3rd gen torque converter shudder

Update on the truck. Ive been driving it with very light vibrations at the range stated before. CVC tune helped out a ton. Im back on here to report at 14,000 mi vibrations are starting to be more noticeable again. I will be looking to reset the transmission learning and also the ecu learning. Hopefully this helps. For the most part, vibrations were less but it may also have been me sucking it up and just not paying attention to it.

 

this is what id like to know

 

how do u reset those things?dealer?

 

My previous 17' AT had this shudder every time I drove it. Sumbich buries itself into 6th gear every chance it gets and then doesn't want to let it go, which causes the truck to shudder as it struggles for life. There's really only one way to fix it, and that's to get a manual, which, so far, drives wonderfully.

 

Just started having this issue. 2018 automatic OR, Ovtune 2.0, 70k miles. I noticed when it shifts down from 3rd to 2nd and I start to creep on the accelerator is when I experience it. Straight acceleration from lower speeds no problem. It's when I'm slowing down from like 30 to 20 and trying to slowly go back up to 30. Right between 1100 to 1500rpm. If I accelerate hard it doesn't happen.
I'm also having my trans fluid completely drained and filled this week so I'm curious to see if this makes it go away since this will be my first time doing that.
It's also been below freezing here for over a week so I wonder if that could have anything to do with it. Although I notice it can happen when the truck is totally warm too... frustrating.

 

Update:
Seems smooth after a total drain and refill. First time doing it and my mechanic said he drained only about 4.5qts and it took 6 to fill. No signs of leaks so that means I've been running it under filled for all 72k miles of it's life. Fml.

I also suspect that a lift, armor, and heavy tires has something to do with the trans fluid degrading faster. I guess I'll add trans fluid drain and fill to my every 50k mile maintenence. To me its worth the cost for the piece of mind.

 

in the back of my mind id be worried its overfilled now and i would have to do the level check procedure lol

 

Yeah I definitely get that, but I trust my mechanic. He's a friend of mine and has kept my prior sh!tboxes running smooth before owning the Taco lol.

 

I have a 2018 TRD Pro, 80k miles on it. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed a similar shudder to what you’re describing, I believe it is as soon as it shifts into 3rd gear, the rpm’s drop really low and starts shuddering. So only if I’m accelerating slowly. I didn’t do anything different, it just suddenly started happening. I have never changed my tranny fluid, I don’t believe it’s recommended yet, but if you’re saying it helped you, I’d be happy to try it. It’s quite annoying.

 

Sounds about like what I experienced. So far so good with mine after the drain and fill. Toyota says to do it around 90k but with armor, towing frequently, etc., it caused mine to fail faster.

 

Seems these shudder issues don't happen on many gen 3 trucks from what i heard when talking with a friend that runs a large auto repair garage. I can tell you i don't have it. He sees a good number of all year tacoma's come it for oil, and all general fluid changes...he uses amalie for them of all brands...claims its good stuff.

 

Do the change and maybe add shudder fix as well. I had lower miles on mine when it started happening to me. Turns out my tranny fluid level was low which I think was common as I recall a long thread on it here. It could have been the replacement to the correct level that resolved but I added the shudder fix juice as well.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ar-between-1500-2000rpm.529507/#post-28239927

 

Just my 2cents but in my manual for my 21 trd pro it states 30k drain and fill on the trans ,15k on diffs and transfer case and 60k on plugs. I’m old school and Change my oil at 3k trans every 30k and diffs every 15k. Coolant once a year. This is my first Tacoma with now 5200 miles. My 97 4Runner has 336k on it and I service it the same way. I’ll be doing the same service intervals as I’ve always done and hope I get the mileage out of this one. I don’t like how the factory keeps pushing their services further out.

 

To each his own, but that’s all definitely way overkill on all aspects (except maybe the first trans change). Oil and filters are not what they were 30 years ago. Just one example, but Toyota long life coolant is a 5 year fluid. If you’re dumping that once a year youre just flushing a perfectly good product.

 

does the diff fluid really need to be changed every 15K miles?

 

I think that interval is quoted from the severe service section. I think it’s 30k otherwise.

https://empyreoffroad.com/blogs/res...toyota-tacoma-diy-maintenance-reference-guide

 

ah, it just says inspect every 15k not necessarily replace the fluid

 

I know my gen1 tundra auto recommended a 4 qt drain and refill every 15k miles, but it used dexron3 atf. I never had a transmission issue in nearly 300k miles in 19 years owning that truck doing that. The transmission still felt fresh. I plan on a similar deal with my sr5 tacoma auto, but at 30k miles. I think this lifetime fluid change for these trucks is really pushing it. Their lifetime, or mine?

 

Well…after a few thousand miles after it first reared it shuddery head around 6000 miles and checking to see what this truck would do, I still have shudder at 10,500 miles and it won’t go away. Mine is at 60mph, and when I have a contestant speed going uphill around 1700 RPM. Now I have a tune, the OTT and wondering if that’s the cause of it. I do buy cheap gas, so going to try upgrading gas to see if that helps. Truck of my dreams…drives like sh!t, first brand new truck, and I dumped a bunch of money into it already. (Shell, seat covers, racks, new tires,etc etc…) so I’m kinda stuck with it. Any suggestions would be great. Tuner said have dealer check transmission fluids, then there’s that story…the Dealers around me are horrible. Might try KDMAXX tune and see how that goes. At least I got a free oil change at 10,500 miles.

 

Get a high throttle settings tune.