Possible tranny issue

Keep your Jenner jokes, I hate transmission problems.


I'm getting all kinds of gear noise when coasting and feathering and it sounds like it's from the transmission. Engaging 4wd made no change in the sound. I also just started getting what feels like a soft gear grinding through the shifter before I put the truck in gear. When going to first or reverse from stopped there's a soft grinding, a thud, and the truck now lurches a bit. I'll check the u-joints tomorrow morning. Between gears used to be smooth as butter now I can feel a soft grinding. This all came on rather suddenly and I haven't had a chance to diagnose it yet so I'm hoping all the wisdom combined here might be able to point me towards a solution.

I get a lot of vibration at low speeds while accelerating and above 75mph+ indicated. I figured it was because of the extra leafs I added, I might need more than a 3* shim or because the tires I rotated to the rear were pretty scalloped and/or out of balance.

I don't think it's related, but I'm also hearing a squeal around 40mph from what sounds like the front right. It's not brake pad related, I know that sound well enough.

The possible transmission noise occurs in gear, clutch engaged or disengaged and is much more noticable in first gear at idle.

The truck is a '13 V6 6 speed and I haven't a clue what would have brought this on so suddenly. Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys,
Alex

 

How many miles? The 6 spd only hold 1.9 qts. The running temp at the gear surfaces can get several hundred degrees. That and the small capacity causes the gear oil wears out rather quickly IMHO so this trans probably needs more frequent changes. I have done a total rebuild of it and, surprise, there is no magnet or filter of any kind inside (save a very small weak magnet on the end of the drain plug). I have also tried every, and I mean every, gear oil out there and the best of the best I have found is GM12346190, it is also available as an ACDelco part number and the cheapest place currently is Summit Racing. I have two six speeds and use it in both. It was developed by Castrol per a contract by GM/Chrysler to cure shifting problems and overheating in the NV4500 and is one of the truly few 100% synthetics and a GL-4 that Toy is now requiring (see your owners manual).

 

Currently at 60k miles. I've got an appointment with Toyota in the morning as it's still under warranty. Really hoping they'll honor it otherwise I'll be doing it myself. It's been a while since I've worked on transmissions and the last one I did was a simple three speed out of a CJ7.

 

Might be your clutch, although 60K seems really low, mine was grinding and also was getting harder to go into 1st and reverse, also some grinding into 3rd, I was worried I had transmission problems too, dropped it off last week and shop said it was the clutch, they replaced it and it shifts like new again. Mine had 150K on the original clutch, good luck at the dealer, usually they won't warranty the clutch as its a wear item.

good luck

 

Clutches aren’t too bad to replace and if that’s what it is it’ll be an easy fix. Hell, I’ll upgrade it. Honestly, I’ll be happy if it turns out to be the clutch. I am obviously a bit concerned because the truck only has 60k and that should be a 100k mile+ wear item. I’ve never cooked it but I did buy the truck used

The most concerning issue for me is that the clutch pedal feels normal. All the feedback I’m getting is from the shifter and the noise I am hearing.

 

If its never been changed that is way too far to go on the original 1.9 qts IMO. Best of luck with the stealer. If Toy hoses you and you do try to something yourself, holler and I will help walk you through it. But really, try this stuff first it really is that good: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ado-10-4059

 

Big fan of Redline MT-90 (also a true GL-4 synthetic FWIW). I'm sure the others are good, too, but it worked magic on a tired G52 for me in the past and kept my W56 smooth for 287K.

Anyway, I was thinking several of the same things as other posters. The squeal could be the throw out bearing. The thunk going into gear could be clutch not fully disengaging. I'd at least flush and bleed the hydraulic fluid, do a gear oil change and check adjustment. The vibration could be any number of things.

Or it could all be pointing to a bad transmission, but I'd have expected that a RA60 would either have been built wrong and failed early or built right (other than the wear due to throw out, search about that) and just need some maintenance.