Trouble upshifting

A340E automatic. This started recently and not right after any work done on it.

At low speed it's delaying shift from gear 1 to 2 until I press the pedal a little more. 2 to 3 feels a little delayed also, more than it used to be. It still moves, just louder until it shifts.

Transmission fluid condition and level are good. TPS is calibrated in range. Speedometer looks ok, if that has anything to do with it, but I've read a speed sensor might be involved? No fault codes.

I plan to replace the original transmission filter with an ATP one I bought. Never been changed.

While I have it opened, I have read online and in the FSM that a bad shift solenoid might cause this. I don't know transmission stuff, but I found this kit on rockauto. Are these easy to get to when I have the pan and filter removed?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10319084&cc=1278930&pt=8476&jsn=904

Anything else obvious I should throw parts at?

 

Bump. There's also a speed sensor that the transmission uses that I have read can be a problem, which Toyota calls the transmission revolution sensor and from what I understand is easily accessed above the drive shaft. Maybe I should replace that first and see?

As far as brand, I'm going to assume as it's a sensor I need to get OEM, while solenoid valves are simpler and can be ok aftermarket?

 

Make sure that kick down cable from the throttle body to the trans is not in a bind and operating freely..

I moved that cable a little away from the headers and that two inches was enough to cause delayed shifts on mine.

So insulated it with a split silicone hose and put it back.

 

Come to think of it, I was recently feeling some slight friction on the gas pedal at one particular spot in the press. So this morning I looked at it all and adjusted where the kickdown cable secures a little. I don't know if it's better. Trying to find a problem, I found that the bracket holding both cables next to the linkage was tweaked by a past mechanic, which I knew, but I didn't notice until now that it misaligned the cables into the linkage. I heated and tweaked the bottom finger on the bracket so the cables are pointed straight into the linkage grooves. It seems to pull smooth by hand at the linkage, and smooth gas pedal press with the engine off. I don't know what it felt like before. I'll have to see when I drive it at the right speeds in a large parking lot. That would be great if it fixes the issue.

 

Nope, no change. So if the problem is with the kickdown cable, I don't see it.

 

I think the adversely bent dual cable bracket is throwing off the nuts position calibration of the kickdown cable. The metal stopper is supposed to be about flush with the end of the boot, and I knew from experience that adjusting the metal stopper to outside the boot is bad news, so I adjusted it to hide inside the boot a few mm. It softly and quickly shifts at all gears correctly now like it used to. So it's either that bracket or something to do with the cable or another connected part after a million miles.

 

I spoke too soon. The shifting is overall better but it's still often refusing to shift from 1 to 2. Hopefully the solenoids or filter will fix it.

 

Getting very close to doing the job.

Trans fluid was drained and refilled (~2 qts) at 183k, 209k, 252k, and then 4 recent ones every few k because of mistakes, leaks, and repairing stripped bolt holes. This shifting issue only started very recently, several k after the last fluid refill. The fluid looks nearly new.

Based on this, should I put in more new fluid when done, or reuse the old fluid? I have a strainer I could use if any grime drops in.

 

The cable does stretch... little bit of a pain to change but it is good insurance.

 

Unobtainium 3552035211

 

Maybe...

https://www.yotashop.com/kickdown-c...ission-kick-down-cable-1994-2003-35520-35190/

 

Not the right part. Different transmission or for 4wd or something.

 

I wouid contact yotashop and see what they say...
that cable or the 2.4 one may fit.....may have another solution...
I'm sure you're not the first....

 

I have this same issue while cold. Kick down cable has no issues from what I can see.

 

I might add if you have add on trans cooler, might let it warm up couple minutes.

The oem system uses the radiator water to speed this up.....if you bypass that, let it warm up a little bit.

 

The sheathing on mine is torn where it clips to the side of the engine block, but it appears to pull and release on the spring fine when I pull it by hand. If there's any issue with the cable, I have to think it's an issue at the connection on the transmission end, and I don't know anything about that connection or what could be wrong.

 

I did a trans drain and refill but not a filter yet. made a small improvement. might have to do the filter

 

The more I think about it, I put a gash in the kickdown cable sheathing a couple months ago when doing fuel injectors, and I suspect I must have damaged the inner cable even though I thought it pulled ok. There is some slight friction I feel pressing the gas pedal.

I emailed yotashop about the 35520-35190 cable. I'm getting a red "may not fit" warning on Toyota's site for my vehicle, but it's the exact diagram used for my discontinued part, below, down to the numbers. So that is probably worth a shot. I have to drop the pan to get to this anyway, so I guess I'm doing it all.

 

Well shoot, yotashop said that cable is only for the 4x4. So I'm stuck trying to find someone with a dead 2wd who can part it out for me and hope it's better than mine.

 

try ebay for a good used one