Transmission dying at 38,000

Got lost on this but have you taken it to another shop? Did they throw it on a diagnostic tool of some kind. "Your tranny is dying" WTF kind of diagnosis is that. I believe the tranny is a Aisen Warner. Probably a lot of shops are skilled with them.

 

I had the same clunk while at stoplight on my 06, truck suddenly downshifts...this was after the truck had 20K on it. I was pissed...this was my 1st new Toyota before that I had 85 4Runner 5 Speed(sold it for some stupid reason). Next day I went up to Toyota...of course they couldn't reproduce it. They told me the ECM was adjusting to my driving habits??? I drive normal and don't tow anything.

My father owned a transmission shop for 30 yrs, I grew up around trannys....I knew this wasn't right. I found out others complained on here about the transmissions...I went back several times. Told them to check for TSBs...no luck. Complained to Toyota but no luck...received similar email. Luckily it was intermittent but it sure pissed me off when it did happen at stoplights.

Had the transmission serviced at 90K(tried to do it early but was told not to), complained again knowing full well I was out of warranty. He claims they re-flashed my transmission. It seemed to go away for now. Probably, unplugged the ECM...as you did. Or maybe they unplug it as part on the service on transmission.
I have 137K on it...love the truck....hopes it keeps going.

I plan on having the fluid replaced in another 10K...I believe Toyota has changed their recommended service intervals on tranny fluid.

good luck

 

There was a tsb for this issue IIRC, but was eliminated when the reflash/gas pedal recall superceeded it. If you haven't had that recall done, it's a free way to get the reflash that supposedly cures the shifting complaints and also improves the cruise operation in the auto trucks.

Transmission dying? Pffft, maybe for the dealer that will only repair with a reman assembly. If a reflash doesn't cure it, it would be a soleniod/valve body issue.

 

I had a trans die at 32,000

It was a '91 Ford Escort.
Driving down the freeway, the engine started racing. Thought it had downshifted, nope... revving free.
Managed to roll off the road and into a parking lot.

Took them a month to "fix" it... got it back and I was getting 18mpg (the car got 33 before).
Service manager told me to pound sand.
Service tech said I should be happy because his ranger only got 16.
Pissed... I took off. Hit the gas, the trans slipped, then slammed into gear.
Lost 2nd gear and reverse.

They fixed it right the next time.

 

... ^^^ ... Sometimes you just have to be the "squeaky wheel" to get the grease. ...

 

Oh man....

Told me that my extended warranty covered the rental.
It died Friday on the way home on a holiday weekend, so they didn't even get it into the service bay until Tuesday.

It was then that I found out that my extended warranty's rental car coverage was only good for 3 days.

So now I'm on the hook for $30/day for the rental.

They had that car for a fucking MONTH waiting for backordered parts to arrive (from Mazda).

So when it shit the bed again, the service manager said that he was going to have one of his guys take me to Enterprise and....

"FUCK YOU!" (the dealership had quite a few customers around)
"I'VE BEEN IN THESE FUCKING RENTAL CARS FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE AND MY ASSHOLE IS THIS WIDE RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT PAYING ONE FUCKING DIME FOR ANOTHER RENTAL, YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A LOANER OFF THE LOT OR I'M GOING TO MY ATTORNEY RIGHT FUCKING NOW!"

They gave me an F250 off the used lot.


It's been almost 20 years now, but I have to say it again....

GARY FORE AND CHINO HILLS FORD CAN SUCK MY CLAP-DRIPPING COCK!

 

This is why I bought the 6 speed manual. I'm hoping this transmission is more reliable than the auto. I hope I was right in my thinking. Any opinions?

 

I'm not worried about Toyota automatics.

I put 125k on my '03 Tundra and SWMBO has almost that on her '04 Rav4.
She also put 120k on her '00 Echo.

The only issues any of them had were some out of the box issues with a bad ECU on the Rav. Other than that, none of them ever saw the inside of a shop other than my warehouse where I performed routine maintenance.

 

I think the auto is more reliable from what everyone on here says.

 

Doubtful that any auto can be really be more reliable. Easier to drive. Better for towing maybe.

 

Mine shifts up and down exactly when I want it to! I love my 6 spd. If your automatic is shifting down hard at a stop and taking long to up shift there are only about two things, throttle pressure or governor.

 

This is true for an older hydraulic automatic tranny, but not true of a modern electronically controlled auto. Get with the times.

 

Regardless of when it was made the results are the same some thing is doing what the valves once did. They still are hydraulic other wise they would not be filled with ATF clutches are applied line pressure is controlled shaft speed is registered. Ford and others had electronic controlled transmissions in the 80's The OP needs to take it to some one that understands how automatic transmissions work

 

Take a toyota to ford?!

Is there any dedicated transmission shops near you?

 

Is this after the truck has been running for while or just at the starts?

 

In his case it might not be a bad ideal