transmission technician

Thanks in advance ... great wealth of knowledge here and I really appreciate the sharing of that experience and knowledge!

Here's my issue ...

2008 Tacoma, V-6 w/ 4wd A750F automatic transmission, TRD Sport pkg. Recent owner (used, 'new to me') w/ 40k on the vehicle (not a typo ... 40k!). The trans (my assumption, since I hear the noise from under the vehicle, or bouncing off adjacent parked cars/Jersey barrier) just recently started to make a ticking/knocking noise when the vehicle is started and the trans placed in all drive gears (D & R). Noise goes away when in P or N. Sounds very consistent and tied directly to the RPM. Not the normal engine/valve cover 'tick' heard under the hood. Also, the ticking/knocking is only heard between 800-1,000 RPM and isn't heard 100% of the time. I can have the truck idling in the driveway, in gear, and it's ticking. Rev it up over 1,000 RPM w/ the brakes held, and it goes away. Sometimes it will come back under 1,000 rpm ... sometimes it won't.

I've done some thread research and have come across heat shield or flex plate cracking (that was in regards to the 1st Gen trucks ... True or also a 2nd Gen issue?) comments. Am shying away from heat shield since it's not a rattle/vibration ... definitely more of consistent tick. Since its not present 100% of the time, maybe it could be the shields ... or???

Being picky, the only trans issues seem to be a SLIGHT hard shift or surge from 1st to 2nd. Anyone care to venture a guess and where you would go next in my 'goose chase'?

Again, thanks in advance for your time and wealth of knowledge!

Rick.
Toyota Newbie

P.S. GREAT posts/threads on the AT fluid change ... when a Toyota dealer mechanic told me these transmissions were "sealed" and NEVER needed the fluid changed, my BS Radar started going nuts!

 

From experience with my previous 4.0L truck I'd suggest having someone else shift into drive while listening with the hood open, just to be sure of the source. The 4.0L has a LOUD tick on the driver's side head at low idle that doesn't sound anything like a typical injector or valve. How loud? My mother who drove 18 wheelers for a decade thought my truck had a diesel engine. The slower the idle, the louder it would be. It's considered normal because all of them do it. Supposedly it's caused by an emissions component.

 

When I am driving and when I let off the gas and slow down I have a tick noise that is coming from the transmission. Its a tick I can actually hear from in the car. It makes the noise when it downshifts but it only makes the tick noise once and not through every gear. Its like if I am going 35 and let of the gas completely and coast it seems like that first downshift you hear one click that sounds like its coming from the transmission. Hard to explain but does anybody reconize a sound like this. Its not a clunk but just a short tick that is loud. Thanks

 

Hi Gear Cruncher & Bama Boy I hope this thread is still alive...06 Prerunner w/244932 miles 5speed automatic today a gear whine started for the 1st time, I made it to 25 miles to Walmart with no noise and when I came out and cranked it up, while in park a gear whine consistent with the rpms began, the noise continues thru all gears matching the rpms. I began investigation for the noise origin and discovered it loudest under the truck...not around the alternator, PS pump or water pump. No change in shifting points...not driving anymore until I positively identify the source. In the morning I will check fluid level behind plug...i have a quart of Toyota WS fluid...seems when I blew a ujoint once, I messed the rear seal up, replaced it...yet a drip remained. So I guess my question is...could there be permanent damage if in fact the fluid is low and the new noise is the transmission whining?

 

Guess this was a dead thread...thankfully it was not the transmission! Due to the scary noise that sounded like it was coming out of the transmission, I addressed my poorly maintained transmission Thank You mountain lion for the D.I.Y. fluid change info and how to enter the secret code to get into trans temp mode! (Brought me back to my early Nintendo days up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start...lol) now with the PROPER FLUID LEVEL! I messed with the level and severely over filled a while back so I now have peace of mind,and have been educated on how to maintain a healthy transmission! Long story to the point on this dead thread...IT IS A LOWER IDLER PULLEY!!

 

Hey man I have a 09 Tacoma sr5 pre runner. I have a small leak on my rear main seal which I'm betting fix next week. It's very small I can get under truck wipe it and it won't drip for 3-4 days.

But one thing that's aggravating me is when I'm
Driving and get to a light foot on break it will feel like a thump! Like truck was going down road and bad shift is this a tranny issue?

Thanks

 

Sub for future questions.

 

use Amsoil Blue cap and WS compatable ,change every 25-30,000 miles and Lubegard Platinum as gearcruncher states ,I do , 55,000 and runs and shift like new still!

 

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Hey Gear Cruncher, Thanks so much for the offer to share your expertise. I'm not sure if you are still involved in the forum as these posts are pretty old. I'm relatively new to wrenching on vehicles though I'm a decent bike mechanic. I drained my transmission fluid and refilled yesterday on my '05 4Runner. Vehicle runs well, wan't having any tranny issues beforehand either. My "Maintenance required" light came on after doing this work. My working theory is that I didn't get quite enough fluid back in there, planning to add another 1/2 quart this evening. Thanks in advance for your response, ~Drew

 

Hey
I’m having troubles with my automatic transmission. I drive a 2012 prerunner.

Well, it has a hard clunk when shifting into 3rd gear and a shudder from 35-40 mph when driving at a constant speed or with little acceleration.

I took it to Toyota and, of course, I need a new $5400 transmission. I’m wondering if anyone has had this problem and resolved it before? The dealership said they only REPLACE transmissions and do not REPAIR them. Also they no codes popped up when they ran the diagnostic.

Any help is appreciated.

 

Have you checked the fluid level?
There’s lots of threads on this subject

 

Yes