My truck shakes when changing gears

First post in any forum evar, so here it goes.

I have an 06 Tacoma Double Cab, v6 Auto. It has been a very reliable truck, but...

After changing my transmission fluid as called for in my 60,000 mile service it started shuddering violently when changing gears. I can replicate this issue by accelerating gradually, and can avoid it by accelerating more aggressively. I can do this 10 times out of 10 any day of the week, hot or cold. I took this to my original dealership and guess what. They couldn't tell me what was wrong with it, but told me I should replace the transmission.

Now I don't know about ya'll but when someone tells the the solution to my problem is to spend lots of money, my BS alarms goes off. So I asked the service rep "what is wrong with my tranny exactly?" he stated they didn't know, but they could fix it with a $2500 cash infusion and a "factory re manufactured" tranny. This was a very special tranny that came from a truck that got wrecked on its first test drive, probably by an old lady who only drove it to work on Sunday's if you catch my drift. I could go on and on about how this whole thing stinks, but I'd rather take this in a serious direction.

I'd like to know if anyone else is experiencing this issue and consolidate a list of complaints and submit it to Toyota as an issue that affects us all in an effort to get them to own up to installing questionable parts on a truck we bought based on it's excellent reputation.

OR. I would like to find out if anyone has successfully identified this issue and resolved it without replacing a factory transmission at 60,000 miles.

Thanks all, hope this isn't a double post, but if it is I'd very much like to read what others have to say.

 

didnt toyota change the service interval to 60k?are you sure the fluid is not low.

 

yes,its a sticky.HOW TO DRAIN /REFILL AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

 

I didn't change it myself I had my regular mechanic with 20+ years of XP to do so. I've used the same guy since I bought my first S-10 in 1993 and he's worked on my folk's autos since he opened his shop with no issues. I've also had two transmission specialists take a look at my truck which left them both scratching their heads. They can't identify any issues with a computer or from their experience.

Has anyone experienced, or known someone who may have experienced this in the past? I just can't see spending $2500 on a reworked tranny if no one can tell me what's wrong in the first place.

Thanks for all the feedback ya'll!

 

did the problem start after it was serviced?

 

It did, this problem was not present prior to service. It has since been serviced again with no change in the shaking.

 

^^^^^ i agree

 

Sounds like they could be putting the wrong fluid in, not enough/too much, torque converter is shot, or the bands are going out (again, those would happen from not enough fluid, too much fluid, or incorrect fluid).

I'd probably do it myself using the link already posted, or have toyota do the 60k service to it and see if it goes away. Unfortunatly, if it was damaged... it's already done and will get worse.

The other thing I would do is request to have some fluid saved, and send a sample to Blackstone Labs. They'll tell you straight up what's going on.

 

I'm a fool for analysis, what is this Blackstone labs you speak of sir?

 

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

Did your mechanic use WS fluid and go through the spin around and jump on one leg to properly check the fluid level? If it started right after the service, it would be a good idea to start with the mechanic and figure out exactly what he did. If you find out he did everything correctly it would probably sill be a good idea to redo it following the sticky just to be sure. Then you can go talk to Toyota about granny's barely used tranny.

That sounds wrong on so many levels...

 

Since my dad is retired he did me a favor and took my truck to a 2nd Toyota dealership at the recommendation of our local transmission specialist who was also baffled by the shaking. (Current count is 1 general mechanic, 2 transmission specialists, and 2 dealerships.) After a short ride in the truck their recommendation was to replace the torque converter at an estimated cost of $1500.

My father asked "Will you guarantee this fixes the problem?" The Service Tech said "No". This was the extent of the troubleshooting performed. I'll ask my general mechanic to draw a sample of the fluid so I can send it off for analysis as my next step.

Just thought I'd provide an update for those who have offered advice so far. Once I get the analysis I'll update again with the results.

Thanks all!

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/68051-auto-tranny-dying-06-tacoma.html

 

Who serviced again Toyota? Did they flush tranny?

 

My local mechanic serviced the transmission. He used Toyota branded fluid and indeed flushed it.

I ordered my Blackstone Labs kit today, it should be in before long and I'll send it off for analysis ASAP.

I hope it reveals something telling, this is really my last hope in determining the source of the problem.

 

By Toyota branded, are you sure it was the WS?



If he flushed it completely it would take something like 12-14 quarts. Did you pay over $100 for fluid alone? I guess I'm not sold on your mechanic using the correct fluid or checking it correctly. It seems like something he did had to have caused the problem.

Hopefully the blackstone kit will help you out. Keep us updated, and good luck!

 

I may have misspoken, as I am not as mechanically savvy as my peers in these forums. I will say however this is the same mechanic my family has used for many years, and this would be the first time he would have taken any shortcuts in servicing any of our vehicles.

I trust him to do what's right by us and he hasn't let us down in the past.

That being said the analysis should be interesting and I wish I could Fedex it overnight right now, but the process will likely take a few weeks according to Blackstone Lab's website.

It's like an episode of CSI - My Tranny