02 Tacoma hard 3rd gear shift

I’m curious to see if anyone else has this issue of its how these transmission are. I’ve noticed that when I’m pushing my truck and little hard and when it goes into 3rd gear it hits hard, it shifts into it fine but you just know it shifts, first and second shift fine, I’m not to sure about 4th because driving around town I near really get up past 40. It shift way smoother when I’m just easy on the gas, it shifts just like first to second. It doesn’t down shit hard either so, I’m curios if this is normal or possible one of my shift solenoids is bad, I dropped the pan and did a filter change and there wasn’t any large metal shavings on the magnets. Thanks for your help

 

I just had my transmission serviced with about 260k on it. Had the shift solenoids replaced by a reputable shop in my area.

I noticed that it appeared to be hunting for gears up and down between 1-2, but with no really "Hard" shifting. I also have an Ultragauge that showed me the pending code for "Shift Solenoid A".

Not sure if this helps you, but I would at least see about getting it hooked to a code reader, or getting an Ultragauge. My UG has been well worth the cost.

 

Thanks for the help, I’ll plug in obd scanner and check for any pending codes

 

No worries, man. Hope you can get everything worked out.

 

I'll be watching this thread as I have the exact symptoms. It's always bothered me a little, but not enough to get it checked out.

At about 40% throttle, it shifts very crisply into third. Every other gear is smooth. It's done this since I got the truck at 44k miles. Nearing 60k now. If I'm driving slowly it doesn't do it at all. I've also noticed that if I'm driving WOT or with a heavy, heavy load it shifts smoothly.

I tried adjusting the kick-down cable and a trans fluid change, but that had no affect.

 

Honestly hearing that someone else has this problem is a relief. I just got done checking the to see if there was any codes but it didn’t have any, but I would expect there to be any because I just pulled the battery about 30 miles ago when changing spark plugs so my ecu reset. I also checked my transmission fluid just now and the fluid didn’t look sparkly or bad by any means, but the fluid only has 200 miles on it. So hears my theory, I’m no where close to being a mechanic, but it’s either the shift Solenoids on out truck or it’s just how the truck is. And does your truck have some axel wrap when you come to a stop, it feel like your getting rear ended, I know these Tacoma’s are know to have pretty bad axle wrap. But I doubt that the axle rap is part of the shifting problem.

 

Absolutely have axle wrap on my 2003. Some folks appear to have posted "Fixes" on this forum, but I've never cared enough to get past reading about them.

 

Yah, it kinda bothers me, but in a way I don’t mind it, it’s just a quirky characteristic these first gens have. That why mine is a turdcoma, not a Tacoma. I’m contemplating changing my trd sticker to a “turd” one for just shots and giggles.

 

Yes. I have axel wrap too.

 

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

 

Ive been doing a little more research and i have come up with some good info. After reading this first thread it sounds like we are not the only ones with this issue, it thinks it’s just how these transmission are. I’m going to double check and see if mine only shits hard when the transmission is cold, and Compare my third gear shift to when I’ve driven for a while. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-override-3rd-gear-not-shifting-when-cold.512334/




And read this post it’s super imformative, it’s kinda a lot of info but it may help with our problem

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sions-write-up-your-4-speed-automatic.325531/

 

The first thread really isn't about shifting hard. My truck shifts the same way hot or bone cold.

 

I’ve been doing a lot of research and reading off forms and I have still yet to come up with a solid answer. The only possible solutions could be a bad shift solenoid, or torque converter solenoid,and made a bad throttle body position sensor. But that’s all I’ve come up with. Have you checked your trans fluid lately for metal flakes? Mine seemed pretty good I only saw one flake after pulling it in and out like 4 times