Another 3rd Gen torque converter issue?

A flush will get it out faster… you could do a drain and fill but your only going to get a little over 3 quarts out at a time…

 

True. Was planning on doing a drain and fill x3 if I went that route.

I’m watching videos on TC shudder, and I’m starting to become torn. Mainly, because my rpm’s drop, they don’t jump or bounce, and I don’t get the speed strip rattle, just a slightly bumpy road feel.

Perhaps I need to monitor the pids and see what I can find.

 

If you can't manage to read what amounts to about a page of words, why bother taking interest at all? The OP is one of the most thorough and readable posts I've seen here with regard to asking for help with a problem.

 

Panties bunch much?

It's called a joke.

 

Don't quit your day job.

 

Full disclosure I didn't read all the way through the thread, so sorry if it's already been discussed. But has the ATF level been confirmed to be correct?

Seems to be one of the common symptoms of low fluid (both from the factory and after folks do their own service) is a shudder. Seems to be lots of folks on here report 3rd gens were underfilled by a bit right from the factory.

 

Toyota (service manager) advised they were going to check that. That was during my last follow up, but at that point they did not confirm how they were checking, or if it were low.

 

Just let the accelerator pedal go for a sec. It unlocks the converter. Make sure to apply more pedal after that. Otherwise it will lock it up again and bog you down. There is about 200 rpms drop with tc locks.

 

I had a Ford 4r70 that had shudder devolp at 50k miles. I added this and to my shock fixed it immediately. After that I just changed the fluid every 50k and never had it come back. Sold the truck with 200k miles on it and trans was still perfect.

https://www.lubegard.com/products/isf/

 

Probably is a great product but I’d only try it as a last resort before a tear down.

 

I used it to confirm the convertor was still OK not as a permanent solution. Changed all the fluid right after I added it and that fixed the problem. That convertor had a drain plug too so it was easy to change it all.

 

I’ve tried that before, it’s almost like there’s no change, but does bog down. If I give it more gas it will force the downshift and I believe the shudder occurs then too.

 

Weird thought,

but since I’m not getting the rumble strips, I’d it possible what I’m describing… could somehow be something else?

Or, still classic TC? I ask, because if a tune will help, I’m open to that. Also, the peddle commander is on sale for like 230$, and in theory, better throttle response may help my issue too.

Still absolutely doing a drain and fill. Perhaps I’ll add that lubeGard as well.

Just thinking out loud… but if the dealer advises “there’s nothing wrong tomorrow” idk.. I guess there’s nothing more I can do.

Side note, happy Thanksgiving y’all. Lol. Almost forgot until festivities started earlier.

 

Ive has this issue on my 2019. I added the shudder fixx additive didnt help. Did a drain and fill to check transmission fluid level and after going through the fluid check procedure about 1/4 of a qt more ithan I drained out is what remained in the transmission. Issue remained.
Took it to dealer and had a transmission flush performed at 65k miles. Didnt elimate issue.
The only thing that helped the issue in my case was running a higher octane fuel or adding octane booster to each tank. There have been a number of other members on here that experienced the same.

 

Trade it in!

This is probably normal once these trucks get a certain number of miles on them. Remember that the transmission was introduced for the 3rd gen. Service department isn't going to fix a truck that isn't broken.

 

Do you use perform these tricks to this day, issue no longer occurs?

Like, premium gas with an additive?

 

Transmission fluid has a pretty hard work day, yes the additives wear out.

As far as adding additives I vote NO.
The new fluid you put in, preferably OEM, is a carefully engineered product tailored to the job, it doesn't need any help.

 

@Mark77

I responded to your post but didn't take you serious about not reading the abundance of info provided by OP. lol

You're response (IMO) was intended to say, "can you just give me the short version?" Which I thought was funny.

Lots of personalities on here (as well as any forum) and I try and take people with a grain of salt.

For a while now, I've evaluated people initially with a high mark...meaning giving them the benefit of the doubt as a "whole person".

They stay in high regard or work their way down the human likeability scale...not judging, of course!

Simply making an evaluation.

EDIT: I'm sticking around this thread to find out what's going on with the Torque Converter.

 

Yes. Im currently using STP octane boost as I realized at $3.99 its cheaper per tank than paying the .40 cents per gallon more at the pump for 89 octane.
I was just filling the tank with 93 back in 2020 back when gas was considerbly cheaper because it helped with the shudder. Then I had the KDMax tune done and went back to 87 since that was the version of the tune I got. It was ok for a little while. Then the shudder returned. For some reason I kinda forgot about using the higher octane, probably because of the price of gas shooting up, and started focusing on the transmission again doing the things I stated in my above post.
I purchased a used Hemi Challenger earlier this year and found the owners manual recommended 89 octane for best performance but 87 was ok. I was using 87 in that and decided to try the octane boost in that for a few tanks but didnt notice any difference in performance. Of course most of the time U just cruise around and dont go looking for a race.
I went ahead and starting using it in the Tacoma and noticed the difference in the shudder again. Now I realize the 93 was probably overkill and the 89 likely would have done the job the whole time.

I spent some time reading up on the design of the 3.5 engine. It has a compression ratio of 11:8 which is considered a high compression engine. The reason its doesnt normally require a high octane fuel is do to the direct injection. Maybe there is something going on in that area when the engine switches between the atkinson and otto cycles since the shudder usually occurs with light pressure on the throttle and maintaining speed.

 

Update

- Dealer states they reviewed everything, and it’s “normal”.

they updated my truck with
T-SB-0058-18, and I notice no difference.

- Induction reviewed
- Checked gas
- Foreman drove truck for three days
- Driveline appears fine
- Suspension is fine
- ATF checked, at level

They claim the only thing they can do now, since it’s normal, is ride with me with the computer and “flag” every time it occurs. Then send that data to Toyota.

They advised that since it’s documented, should It get worse or fail after 60k, they will have enough info to still honor it.. allegedly.


So, as it stands I’m basically stuck. As mentioned, I don’t get the rumble strips, it just get the.. bogging down shakes.

So.. I guess I have no further moves at this point. I know it didn’t do this before, so, something has changed. What is apparently the mystery I may never know.

While I cannot cite the faint burning rubber smell (that i noticed near the engine bay, and in the driver front wheel well) to be related, perhaps it is indeed a vacuum issue? But with no CEL’s and the Apollo now throwing anything out that is indicative of problems… I’m just over here riding the bronco for the time being