2008 Tacoma Prerunner Transmission Shutter Fixed!

As a frustrated owner of a 2008 Tacoma 4.0 V6 for several years that has been into Toyota for every recall for drive line vibrations and severe shuttering I ventured out on my own to try and resolve the shutter, first I replaced my differential fluid and added the LS additive, still shutters. Second I replaced the u joints and carrier bearing, were needed replacing, still shutters, third replaced the transmission mount, recall, still shutters, forth rear leaf replaced, recall, still shutters, fifth replaced transmission fluid and filter, was time to replace, still shutters. And after doing more research I found this product sold online or locally by O-Reilly Auto parts/Advance Auto parts called Dr Tranny instant shutter fix # 19680, Made by Lube Gard, comes in 2oz container, what I found was the Toyota Trans fluid that's required does not have the special libercants to lubricant you torque converter properly, I installed 2 tubes, 4 oz total into my transmission, only one tube 2 oz required, and my SHUTTER was completely gone. Just wanted to pass this info on to All Toyota owners that have the famous Shutter. Why don't the Toyota Dealer install this additive the first time someone comes in with these issues, And do they ever read these comments!

 

Welcome to TW! Glad you were able to fix your shutter.

 

Glad you found a fix for yours. I'm assuming with your dip-stick-less tranny this was not a quick drop and go job. How did you decide on quantity to use? Calculation of dilution rates or something?

I'm not much fan of magic elixers. But I enjoy listening to the stories of others.

*shudder


@gearcruncher, anything you want to weigh in with or point us to here? I know you have been involved in this topic before.

 

I am sure
Dale@7897 read post 43 here ?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transmission-shudder.87938/page-3

As far as lubeguard gentlemen , its the best stuff known to man if he has transmission concerns . I highly suggest using the product whenever a member services their trans .
It use to only be available to transmission shops but now Amazon sells it in many variations . There are some very simple tests to verify a shudder .
He sure swapped a lot of parts .
Too bad he didnt join Tacoma World earlier and post up his issue . I think we could have saved him some cash

Have a peek at this little post I created a while back
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

 

Dear anybody that can answer,

I sure would love to see some more information on how to add Doctor tranny Lube Guard, it is non-existent online.

Do you just added to your total level of transmission fluid? Or do you add it and then let it circulate and then go through the level check procedure with the overflow plug?

I just topped off my fluid yesterday and did the level check procedure at 113° using an ultragauge after my transmission started shimmying as I tried to get it into temp check mode. It wouldn’t budge and go into AT check mode I’ve done it easily in the past. He light would come on then never illuminate after a half hour running.
Since completing it with an actual temp reading it still does the exact same shimmy when moving from N to D or R to P.

I’m afraid I may have damaged it trying to shift through the gears getting into temp check mode.

Any pointers on lubeguard or other ideas welcome.
Thank you

 

Add the Lubeguard at the same time you are filling the transmission . If your transmission is already filled , drain enough trans fluid out in order to add the Lubeguard .Lubeguard should be added to new trans fluid . Your chances of fixing a chatter are 100 % better if you change all the fluid
What issue are you trying to fix ?
Lubeguard wont fix shimmy,s
When was your last engine tune up

 

Welcome aboard. glad you did get the issue fixed on your tranny. Good post here's one to ya

 

It is almost like a side to side lurch, spark plugs are a few thousand overdue, and the fluid is only about 10,000 miles old since I did a full flush recently. I was only topping it off because I have a leak in the drain plug and will be swapping the pan very shortly.
By the way I took your advice from an old post and went with Valvoline

Never had a tuneup on the various attitudes like seafoam Marvel mystery oil, and a mass airflow/throttle body cleaning very frequently. New filter as always

 

By the way you are explaining your issue , it sure sounds like you have engine related issues rather than a transmission concern .
Have you taken the truck by a transmission shop for a free test drive ?

 

Welcome Dale

Thanks for the info, good job

 

Do you mind expanding on any engine possibilities? No I haven’t, I started doing all of my own work after quite a few bad experiences so I am hesitant to trust somebody that can prophet, not to sound negative or anything....but I mean it is Election Day

 

We can try and narrow the problem down
The truck starts up ok . When you move the shifter to forward or reverse the truck shakes ?
As soon as you put the shifter into neutral or park the shimmy or the lurching goes away ?
Have you read my write up ?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

I see you have a scanner . Got any codes ?

that year is known for head gaskets . Have you checked your coolant level ?

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Oh man don’t tell me that I had an 05 that had a head gasket go. The biggest thing is a hard shift from 1st to 2nd and then the lurch going from reverse to drive Or reverse to park. The lurch is almost like going over a tiny speed bump. When I topped off the fluid the shifter also loosened up, it was sticking slightly in park.
The coolant actually is down to just above the low line in the reservoir when cold And just below halfway when hot. It may have gone down over the last 18 months but nothing has made me start paying attention to it.

Can you ever expect to go through Coolant on a long enough timeline, let’s say two years, without a leak?
And yes, zero codes thrown ever.

The only symptoms I notice are the above and then the infamous tick has slightly increased coming from the driver side cylinders in the last year and quiets up if I keep the oil at the full line. It’s not burning any, sometimes I just put in slightly less and notice.
For the record if it matters the engine and coolant will run at about 187 on the highway and 1700 Rpms at 60mph. Transmission temp will sit at 150 degrees on the highway all when 80 degrees outside. And I was wrong spark plugs are 20k overdue.

 

With the help of GearCruncher I am on the way to solving my shudder issue.
My truck is a 2012 V6 with 5-speed auto trans. I bought the truck with 259,000 miles on it and noticed the constant shudder issue just after purchased it.
With GearCrunchers help I decided to do a filter screen inspection/cleaning followed by 4 drain and fill's with adding 15 oz. of LubeGuard Platinum and two, 2 oz. tubes of Lubeguard shudder fix. I also made sure to disconnect the negative battery terminal between each drain and fill to clear the transmissions short term memory.
The result was during my first drive after this procedure, the shudder issue was still present but it was less frequent and much less intense. During my second drive (which was my most recent drive) the shudder issue was just about complety gone

 

I see that adding 4oz (or 2 tubes) of Dr. Tranny Instant Shudder Fix has been an fix for most here in TW. I'm wondering, however, if using the instant shudder fix along with the Lubegard Automatic Transmission Fluid Protectant would be helpful or overkill. Any insight? Thanks!