Tranny vibrations? Now that I have your attention...

I have a 2009 PreRunner Dbl Cab 4.0L with 95K miles. Just started having vibrations at 22-25mph, 32-35mph, and 40-43mph, usually at 1500rpm, while under load (accelerating) and gets worse if I'm driving up an incline. This only happens in Overdrive. Any other gear doesn't have this problem.

No codes are being thrown.

Have done the following:
New tires (balanced of course)
New u joints (all 3)
Transmission flush and new filter
New spark plugs

I found nothing in the transmission pan to suggest anything other than usual wear (minimal grey sediment on magnets, no shavings).

Truck still vibrates. I could believe a computer is telling the transmission something incorrect, but I'm open to other input as well.

My truck has never suffered from the well documented vibrations that some tacomas seem to have from day one. I don't think this is anything like the carrier bearing or driveshaft having incorrect operating angles since this problem was nonexistent in the first 94,000 miles of driving. I think this is something that has gone bad and needs replacement, just don't know what yet.

Information on the computer and circuit that controls the transmission clutch actuation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any help.

 

I have checked the carrier bearing. I have 1/8" to 1/4" play in the bearing, which appears to be normal based on searches I've done on this forum and elsewhere. The bearing is making no noise, leading me to believe that it's fine.

Other than getting under the truck and pushig on the driveshaft to check the play as I've already done, what methods are there to check the carrier bearing?

I could change it out, but that's $200 bucks that may not help solve anything. Up to now everything I've done was due anyway, so I haven't wasted any time or money. I'd like to get some more diagnosis help before I start shotgunning solutions to an unknown problem.

Thanks for your reply.

 

bump

No one knows about the computer and transmission relationship or had similar issues?

Yes, I've searched ad nauseum prior to posting.

 

A gentle tap to the brakes will assist you in determining if the issue is engine related or torque converter . Leave one foot on the gas when in overdrive and vibration is present and tap the brakes . This will turn the converter lock up clutch off breifly . if the vibe goes away , you have a possible missfire or torque converter issue . Test drive and report back

There are more tests that need to be performed after you determine if the vibe goes away when you gently tap the brake pedal . The above test sets the baseline for the diagnostic

To add , have you cleaned mass air flow , throttle body and might as well clean the idle air control motor while your there ?

 

I tried tapping the brakes during the vibration and it seemed to go away.

Next step?

No I haven't cleaned the items you mentioned. I'll do that sometime this week.

 

How much of a process is it to change the carrier bearing?? Or is it expensive to do by a shop?

 

OK next test is called a stall test and I hate telling the average guy on the forums to do this to his truck but if you brought it to the dealer or trans shop , its what they would do next anyways . You already know the rpm the vibration/missfire occurs , so what your going to do next is try and reproduce that vibration/missfire at the same rpm it happens on the highway while you are parked in your driveway at home .

I shouldnt say this is what the dealer would do next as they do have better equipment than the average DIY

Follow the guidline on page 20 of this PDF . You are looking to re-create the vibration at the same rpm as what you feel on the highway when you are in overdrive .
http://fjcruiser-club.com/docs/RM/A750E%20Automatic%20Transaxle.pdf

 

Do some reading on the flex lock up converter and converter chatter/ shuddering
The 3rd post in this link has a write up on what to do and what to look for
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...hift-kit-shift-recalibration-kit-2nd-gen.html



Well I had his attention for a bit ..........Guess I scared him away

 

I'm still reading. Will attempt this sometime soon and report back.

Thanks for the input.

 

Just to follow up, the transmission flush and filter change must've done the trick.

After a week of driving, some in Drive, some in Overdrive, the new transmission fluid must've worked into the problem areas and displaced the old fluid because now my truck is vibration free.

I only wish I had done this flush prior to having a problem, but I thought if Toyota recommended flushing the transmission at 100k miles, they were being conservative, and I could do it before I hit 100k miles and be ok.

I've read since then that Toyota has revised that figure and now they recommend flushing the transmission at 60k miles.

Hopefully no damage was done and I can get another 100k miles out of this transmission before it needs replacing.

Thanks to all who replied and tried to help me diagnose/solve this problem. I appreciate it.

 

One more thing to add and I beleive you should be trouble free .

http://www.lubegard.com/~/C-113/LUBEGARD+Platinum+Universal+ATF+Protectant