Downshift into 1st Gear Clunk and then roll (NOT axle wrap)

Get ready for a 3rd gen epidemic of new posts all about their clunking trucks

Wow , all kinds of fixes

engine management
drilling a hole in the driveshaft slip yoke diagnosed by dealer
VSC control
Axle wrap
Fuel in gas tank moving from side to side which was diagnosed by dealer
greasing the complete driveshaft

 

Mine has done this, but very sporadic. Typically when cold and rolling to a stop uphill, but still very rare and seemed to happen more often when it was newer. Almost 6K miles on it now.

Feels more like axle wrap to me, so maybe a bit of a different issue.

 

It seems strange that it would clunk though?

 

clunking and clanking seems to be a regular occurrence on this truck....

 

I had a conversation with a guy on TW a few months ago who mentioned he believes the issue is with the drive by wire. The way he explained it makes sense. I'm unable to find the thread, but agree with your idea.

 

What is drive by wire?

 

No throttle cable. Computer measures pedal position and sends message to fuel management system.

 

Drive by wire is when the manufacturer replaces the mechanical system that performs a function of the car with an electrical system to perform the same function.

I am no expert, but sounded like Toyota is tinkering with the throttle control in the TSB 0077 16. People are complaining about the transmission, but the transmission is not touched. Just a reprogramming of the ECU.

I have a tow package and was getting a clunking noise during shifts. Reminded me of my 81 CJ7 when she was low on transmission fluid. I read up on TW about the low transmission fluid and had the dealer top it off. The added fluid eliminated the clunk and the TSB made the shifting smoother.

 

Hoping the new TSB solves this. Just learned about it today.

 

I had the TSB done on Thursday 10/27 so it may be the new one. Shifting like a Boss now.

 

When I purchased my 2016 tacoma, they told me that the engine will act a bit off for the first 3000km (something to do with Tacoma's Atkinson Cycle). I assumed the clunk when starting to move was to do with that, and after around 4000-6000km, it no longer clunks.

 

I get the clunk when the truck is fairly cold, I always thought it was simply the transmission disengaging ready to stop, which is also why you get the jolt when you don't fully stop and try to move off again

 

I had (have) this issue.

What helped the most so far was the dealer greased the slip joint? Maybe I'm off on that. I can go look at my paperwork.

It does happen worse and more frequently in the cold. But they've been greasing it uo each service and that goes a long way to alleviating it.

It was usually a SLAM for me though. I felt like I got rearended.

 

The driveshaft spline issue / clunk is common among all manufacturers , not just the Tacoma .
I agree that this is a lack of lubrication from the factory .
I believe Ford makes a special spline lubricant lube to assist . I havnt tried this stuff in the link below but I have used aftermarket lubricants that eliminate the clunks for long periods of time . Works much better than grease .
http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/ptfe...-ford-motorcraft-xg-8-ml1167-31508-42027.html

General Motors also makes their own blend of the driveshaft spline grease but its horribly expensive . The last can I purchased was $60 bucks

 

Thanks for the link.

How do I apply this? And where? They've been doing all the dirty work so far.

 

pop your driveshaft apart indexing as you go and apply to the splines at the slip yoke . The slip yoke is under the rubber boot on a two piece driveshaft.
Spicer still holds the contract for the Tacoma driveshafts . It may be Spicer who is insufficiently lubricating the splines or Toyota for not requesting enough lubrication ?
Not sure at this point ?
A 2016 or 2017 truck should not have the spline issue . Usually takes a few years of stop and go traffic before this becomes a problem and is why a lack of lubrication on the splines causes a clunk when cold . Once the driveshaft spline expands as it warms up , the clunk is less noticeable.
For trucks with high mileage , I would suggest spraying all your splines with gluidecoat http://www.amazon.com/Bostik-GlideCote-formerly-TopCote-10-75/dp/B008F87IYK

 

To whoever gets the clunk when cold, mine does to. Only when cold, never when warmed. Im not sure what in the hell the gearcruncher guy is saying but doesnt sound accurate. It does it when cold man and theres a bunch of us with the problem. Something is clearly get locked up or feels like the shift is completely inaccurate.

 

Yes, my manual does this too. Modern engines completely cut fuel injection on deceleration, until a certain engine speed where fuel has to be turned back on to maintain idle. I think it's just very noticeable on the v6 and could be even more so due to some aspect of Atkinson cycle cam phasing. Anyway, it may be annoying, but I'm sure it's not some problem.

Clunks are likely driveline lash. Transmission, transfer case, drives shaft, and differential all have backlash due to clearances. Normal for any vehicle, but again, maybe more noticeable on these trucks.

 

There are many reasons / symptoms for downshift clunking . The spline issue is one hell of an " accurate " symptom

Low transmission fluid is yet another symptom of downshift clunking
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...be-low-on-fluid-directly-from-factory.405642/

 

I had (have) this issue.