Transfer Case/Transmission issue?

Been searching for a while and cant find anything that matches the same problem/symptoms. Looking for suggestions/opinions or anyone else that has had the same experience and maybe found a solution... Bone stock 2001 Tacoma, dbl cab, automatic, 4wd (j-shift tcase) with 114,000 miles. I am the second owner, just recently bought it and the previous owner has extensive maintenance records, it was always serviced at the same dealer, oil changed every 3,000 miles, and all the recommended service intervals were performed when they were supposed to. I did send him a message and of course said he never had any issues of any kind with the truck.

Here's the situation...
Driving down the road, (had been driving for about 35-40 minutes so everything was at operating temp) roughly 60mph and all of a sudden truck acts like its in neutral. When it happened there were no noises, clunking, jerking, etc. Just lost power and engine revved. Pulled over to the side of the road and the truck would not move forward or backward in 2wd/4hi/4lo. Can hear what sounds like the chain in the transfer case "slapping" or moving around when giving it gas but nothing else happening.

Hearing the chain making noise made me initially think the tcase was having an issue. In an effort to rule out the transmission I tried shifting into 1st gear, apparently 1st gear is a "manual override" of the electronics of the tranny and is a backup/emergency plan to get a disabled tranny (due to electronics failure) off the road. Truck still would not move in 1st gear (2wd or 4wd), just revved and could hear the chain noise in the tcase.

I checked the tranny fluid to make sure it wasn't low or nasty, it was red and looked good/smelled good, no sign of milkshake and didn't smell burnt. Coolant also looked good, clear/red Toyota coolant, checked it just to double check that the tranny fluid wasn't mixing with it. I loosened the fill bolt on the tcase to make sure it wasn't low on fluid and gear oil started to drip out while I was loosening it, fluid also looked good. I checked all the linkages and electrical connectors I could find and nothing seemed loose/worn/broken.

Truck sat for 10-15 minutes while all the above was happening. Started the truck back up and attempted to drive just to see what would happen, it drove away perfect, no weird noises, no funny shifting, nothing! Made it about 5 miles and same thing happened again, felt like the tcase or tranny went into neutral! Pulled over again and same exact symptoms, no movement in any gear or in 2wd/4hi/4lo but could hear what sounds like the chain moving/spinning. Decided to call a tow truck and have it towed to prevent any further damage.

Any recommendations on where to start? I haven't pulled apart the tcase or dropped the tranny pan yet, just looking for any ideas or possibly someone else that's been through this and might be able to save some time and headache of disassembling things I may not need to!

Thanks!

 

Well bummer, was hoping someone had some info/ideas...

 

My guess is the problem is in the transmission. The transfer case is pretty simple, the chain only transmits power in 4wd. If something in the transfer case were broken letting the truck sit wouldn't fix it.

 

That was my initial thought also, until hearing what sounds like the chain making noise in the tcase when it was sitting still revving, even in 2wd. What else could I be hearing that could sound like that? And I agree, no idea how it would start working again after sitting for a few. Hopefully can get sometime after this weekend to work on it.

 

I would be curios to see the inside of your transmission pan looking for a reaction carrier coming apart . There will be all kinds of metal laying in the pan
Considering you hear noise , the transmission has issues .
As mentioned above , the chain in the transfer case only turns when you are in 4x4 .
My guess is a bad planetary

Lower in this link , there is information on your transmission
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sions-write-up-your-4-speed-automatic.325531/

 

Thanks for the reply. Was able to get a scanner on and read the computer last night, came back with a "faulty sensor/solenoid" something about #2 or #3 sensor failure, dont remember the exact verbiage. Anyone ever experienced noises like i'm describing with a bad sensor/solenoid? I've had a solenoid go bad on an older 4runner I owned but it just made the tranny pick the wrong gear all the time, never made any noises or anything?

Wont be able to work on it until next week sometime, but I'm thinking the first step will be to pull the tranny pan also and see what comes down with it!!

 

I am guessing that the solenoid is plugged with metal . The computer commands the solenoid to stroke on , but doesn't receive the message that the solenoid stroked .

 

Thanks for all the info, that link above is ridiculous!!