99 Tacoma Trans issue.

I'm unsure if the whole trans needs a rebuild or if I just need to new torque converter but while driving between 60 MPH and 80 my TC will constantly lock and unlock itself while in drive, with the occasional slip. It also does this between 40 and 60 when I have overdrive turned off.

Also when I first drive it in the morning when accelerating at about 2k RPM in second gear my truck starts to stutter and feels like there is a lack of power but this seems to go away as the truck warms up.

I've made sure the fluid is at the right level in the trans and that all U-Joints are solid and the carrier bearing still appears to be good, I've also replaced the TPS sensor as a precaution but its still happening with no CEL.

 

it is my understanding that the lockup convertor disengages when the brakes are applied, can I confirm this, no. As a test I would left foot the brake enough to make the brake lights come on and see if the convertor acts up. If there is a way that you could see if the brake light switch is flaky by seeing the brakes lights come on, go off by themselves I would look at that too... cross your fingers and hope that that is all it is, a flaky brake light switch.

 

From what I can tell the brake switch is working correctly, I tested it on the entire drive to work today and it seems to act correctly when pressing the brakes.

 

damn... I was hoping for an free and easy fix.

 

So was I...