Auto trans clunks into first at stop

Hi All,

I've been having an issue with my truck and I'm not sure what the culprit is. It's an 03 3.4 Auto with 122k on the odo

WHAT IT DOES
If I come to an abrupt stop it sounds like the transmission does not shift into first and when I roll forward it "seems" to shift but it shifts hard. To be honest I don't know if it is actually shifting or not. the trans lever moves ever so slightly when this occurs. No other drivability issues and the fluid was swapped standard drain and fill (NO FLUSH) about 2k miles ago.

WHAT I THINK IT MIGHT BE
I did a lot of searching and I think it could be the slip yoke not moving freely in transmission or the trans is completely fucked up. I plan to grease the zirk fitting tonight and see if that helps.

I'd really appreciate everyone else's thoughts on this and for anyone who has owned one of these trucks longer than me to chime in as to whether this is a common problem or not.

Thanks in advance

 

Pretty sure its the axle wrap issue a lot of people have with the 1st gens. Get new leaf springs or just add some helper springs and it should go away. Does it with my truck too, but not really that bad.

 

What about the U joints?

 

I checked them by trying to twist the axles in opposite directions and didn't detect any significant play.

Is that how you test them?

 

I'm probably wrong and I'm sure I'll hear about it but it sounds to me like the TCC (torque converter clutch) switch is failing if its not down shifting at a stop. You're lucky it eventually does but eventually it won't. I'm not sure whether it's in the pan or accesible from the side.



Steve

 

From all of the reading I've done around here, my bet is with axle wrap. Do a search and see if your issues mimic the hundred or so threads on it.

 

It sounds like axle wrap. I had the same problem feels like someone hit you from behind. Problem went away with new springs.

 

This^^ I've seen tons of threads about axle wrap on the 1st gens. You could get helper springs or get your leafs re-arched.

Here's a link on how someone else fixed theirs.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/108316-goodbye-axle-wrap-mod.html

 

I'll do a search on axle wrap - the leafs are pretty much flat anyways but I wasn't quite ready to get my lift...

does having axle wrap hurt anything?

 

This may help...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/99165-lurch-forward-when-auto-trans-shifts.html

 

Thanks a lot, I think I have the issue and don't particularly care to "lift" my prerunner any higher. I like the stock height and this looks perfect for my application, even just the U-bolts. I did order some new 51XX series bilsteins which should arrive today so we'll see what those do to my suspension.

 

I had the same issue (03, 140k miles) - thought it was axle wrap and replaced the suspension. It was still there. Lubed the slip joint which was completely dry I think - problem went away for about 3-4 weeks. It is slowly coming back - so I believe the seal on the slip joint has loosened up over time. I am not sure if it needs to be replaced or just lubed regularly.

Cheapest check is to try the slip joint and go from there. Make sure to lube it until you see the lube start to come out. If it is dry - it will take a lot to fill it.

Edit - Slip Joint is not the proper term. I am not sure what it is called, but it is on the drive shaft and when you fill it the draft shaft starts to slide apart until the lube comes out. Here is the link to the diagram I used to lube the joints on the front and rear drive shafts: All told between both shafts - it was probably 6-10 fittings.