transmission question

hi guys,
new to the site. just got a 2013 tacoma pre-runner 4 door. traded my f150. love the truck. have just over 2000 miles on it now. just one problem. when the truck is downshifting between 30 mph and 20 mph it has a real vibration from the trans. almost a chadder. not sure if its normal or not. i was gonna ask about it at the 1st service but thought i`d see if anybody else has had this issue. thanks again. looking forward to spending a lot of time here.
dave

 

likely driveshaft vibe, mine does it at 25 during decel for a split second

 

so is there a fix or just normal?

 

My 2009 does it too, same time, 20-30mph decelerating. Its kinda had me worried so if anyone else knows what it is that would be great.

 

i'll let you read around and decide...

normal in the sense that it does it on a lot of tacomas, both stock and lifted

*edit.. i'll just leave this here

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/254438-driveline-vibration-tsb-out.html

 

so i have a question

when i drive under 55 mph i leave my 5 speed automatic in 4th gear and just switch it over at about 45mph to drive get to highway speed is that bad for my transmission of course i let off the gas when i do so.

 

if your concerned about transmission problems, why do it?

 

because a trust friend of mine who is a mechanic for mercedes Benz dealership said it wont hurt it. and i dont mind. who likes to have low torque in drive at slow speeds

 

Tacoma = driveline shudder

Sad but true

 

Leave it in "D" at all times and let the trans decide where it needs to be.

The only time you should be out of "D" is when the trans is "hunting" between two gears. This increases heat and wear on the clutches... manually lock it into the lower of the two gears.
Also when towing, it's generally best to lock it out of OD unless you're rolling a long flat highway stretch.

Basically, if the trans is "comfortable" in top gear, that's going to be the best gear.

 

thanks for the info

 

Rich , I haven't had a small truck in a long time and never one with a auto trans . When towing is it best to tow in 4 rather than D ? I towed about 4500# from FLA to SC and on flat ground I could stay in D but the slightest hill and I would need to shift to 4 . The gas milage sucked also ,only about 9mpg's . I would have been better off to drive my one ton Dodge diesel ! I hate to be so dumb , been towing all my life but I was disappointed in the Tacomas performance after I was told it would tow 6500# . Thanks for any advice on this . Frank

 

The taco will tow 6500# loads ( actually it will tow more ) but you can't make it what it's not...it's a midsize truck with a mid size engine and torque. If you love the truck and need more power for frequent towing, go with a Trd supercharger. Most of the time when im towing, im in 4 not D. D is pretty much useless when towing imo. I tow my 4 wheeling rig (89 pathfinder ) on a uhaul trailer and while I found the Tacoma did fine once I was going at speed, it definitely struggled getting up to speed. With the SC installed, I don't really feel that way anymore. I have more power and get better mileage because the engine isnt working as hard with the SC. the only issue I have when towing a heavy load is that I cannot keep the torque converter locked which generates a TON of heat in the transmission when dealing with long large hills upstate. On the flat it's totally fine unless you're stuck in lots of stop and go due to the shitty placement of the stock transmission oil cooler behind the bumper support

I plan to install a larger trans cooler ( in a better location) with a fan to compensate for this. I had also at one point seen somewhere a company sold a kit to control torque converter lockup but I can't remember where on the site I saw it...

 

It's the back and forth between gears that generates heat and wears on the clutches... Moreso when towing due to the added clutch slippage from the extra weight.

If the trans is remaining in OD, it's fine, and that's your best economy.
If it's going back and forth like it will on a hill, then lock it down into 4 (or 3 if needed)