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HighlanderGeneral discussion forum for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
This is a discussion thread titled "Loud Vibrations", within the Highlander forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
It's not a major problem, as it happens very rarely as of now, but my 01 is doing a strange vibration at neighborhood speeds where you hear the whole car and feel the whole car make a loud BRRRRRMM and it feels like the car had a shiver running down its spine the whole time. Problem last for maybe 3 seconds (tops) and fades. It's really just long enough to notice it, be uncertain, and have it leave. Never at high speeds.
Also, transmission seems to jerk a little between 1-2 and 2-3 gear if my AC is turned off, but dial is blowing air and on Cold. Power issue? This only occurs when I'm blowing cold air without the AC on. I turn it passed the middle white and i get up and groove again like normal. Never beyond third gear. (The HL lurches more than it connects)
This isn't much to go on, but I'll see if I can get the ball rolling. I assume when you hear this vibration you've naturally done things like let off the gas, or brake? Does that have any effect on it? If you steer to pull to the side of the road, does that? Are you sure this isn't just the transmission shifting from first to second (which is sometimes lazy on ours, but not three seconds lazy)?
So far as the shifting, that may be somewhat normal. You haven't told us if you have an I4 or V6, but you might try draining the transmission and putting new fluid in. Assuming you take T-IV fluid, you'll likely need to get it from the dealer. You won't get it all out in one shot, but it's easy enough to do two or three times over a few thousand miles. Search the forum, you'll find more info about this. There is some debate about using Mobil synthetic or amsoil, but my advice would be to stick with the dealer supplied ATF, which is synthetic anyway (and rumored to be the same as the mobil 1 syn atf). If this doesn't help, you'll learn to live with it. I can't stand automatic transmissions, and have come to expect somewhat sloppy and jerky performance.
Did yu check level and color of your own ATF fluid? Did yu check the lable or manual for the correct type to use???
This should be done before yu ask for help from anyone.Yu just have to know this stuff.
A trans pan drain and fill is in order. Possibly several drainings could correct your issues. USE Toyota correct ATF for your exact Trans!!! (Toyota T-IV last I checked) Don't do the complete flush first. If yu have a failed trans the complete flush will probably hurt your trans and without warning. Yu will shock the cluthes. A fact since yu have 75K and probably never was servced or dropped the trans pan.
Yu said yu have a FWD. But did not say if it is a 4 or 6 cyl!! The 4 cyl has the U241E Aisin-W and the 6 cyl has the U140E Aisin-W. Yu must be specific as to engine.
Have yu done any maintenance to this tranny yet at all in 75K??? It is common practice to do it at least every 30K min. regardless of the maint. sched.
The more the better won't hurt yu.
It shows ATF replacement for special service "Towing". That's an indicator that this ATF is not "permanent" in any event.
The 01-03 are not the same trans as the 04-07.
It is Not electronic throttle. It is a 4 speed. Cable actuated throttle. It does not drive or shift anything like the 04 -07 5 speed slip lock Aisin-W's. Two different animals.
T-IV is not considered SYNTHETIC and are not labled as such. So don't feel that any Universal Synthetic ATF will be OK!!! It is not correct. Even though SOME have had pos results.
"Mobil ATF 3309" is the only ATF that would be ok for thisT-IV Trans available outside of the Dealer. And it is not a Syn. for a reason.
yeah sorry. I was typing this last night a little bit late.
She's a v6 and the tranny fluid looks good, color and amount, but as far as servicing, I havn't done any since I got the car. It had a service done before I bought it though. My HL was a rental before I got it.
As far as the vibrations go, I have to say that I have experienced it on a feeder road coming up to 50mph. But I do usually lay off the gas. Changes in momentum seem to throw the problem, so once my mph drops the vibrations chill out. It's not an RPMs thing, and it has only happened three times in the last six months. perhaps a little too frequently, but nothing has ever been negatively affected. No weird noises from the engine, no bad smells. It's just a weird body noise and vibration, like the car hit its natural frequency and got excited or something. If your car had shivers run down its back.
As for the jerking tranny, I do need to service it probably. Need to talk to my dad and find out what all needs to be done. He does most of the work on the vehicles we have - from the suburban to the miata to the rodeo to the HL. If you've experienced a bad timing belt (i think that's what it was with my brother's Rodeo), it's a lot like that rough, uncertain jerky connection. But mind you, only when the air is blowing cold setting without the AC actually being on. Easy enough problem to avoid, just curious about it.
yeah, it doesn't make any sense to me either (the ac effecting the shifting) unless there's just power drain there, and even then, with a v6, the ac shouldn't bother the first couple of shifts in THAT way...
that's just the only thing i've notice when it happens. My AC is set up like that. WEIRD
I had a similar issue on my '99 Solara awhile back... started as a low vibration between 35-50mph... definitely not as noticable at higher speeds. Over a period of about 6-months, it slowly got worse to where I finally took it in to the shop thinking it was a wheel balance or alignment issue (although there was no abnormal tire wear). It ended up that one of the rear wheel bearings had failed and needed to be replaced... Car now drives like new again.
Yeah, i thought maybe my tires could be unbalanced, but it happens SO rarely that that doesn't make much since either :\ I'll wait for it to get a little more often of a problem I suppose before Istart worrying too much.
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Loud Vibrations
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