Check your fluid. Proabably low. Bottom line, don't keep driving it like that. The shuddering is the clutch packs slipping, causing heat, which is the #1 killers of auto trans. Whens the last time you serviced the trans?

 

Took it in to a tranny guy with a good reputation, the sound was heard and felt as he drove it and he said it's the torque converter and thinks a fluid change may fix it. Bringing it in tomorrow. Fluids were fine and clean but hadn't been changed in the past (my fault). I could ind nothing in the manual for fluid change except for towing or heavy off road use so like an idiot, I figured I didn't need to. I'll post my results. Thanks.

 

Your not an idiot, its how the manual describes it. Its a "lifetime" fluid unless you meet those towing/offroad guidlines then its 60k intervals.......of course that's their say. Time will tell how it works out for everyone who doesn't change fluid.

 

Sounds like torque converter shudder. I seem to recall Toyota uses "flex lockup", where the converter lockup clutch can be partially engaged (controlled slip).

I agree the cheap and easy to thing to try is a 4 gt drain and fill. The shudder may disappear.

 

So after the tranny guy gave me the diagnosis, I was heading home ( appointment made to drain and flush) the engine light came on as well as the stability light ( squiggly skid marks ). This gave a code P2714 Pressure solonoid D. I brought it in for the fluid change and they read the code again and after checking fo service bulletins, they found one that indicated the engine speed sensor in the tranny was a known issue that had to be addressed. I think this is all related to the dirty fluids and I'm hoping it will all be resolved so I can't get back on the road. I will post the outcome after I drive it for awhile. Speed sensor replacement is $750.

 

$750...really?? That's more than I would have thought. Its super easy to get to and replace. Its a single bolt that holds it to the top of the transaxle. You only have to remove the battery and possibly the airbox, those are fast easy jobs.

 

To get at this one, they had to drop the transmission pan apparently.

 

Huh, didn't think there was anything down there beyond the valve body and shift solenoids (what actually threw that code). Interesting