and goes all weird (the illumination turns off and it reports some funny gears, like when in N, its dimly lights R etc).
Anways, this is at night time so i had my lights on while doing this. As sure enough it had the problem. I turned my lights off just after I put it into D and..bang..it just pops in and all is normal again! I checked the consistancy of this occurance..and sure enough everytime I had my lights on, the problem occured and when i switched them off..all is good. Wierd as!!!
I don't think its purely the lights causing a malfunction, because once or twice it's done it without them on. But most of the time, its been when there on (like that tunnel).

Any suggestions on what could be causing such and odd problem?

Thanks.