HELP ASAP side road break dwn! Transmission issue!

how it going everyone I could really use some help. I’m stuck at my job site luckily this issue happened as I was turning in.

I was going about 55mph when all a sudden my transmission BANGS as if I dropped it into reverse really quick n put it back to drive. So it goes clunk (it was hard I had to check if my trans wasn’t on the ground behind me) looks like my truck shut off my gauges all dropped and all my lights came on. 3seconds latter gauges are back n it’s still driving.
NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NO CODES. I was close to the road I was turning into. I slowed down to bout 20mph made the turn, got on the gas very gently it was fine. As soon as I gave it 1/4 throttle maybe little more BANG! It does it again.
Does anyone no what this could be!? If I can run to parts store get a sensor change my trans fluid whatever rather than having to get a tow truck.

I’m new here but I’d really appreciate some help on this one guys. The Toyota community is one of the best. My first thought after googling and not finding anything was to come here. Thank you in advance.

 

A bang is most likely hard parts breaking. 2wd or 4wd? Could also be a blown rear differential.

 

ouch...........

good luck !

 

When it banged it continued to roll no problem. Also my lights came on meaning my dash lite up like Christmas tree.

 

any fluids leaking?

 

On the glass half full side, at least you won't be late to work, you're in Hawaii so you won't freeze when you walk home-or sleep in the truck so you're not late tommorow, and you have internet access to attempt to troubleshoot.

Auto trans I assume? Any damage to u-joints???

Good luck.

 

@gearcruncher

 

This is an automatic, correct?

 

Needs to be diagnosed with a scanner for codes , then the fluid needs to be checked .
Check the basics to start
Could be stuck in limp mode

A possibility but this would be guessing
http://bluegrasstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/a750e_shudder.pdf

Considering power is dropping out and your transmission is computer controlled and needs at least 12 volts to function properly , I would be looking at all your electrical circuits as well

 

Did you even bother to look under the truck?
Drive shaft still connected on all ends?

 

Call AAA.

 

This is a 4x4 I was thinking something like that also but if it was a hard part or a diff the truck wouldn’t be moving any more I can drive it with slow acceleration N it’s fine. Why would the truck look like it was turning off the start running again.

I don’t think it’s a shaft and def not a diff this was transmission. It has been shifting kinda weird lately, when I let off the gas it’s been shifting down as the truck slows. About 5 seconds after I let off the gas it would shift down from cruising at 60moh rather than staying in the gear. Like it was in a row haul mod

 

Umm shoot no I totally didn’t think to do that your right my drive shaft is hanging! Weird how I was still able to continue to drive with no drive shaft, n how it was fine after this happened. Never would have thought to look. come on. I’m not new to Toyota’s. Transmissions isn’t my strong point

 

AAA? Is that a towing company? I’m in Hawaii but the goal here is hopefully fix it here. Could this happen if my battery disconnected while I was driving?

 

tow truck > nearest dealer > cross fingers

 

You said it needs 12 volts to function I noticed my battery terminal was loose negative side. Could it have disconnected and caused this. 4x4 automatic

 

Is it actually shutting down or are the gauges just turning off and the truck continues to run?
When you say it shifts down, do you mean it drops a gear or two like a grade shift for engine braking?
You can sometimes drive (until complete failure) on a blown diff if all the teeth aren't gone, then it'll pop or grind when it gets back around to the bad teeth.

Try driving it in "L", keep it in first and see what it does.

 

sarcasm or not? Wouldn't be the first time someone has asked for help without the obvious personal due diligence of looking at their own truck.

First bang could have been part of the u-joint popping and second bang as you were pulling into work could have been it going out completely and just hanging off the carrier bearing.

 

the rear shaft?

 

Well I don’t think it shut down because it I didn’t need to start it back up. So yes gauges just went off. Seems like my battery caused it but I didn’t think that would happen