01 Tundra Transmission Problems

100ssp · #1 (**permalink**) 01-25-2008, 10:32 PM

Bought my 6cyl auto 2wd Tundra new in May of 2001 and that fall started to experience shifting problems. On cold morning start ups I needed to drive about 1 mile before it would shift into 3rd gear. I returned to Toyota on at least two occasions and was told there was no problem. I eventualy began to tolerate this condition because once it warmed up the transmission shifted flawlessly. My Tundra has 130,000 mostly highway miles on it and the intial problem still persists.
A few months ago new shifting problems developed when the transmission would pound into 3rd or 4th gear. Soon after the check engine light came on and a shifting solenoid problem was detected.
The truck was brought to a reputable local Transmission Shop to do the repair ($400.00) but when they droped the pan they found shavings and small chips on the magnets. Now I was looking at a rebuild, ballpark $2000.00 and the three day job included replacement of worn or damaged gears with Toyota parts, new solinoids and a 1yr warranty.
I'm looking for info from anyone thats been down this path. Thanks

kathyricks · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 06:58 PM

Do you have your gear ranges mixed up? The tranny is designed not shift into 4th until you've driven a mile or so, but it will shift into 3rd even stone cold. So the Toyota dealer is right if he said it's normal for the transmission to stay in 3rd when cold.

What preventive maintenance did you perform (e.g. fluid changes) on the transmission over the past 6 years? Did you check the fluid level occassionally or did you let a shop judge the correct fluid level?

If the transmission wasn't slipping, why did you allow a shop to rebuild it? It's normal for the magnets to have some buildup of "shavings and small chips" after 130,000 miles. And it's normal for the solenoids to need replacing at around 130K if the fluid was not changed regularly. And it's normal for malfunctioning solenoids to cause harsh shifts.

100ssp · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:24 PM

kathyricks
No it would not shift into third.
And all maintenance was performed by a locacal Toyota Dealer, not always on the manufactures requested time frame but soon after. As for the transmission fluid changes I was told or led to believe by a service rep that it did not need to be done.
The Transmission Shop told me I needed a rebuild but I have not gone ahead yet. So far they have changed the oil and cleaned the magnets and its running better. But your last sentence tells me a replacement of the solenoids is in order. Thanks for the reply

kathyricks · #4 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 11:35 PM

It's an electronically shifted transmission and 2 or 3 solenoids control the shifting. So the pounding into 3rd and 4th gear should dissappear when the solenoids are replaced assuming nothing else inside the transmission is seriously worn or damaged. A good and inexpensive preventive maintenance strategy is to just drain and refill the 2-3 quarts of Dexron fluid in the transmission oil pan every 15,000 miles. The pan has a drain plug for this purpose.

longwoodklon · #5 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 12:26 AM

Dude,
Search around here. Lots of folks with '00/'01 Tundras that have had the OD planetary gear grenade their tranny. AFAIK, it's a known issue and my understanding is '02 and later trannies had an improved planetary gear to prevent this damage. So it depends on how many shavings, how big, etc. to determine if it may be normal wear or not.
Do a search. Everyone I've heard have gotten new trannies, no one gets them rebuilt. A search will lead you to some company names you might want to check out to get a slightly used tranny for way less than a new one from th dealer.
Good luck. /Mike

Sigr6 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 01:01 AM

I was under the impression that the transmission was not changed until '03 to address the OD gear. Is it true that '02 had an improved OD gear?

kathyricks · #7 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longwoodklon

Lots of folks with '00/'01 Tundras that have had the OD planetary gear grenade their tranny.

And some '00/'01 Tundra owners have gotten 200,000+ miles and counting on their transmissions.

kathyricks · #8 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longwoodklon

Lots of folks with '00/'01 Tundras that have had the OD planetary gear grenade their tranny.

And some '00/'01 Tundra owners have gotten 200,000+ miles and counting on their transmissions.

LGL002 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 08:14 AM

Obviously Toyota had issues with the 00 to 03 transmissions or they wouldn't have spent development time or money to upgrade the parts that impacted the premature failure of some of the planetary gear sets. While the overall failure count may not be excessive it's still one of the first items to be considered when shifting issues arise.

Larry

ddvk · #10 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathyricks

And some '00/'01 Tundra owners have gotten 200,000+ miles and counting on their transmissions.

I want you to stop this cock and bull nonsense on number of miles put on Toyota engines.

Who gives a damn about putting 200K, this person could very well be putting 75K miles a yr living out of his vehicle (I was on another forum where a gentleman in LA put 60K miles in a yr on his highlander). So driving on a highway at constant speed will not exercise most of the problems.

If you want to match a reference point match it with Crown Victoria that are used in NY city as cabs. That should tell you if the vehicle can put in thousands of miles (FYI, these Victoria's driven as cabs are toast once they hit 200K)....

ddvk · #11 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LGL002

Obviously Toyota had issues with the 00 to 03 transmissions or they wouldn't have spent development time or money to upgrade the parts that impacted the premature failure of some of the planetary gear sets. While the overall failure count may not be excessive it's still one of the first items to be considered when shifting issues arise.

Larry

I am still scared looking at the new Toyota Tundra's differential -- they are tiny for the lbs it can tow. Lets see in another 3 yrs we will start to hear how that comes out... And definelty with KR's recommendation for pure dino syrup, these tiny differentials are going to pop failing like popcorns..

Nissan Titans went thro this problem, lets wait and watch how the ring gears hold up!!!

longwoodklon · #12 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathyricks

And some '00/'01 Tundra owners have gotten 200,000+ miles and counting on their transmissions.

Well, this guy came here and posted with tranny problems. So someone else getting 200k on their tranny is a moot point to him, isn't it?

I am simply letting him know that he should look out for this KNOWN problem in early model Tundras, since it seems he might be experiencing this problem.

Do a search, not everyone is lucky enough to get 100k, 200k, 500k out of their tranny.
/Mike

Sigr6 · #13 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 11:23 AM

so if the tranny in my truck dies I can put an 03 or 04 in with no problems?

could I drop in a 5 speed '05 or '06?

kathyricks · #14 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longwoodklon

Well, this guy came here and posted with tranny problems. So someone else getting 200k on their tranny is a moot point to him, isn't it?

It shows the '00/'01 transmissions are capable of lasting beyond 200K miles if the owner drives and / or maintains it right.

In the case at hand, is the "pounding into 3rd & 4th gear" a symptom of a failing planetary gear set or a symptom of a faulty electronic shift solenoid? It would be a costly mistake to condemn the transmission when it might be capable of delivering another 100K miles if the shift solenoids were replaced.