Transmission doesn't feel right? (help!)

[copperhead]

First off, I have a 2001 Tundra 4x4 V8 automatic. I made a 10 hour journey yesterday through the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee, and a little ways before the Georgia border my tranny started to feel as if it may have been slipping a bit.

No worries, I let it sit overnight, and go to my training session for work this morning, barely awake as always, so I wasn't really paying attention to how the truck was running. This afternoon on my way back to the hotel, I was driving along a road that had gradual up and down hills, doing between 40 mph and 60 mph. At times, the tach would drop below 1k then kick right back up, and it just didn't feel right so I turned off overdrive. The rest of the way back, it still felt like it was going in and out of lockup, and not being at all responsive to throttle until it had a few seconds to kick out of lockup.

I just bought this truck a month ago, so I know nothing of how it was maintained before. Think I can make the return trip next friday and be alright until I can have the tranny flushed back home, or does it sound urgent enough that I should try and find a shop down here? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike

[Mike Donofrio]

Originally Posted by copperhead

First off, I have a 2001 Tundra 4x4 V8 automatic. I made a 10 hour journey yesterday through the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee, and a little ways before the Georgia border my tranny started to feel as if it may have been slipping a bit.

No worries, I let it sit overnight, and go to my training session for work this morning, barely awake as always, so I wasn't really paying attention to how the truck was running. This afternoon on my way back to the hotel, I was driving along a road that had gradual up and down hills, doing between 40 mph and 60 mph. At times, the tach would drop below 1k then kick right back up, and it just didn't feel right so I turned off overdrive. The rest of the way back, it still felt like it was going in and out of lockup, and not being at all responsive to throttle until it had a few seconds to kick out of lockup.

I just bought this truck a month ago, so I know nothing of how it was maintained before. Think I can make the return trip next friday and be alright until I can have the tranny flushed back home, or does it sound urgent enough that I should try and find a shop down here? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike

Were it me, I'd have it checked right away. The problem can only get worse, and likely won't get any better going through those mountains. At least if you have it looked at while you're in training, you can control which dealer you select and who does the work. Get towed in to some shop in the middle of nowhere and you will be at their mercy.

You said you bought it a month ago, from a dealer? Did you get a 3000 mile/30 day warranty? If so, would you be covered? You may want to call the dealer and see what they advise. If you are 10 hours away, you are beyond the reach of AAA.

Perhaps someone here can recommend a local shop or dealer that can help.

[copperhead]

Eh, my 3,000 mile warrenty was up a while ago. It's been a bit over a month, so the small warrenty I had is gone.

To be specific, I am in Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta. If anyone has any suggestions for a place to check it out, it would be much appreciated.

Could it just need a flush? Normally, I would do this kind of work myself, with the help of some of my far my knowledgable friends. I don't want to be stuck somewhere being told that my tranny needs rebuilt, I certainly wouldn't be happy.

Thanks

[dyogim]

Originally Posted by copperhead

Eh, my 3,000 mile warrenty was up a while ago. It's been a bit over a month, so the small warrenty I had is gone.

To be specific, I am in Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta. If anyone has any suggestions for a place to check it out, it would be much appreciated.

Could it just need a flush? Normally, I would do this kind of work myself, with the help of some of my far my knowledgable friends. I don't want to be stuck somewhere being told that my tranny needs rebuilt, I certainly wouldn't be happy.

Thanks

A flush isn't really going to tell you anything. You'd have to remove the tranny pan and look for metal shavings like this:



When I drained my tranny pan, no metal shaving came out. If you end up seeing this, rebuilding is going to cost you more than if you were to get a new one. Unless, you rebuild it yourself and in this case, you'd be paying the same as a new one.

[Mike Donofrio]

Originally Posted by copperhead

Eh, my 3,000 mile warrenty was up a while ago. It's been a bit over a month, so the small warrenty I had is gone.

To be specific, I am in Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta. If anyone has any suggestions for a place to check it out, it would be much appreciated.

Could it just need a flush? Normally, I would do this kind of work myself, with the help of some of my far my knowledgable friends. I don't want to be stuck somewhere being told that my tranny needs rebuilt, I certainly wouldn't be happy.

Thanks

A flush may help, but if you are losing your planetary gear...you may be past the point where a flush will help.

I would also call the dealer and get the Sales Manager on the horn. You never know....I had a Ford dealership replace the A/C on used Ranger I bought years ago, fully five months beyond the warranty period. Anything is possible.

[copperhead]

Well, I checked the dipstick, and there was still a red tint to the fluid, and there were small metal shavings on the dipstick. Unless I can find a local TS member to give me a hand with it this weekend, i'm just going to limp it home next friday.

Thanks guys.

[dyogim]

Originally Posted by copperhead

Well, I checked the dipstick, and there was still a red tint to the fluid, and there were small metal shavings on the dipstick. Unless I can find a local TS member to give me a hand with it this weekend, i'm just going to limp it home next friday.

Thanks guys.

If you have a place to work on your truck, it's not too hard to remove the tranny pan. Drain the pan(about 4 quarts worth) remove the 19-20 some bolts that hold the tranny pan, then use either a flat head screw driver to pry the pan apart. Be sure to unbolt the dip stick tube mount from the engine block. You'll see four magnets at the bottom, hopefully you don't see the same thing as in the pic I posted. If so, your OD planetary gear exploded.
I'd suggest not driving the truck anymore.




To put everything back clean the contact surface of the tranny pan of the old sealant, place a new bead of either RTV or FIPG. Remount the pan and bolt back up. You'll also need 4 more quartz of tranny fluid from toyota. It's about $5 a quart.

[Mike Donofrio]

There HAS to be a TS member somewhere near him so he can get at some tools!!!