Tranny problems - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Gear Dog · 06-06-2005, 02:22 PM

On saturday I go to help my inlaws move and the tranny started acting up. First when I stopped to pick up coffee and when I pulled out of the spot in reverse I had to gun the engine just to creep out of the spot.
Then after driving it for a little over an hour it sat fir a few hours before hitting the road again. When I get on the highway I'm cruising at like 65-70 and all of a suddon it starts acting like it's downshifting. The problem is I had steady peddle pressure the whole time. It was doing this on and off for like 50 miles then I noticed the temp guage sitting just under the red. I was like 2 minutes from the next exit so I said screw it and kept driving. The downshifting went away and the temp went down again to a safe level. I haven't had a chance to look at it but I did check the trans fluid and it was full.

At this point I'm thinking about just getting another tranny from the junkyard as this one has 172k on it. What are my options as far as possible donors?

By the was it is an auto column shift.

SovereignScorn · 06-06-2005, 02:57 PM

Sounds like possible a computer problem if you have EFI. Somebody had a problem with the thermostat that was causing constant cold starts, could be your overdrive acting up (ever turned overdrive off while youre going 80mph?)

***Bakemono*** · 06-06-2005, 04:44 PM

I think the key factor is that the temp gauge was in the red. The computer that controls the tranny might have wanted it to downshift to reduce the load on the motor.
I would avoid a tranny from a junkyard. Oftentimes they are just that, JUNK.
Cap'n

Gear Dog · 06-06-2005, 09:18 PM

Well it's a carbed engine and the temp was normal when it started acting up.

***Bakemono*** · 06-07-2005, 04:41 PM

I still think it has to do with the engine running hot. You said that when the temp came back down out of the red the erratic downshifting stopped.
Id get the tranny fluid flushed (dont just drop the pan, get it FLUSHED) and see what happens. I would also replace the engine coolant if you havent done it lately.
Cap'n

nofear4189 · 06-07-2005, 04:51 PM

they might not flush a trans with that many miles. What id just do is get a new tranny filter kit at Advance Auto or Autozone or any auto parts place near you should have them. Drop the pan and inspect the fluid for dirt or other debris and put on a new filter and fluid. I say this because my brothers old mazda's trans went and would just barely move. Him and my grandpa dropped the pan and repalced the filter and jsut put in new trans. fluid, and it worked like new. I know that was not the same problems as yours, but its worth a shot. Try the simple first. Id go with a flush as Captain_Toyota said if possible, but ive heard that most places wont do trannies with say over 100k because of liability that it may break a weak part. JMO

-Adam-

Gear Dog · 06-07-2005, 09:04 PM

No the problem was there before the temp went up. It went away the temp went done and the problem came back. checked the fluid and took off to work this morning everything was cool. gassed up and went to pull out the gas station and she wouldn't move. got towed home checked the fluids again all looked good and I even let the truck run for 45 minutes. temp stayed cool and the truck wouldn't move

***Bakemono*** · 06-07-2005, 09:11 PM

Hmmm. Id say it sounds like you need a tranny flush or at the very least just drop the pan, check for debris and if it all looks OK replace the filter, top off the tranny fluid and see what happens.
It kind of sounds like maybe your tranny fluid is REALLY dirty and maybe its plugging up the tranny somewhere.
If all else fails, maybe look into getting your tranny rebuilt. That would probably cost you about $1000. You could look into just finding a good used tranny but to me it sounds like you dont have an ECT tranny. It sounds like its the good ole fashioned, no electronics tranny that works off of hydraulic pressure. One of those might be hard to find and to upgrade to an ECT tranny would be difficult too because it might be hard to find the electronics and to then make them work on your truck.
You might also want to look into converting your truck to a manual tranny.
I dunno dude...wish I could be of more assistance...
Cap'n

Gear Dog · 06-08-2005, 06:53 AM

I'm going to try changing the filter tonight and see where that gets me. I did notice there was a bead of silicone around the pan. Maybe the PO just cleaned the old filter at one point. Either way that will be my first plan of attack. Second would be heading to the pick and pull for a donor tranny. I'm trying to keep this as low buck as possible as this supposed the back up ride when I can't ride my motorcycle. As for converting it to manual If it was a bolt in project I would be all for it.If the pedal assembly was a direct swap I would have no problem cutting into the floorboard.

Gear Dog · 06-09-2005, 06:49 AM

Ok so I dropped the pan and replaced the filter. I got all of a quart of fluid to drain

While doing that I noticed there was a lot of gunk on the pass side so I wiped it clean. I did find a small amount of shavings towards the back of the pan so I wiped everything clean and reassembled. I think I have to drop it again because now the dipstick to won't sit flush, it sticks out about 2 inches from the tube. This morning there was a small puddle under the truck that I couldn't investigate but she is running again.

***Bakemono*** · 06-09-2005, 06:03 PM

You wont get much fluid out if you drop the pan. The vast majority of it is in the galaries and in the torque converter.
Id still look into getting it flushed, thats the only way you are going to get all the old fluid out of it.
After hearing you found gunk and metal shavings in the pan, Im pretty sure that it was at least partially plugged up.
Cap'n