Transmission woes continued

After all the crazy downshifting and hunting (between 1st and 2nd at 10-15 MPH) my auto trans in my 09 TRD DC 4X4 was doing, the dealer replaced it (at 12,000 miles!) with a rebuilt unit under warranty. Guess what? The new one is no better, and now the truck wants to lurch forward at a stop when the brake is depressed, feeling like it's shifting down to an even lower gear. There are several other annoying little problems with this truck (radio, squeaky springs, rattles..), but holy crap, don't you think it's not too much to ask for a decent transmission? I was planning on keeping this truck for years to come, but if I have to replace the trans (at $5K or more) after warranty, I'm having second thoughts about that plan.

 

A rebuilt trans is only as good as the person who rebuilt it. The lurching and shifting down is normal, if you abuse something it's gonna break.

 

Its not the transmission its the computer. Not sure why he would have replaced the whole tranny.

Some people say resetting the ECU helps, but IDK if thats true.

Mine would hold first a little too long when rolling out of a stop sign but either its quit doing it after it 'learned' my driving style (as they claim happens) or I stopped noticing it because I can't recall it happening in quite a while.

Edit-

Your 'hunting' complaint sounds odd though. Ask if they can reprogram the computer maybe? One person on here said that completely solved his problems.

Mine would also want to lurch at a stop sometimes (was subtle though) but that seems to be gone now too after a few thousand miles (or, again, I dont notice it now).

I've heard people say it happens when the air conditioner's compressor turns on (which happens whether the A/C is turned on or not).


What is your downshifting complaint?

Mine will downshift when slowing down, but only if I touch the brake, and it never does it abruptly or enough to make you really feel it happening. Just enough to save the brakes a little and help you slow down.

Overall though, imo its about the smoothest Auto overall that I've ever driven. Takes a while to sort itself out though thanks to all the fancy learning stuff it does.

 

I think this is the problem the OP is having : http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/35868-tacoma-named-dangerous-truck.html

 

I just bought a new 2010 Truck, at first, I didn't notice anything strange or out of the ordinary. I don't quite have 3K miles on it, at about 1500 miles, I noticed the transmission hunting, hesitating or not shifting correctly when I took off from a dead stop and was coming to a stop, and now I am noticing it really the most when I am decelerating or coming from a higher rate of speed to complete stop. It happens just before the vehicle slows then stops. It seems as if hunts or is slipping almost when I am just about to slow to a stop. This is something strange and unlike any vehicle I have ever drove in 35 years. I thought I would check the fluid levels because it was that noticeable, but there isn't even a tranny dipstick, my buddy than owns a transmission shop told me it was under the truck on the side of the transmission, bummer. Anyone have any ideas, Gosh this is a brand New 2010 truck that I want to keep for the next 10-15 years and paid cash for it. I just am very disappointed. I am hearing a ticking noise from under the hood, and my son in law who bought a new 09 6 months ago has the same issue with his ticking noise.

 

These trans don't coast, they downshift. The ticking sound is normal.

 

Higher octane gas and synthetic oil both helped the 'ticking' for me. See the sticky for other possible fixes.

Also the Auto Tranny is SEALED, never supposed to have to change the fluid. There are two plugs but they aren't meant to be opened (maybe at a couple hundred thousand miles if needed), there is no dip stick, the side plug is an overflow.


My advise about the tranny for Ideal is just to drive it for a while before getting too bothered. It has a learning system, its an ECT-i transmission, it learns your driving patterns and adapts shifting and what not to suite, takes a while.

 

I am not sure what you mean by coasting, but I have never had a transmission in 35 years shift like this one and it is only occurs in the lowest 2 gears either when taking off, or slowing down coming to a stop. When you used the word "coasting" that is kind of a way to describe what mine is doing as it isn't shifting hard from the one gear to the next, it is like it is delayed. What is odd, is it doesn't do it every time. If this was a normal wouldn't it do it every time the same way? Thanks for your help, appreciate it. I hope and pray it isn't much if anything. At first I thought it just might be me, but with it doing it, then not doing it correctly, it has me puzzled so I am monitoring it for warranty purposes. I am thankful I have tons of warranty left just in case. Other than that, I LOVE the TRUCK.... Thanks

 

The ticking on the 1gfr v6 is completely normal. Here's a way to subside it a little: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/43632-ticking-engine-one-fix.html

 

Thanks for the tip, I seen your fix earlier, I appreciate your clear instructions or directions. The engine didn't tick at all for the first 1000 miles or so. I have about 2600 miles on it. Would it be recommended to run synthetic oil with the first oil change? And any suggestions on the viscosity would be appreciated. I see on the fill it states 5w-30. Thanks for your help.

 

^I would recommend it, yes.

 

Def go with 5w-30.

Whether or not to use it at the first change is a personal preference. I did and haven't had any problems. The engines are broken in at the factory so you aren't gonna get any leaks. From what I've read, with the synthetics now, it's not even a problem to go back and forth between synthetic and dyno if you wanted to.

It ticks less right after an oil change for a while, then eventually gets a little louder.

Its actually the valves knocking, the manual calls it normal but imo its definitely quieted some by premium gas too.

 

press your brake harder.

 

That's "Chris4X4's" write-up on the ticking fix. As for the viscosity and oil... You can switch to synthetic anytime because nowadays syn. is very compatible with conventional. Just make sure you go with what's recommended on the viscosity. If you go with what it says on the filler cap, that's the best.

 

These are a new breed of transmissions not like the older ones that just coast (they don't change down when you let off the gas). The Tacoma trans shifts down when you let off the gas. Here is a link, is this what you are experiencing ? : http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/42525-auto-transmission-slowing-truck-down.html

 

Isn't the Tacoma drive by wire (throttle) like the Corolla ( I had one previously). I think it is because when it downshifts correctly, I have that drive by wire feel, but when it doesn't downshift correctly, it hesitates for a very noticeable period before it will go into the correct gear. Hopefully this is just normal, and I have been driving light footed when this occurs to conserve fuel to get better economy. I have been getting 20 MPG and only roughly 2500K on truck, I hope it will improve a little better only time will tell.

 

It is, yes.

 

Not sure if anyone has posted this I didn't read all the posts. Subzombie is very close to the actual problem. We had a tech conference about a month or so ago and they did address this. It is a problem with the ECU, and as of right now there is NO fix for the downshifting to early around 10-15mph. They said they are working on a software upgrade but nothing is a real fix as of right now. Dealerships are told that if the customer is very presistant about wanting a fix now to replace the trans ECU cause it has stopped it in some but most still do it after.

 

sounds familiar. mine does this, it's like it's hunting for a gear. figured it was a software issue. i work for vw and our auto trans are made by toyota and we have the exact same issues.