'12 Tacoma transmission "rattle"

Hi Guys,

Been off this forum for awhile but anyways, I got rid of my '02 last year and bought a brand new 2012 4l automatic TRD. The first 25,000 miles went flawlessly. The problem I experience now is an intermittent rattle. It generally occurs when under load and it is "lugging" the gear it is in like going uphill when the engine rpm's are lower than 2,000. If I push on the gas and make it downshift the noise goes away. If driving 40 mph and slowly accelerating the thing rattles like crazy. If I rev the engine it makes no noise. It usually does not make the noise until the engine is good and hot - 20+ minutes of driving. It will not make the noise at all when the motor/trans is cold. The noise sounds like a mix between a rattle a rod knock and a grinding gear. I took it into the dealership and the tech said he could not replicate the noise...Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Dave

 

Lube the driveshaft U-joints; immediately.

 

Sounds similar to noise I've had for the last ~70,000 miles. I've mostly given up. Eventually something will break and then I'll know what to fix. Here is a list of various things I've done and it made no difference for the "42mph @ 1900 rpm while lightly accellerating" rattle.

* foam tape around various cables, clips, hoses, and brackets.
* foam tape between inner fenders and other stuff.
* removed storage bins and lids from bed.
* new u-joints.
* new center bearing on drive shaft.
* change auto trans fluid. (just drain/fill ~4qrt, not a "flush").
* change rear dif oil.
* removed exhaust from cats back and thumped along it with rubber mallet hoping to shake out anything loose that could be rattling around inside the muffler.
* checked all heat shields along the exhaust.
* checked tightness of a lot of bolts/nuts along frame, bumper, etc.
* checked that spare tire wasn't loose or otherwise hitting something.
* removed rocks wedged in gas tank shields and hangers.
* visually checked a lot of welds (engine mounts, cross members, etc).

Of course some of this was regular maintenance stuff.
Only a few of those were me going crazy trying to figure out assorted rattles.


Sometime after the weather cools off, I plan to do these but that's mainly just that they need to be done anyway.

* change the rear motor mount (or transmission mount depending on who you ask). It seems to flex more easily than I think it should.
* another drain/fill on trans fluid. I'll drop the cooling line this time to see if I can get up to 5 or 6 quarts out.
* look/feel for any signs of cables and hoses having wear caused by rubbing where they shouldn't.

 

Thanks for the prompt replies!

I greased the u joints at 25,000...I am at about 29,000 now and the noise continues..It is good to know that others have a similar issue. The noise really doesnt sound normal or good..especially after dropping 30k for the thing a year ago..oh well I guess I will just crank the tunes louder and try to ignore it.

Thanks

Dave

 

i get them same noise

 

If my guess is right, it's not a good sign and most likely the transmission gear clusters are going to grenade. Take it in repeatedly even if they do nothing so you have a chance of having it repaired after your warrantee expires or make sure you have an extended warrantee to at least 100K. This plagued many cars in the 90's early-00's and may be coming back around. The torque converter clutch engages at such a low rpm that it lugs the engine and the harmonics eat up the gear clusters in the trans. as well as other things. It's all done to chase EPA mandated numbers with little or no regard to smart engineering.

 

Actually, take the tech for a ride and replicate it for him!

 

I don't know. Like I said above, mine has done this for roughly the last 70,000 miles. Hasn't failed yet. If it's gotten worse over the years, it's so gradual that I haven't noticed it getting worse.

 

It probably won't get noticeably worse in any way 'till the gears or something else breaks.

 

I have this same issue, only when hot, only under moderate load. Gonna take a tech for a drive this coming week while its still hot outside. Please let us know if you get an answer, I'll do the same.

 

Check your truck for TSB,s... Check for TSB,s http://www.toyotaproblems.com/tsbs/Tacoma/

Type in your VIN # here and see what,s been done to your truck at the dealership
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/home

Type in your VIN # here and see if there are any safety concerns or recall,s on your truck
http://www.toyota.com/recall




The tsb states that it fixes pinging which should be noticed with warm weather and the air conditioning on . It seems Toyota fixes the engine loading by making the shift points wider in an attempt to reduce engine load thus fixing two different complaints at the same time .
You can read about the TSB here .http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...14-feedback-engine-ecm-reprogram-pinging.html

 

If you get the tech to ride along with you, and you REALLY want to get the noise going...turn the a/c on while you're lugging in the gear. It seems to make it happen a lot easier. I have posted in another thread on here about the noise you describe happening. Seems to be a common thing.

 

I have an 05 and have this issue. however, mine does it all the time. Engine cold, hot doesn't matter. This weekend I thought I had fixed it as I was under my truck and found a heat shield that was basically completely loose. I bought some washers and that fixed the loose heat shield, but the noise continues.

 

I’m having this issue right now on my 2009 2.7 Tacoma

 

I have it too. For the last 50,000 km.
Sometimes it sounds like coming from the crank, sometimes I think it's from the transmission internal bearings.