1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Pulling trailer transmission issues. Any advice?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 4ZNuff, Feb 5, 2024.

  1. Feb 5, 2024 at 6:40 PM
    #1
    4ZNuff

    4ZNuff [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2023
    Member:
    #436343
    Messages:
    4
    Vehicle:
    2002 Tacoma 2.4L 5 Lug
    LCE low boost supercharger
    Hey guys, thanks for all the advice on the site. Having an issue with my 2002 2RZ AT with 250,000 miles WITH LCE supercharger.

    Been doing some moving with a lot of back and forth trips. I have a 6x10 single axel trailer 80% full with household items. I've gotten about 2,000 miles with no issues at all, but this morning woke up to continue the haul and the transmission isn't shifting how it normally has been. It sticks in low gear on level land, revving beyond 45000 rpm with little to no power. It won't downshift at all, even when going downhill. It seems to be stuck in 2nd or 3rd when I force it with the gear shift. I don't know what's going on since it's been working fine for the last 2 weeks with no change in load size and no problem revving up and down the torque band. I took the trailer off to check, and it went back to having no issues. But as soon as I put the trailer on it continues with this new symptom. Besides air suspension and the supercharger, the truck is bonestock.

    My first thought is it was doing fine at first, but due to the high mileage the transmission has had it. And at this point I'm inclined to just swap out with a lower mileage a44d or if there's a more robust option for the 2rz. Or maybe it's simpler, like a bad tps sensor.

    Any thoughts are super appreciated, I'm a bit lost on what to do and I don't want to get rid of this truck because I've had it since it was new in 2002, and I need to be able to pull trailer loads. You guys have taught me lot since I've had to work on this truck, again thanks for all the advice.
     
  2. Feb 5, 2024 at 6:47 PM
    #2
    ControlCar

    ControlCar My Moto: Help & Learn…period.

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2023
    Member:
    #429578
    Messages:
    3,592
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steven
    Sugar Land TX
    Vehicle:
    1996 Taco 2.4L 2wd Automatic
    Clock Volt meter/LSPV Delete/Hyundai 16’s/FP gauge/after 9months of wrenching ZERO oil leaks
    I have watched enough Roadkill episodes to check tranny fluid level 1st
     
    Bivouac likes this.
  3. Feb 5, 2024 at 11:26 PM
    #3
    Digiratus

    Digiratus Adventurer

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2010
    Member:
    #34006
    Messages:
    23,830
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Roaming the PNW
    Vehicle:
    The RedHead
    2002 XtraCab TRD 4x4 SCv6 AutoTrans With Lots of Mods ADS COs w/Compression Adjusters Camburg Uniball UCAs Whiteline Lower Control Arm Bushings Kartek 7" Limit Straps Plastics Guy Front Bumpstops Total Chaos Sprindle Gussets Custom Alcan Springs +800 lbs +3" ADS 10" Stroke Triple Bypass w/Resi Rear Shocks Custom Rear Shock Relocate All-Pro U-bolt Flip w/Timbren Bumpstops 4.88 Nitro Gears ARB Front Locker ARB Twin Compressor Black 17x8 Konig Countersteer Type X 285/70r17 Falken A/T3w Gunmetal 16x8 SCS Ray10s 255/85r16 Maxxis Bighorns Limited Edition (Relentless) Elite Front Bumper Smittybilt X2O 10K Winch Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport Selective Yellow Fog Lights in the Bumper Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro 4,000 Kelvin SAE Driving Lights with Clear Lenses on the Bumper Morimoto D2S Projectors XB35 Ballasts + 4300K Bulbs Badland Sliders FrankenFab Tire Carrier Swingout bumper w/kitchen BudBuilt Front & Bellypan Skids BAMF Rear Diff Skid Dometic CFX 55im Fridge/Freezer Alpha II Hardshell RTT Badland Custom Bed Rack Denso 210-0461 105 amp alternator Dual Northstar 24F AGM batteries BlueSea 7622 ML-ACR Battery controller Peak DBI Dual Battery Voltage Monitor Haltech IC-7 Display with Mako Dash Insert Haltech Elite 2500 Standalone ECU Magnuson MP62 Supercharger w/URD 2.2" Pulley Doug Thorley Headers Denso 650cc Fuel Injectors Aeromotive Stealth 340 Fuel Pump TransGo A340F Reprogramming Shift Kit OEM ECU Delete Full A340F Trans Control with the Haltech 2500 ECU 2.5" Magnaflow Hi-Flow CAT Magnaflow 18" Muffler w/Vibrant Resonator 13WL Brake Calipers with OEM Rotors & Pads Braided Steel Brake Lines Kenwood TM-71A Dual Band Ham Radio STI-CO Flex Whip VFH/UHF 1/4 Wave Antenna Midland MTX275 GMRS Radio w/Roof Mount Antenna Pioneer DEH-P9400BH HU Alpine Amps & Type R components (F) and coaxials (R) Wet Okole Seat Covers Weathertech Digital Liners Deck Plate Mod 1" Diff Drop Carrier Bearing Drop
    Do you have an external fluid cooler? Recommended for towing. In adding to checking the fluid level, verify the fluid is not degraded. Should be a bright/clear red.
     
    scocar likes this.
  4. Feb 6, 2024 at 7:22 AM
    #4
    MT-98

    MT-98 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2023
    Member:
    #438362
    Messages:
    54
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    98 Tacoma
    Sorta Stock
    I don't know your transmission, or how you've treated the truck, but I know with my 3.4 MT, I started pulling a 3,000lb trailer when it had 200,000 miles. Still pulling that trailer at 325,000 miles, and the tranny is holding up. In fact it's still got the original clutch. So the mileage it not necessarily an issue. But I don't know anything about ATs. I've definitely shortened the life of my truck by pulling this trailer, but it's surprisingly been up to the job.

    Setup.jpg
     
    scocar likes this.
  5. Feb 6, 2024 at 8:46 AM
    #5
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2021
    Member:
    #359086
    Messages:
    3,998
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andy
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    01 Double Cab v6 4x4 TRD
    F: Kings SPC, R: 5100s+J59s. Custom armor.
    I would start by checking the kick down cable. Odd for something like that to happen over night.
     
  6. Feb 6, 2024 at 8:54 AM
    #6
    scocar

    scocar Patron of the Farts

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2009
    Member:
    #25814
    Messages:
    40,087
    1. Do you tow in overdrive?
    2. How much weight are you towing? Rating is not measured in household items or number of canoes.
    3. The AT in the 1st gen is pathetic. I tried a DC up a steep grade no trailer once. It was the I knew a DC was not an option for me. The 5 sp pulls a small camper great.
    4. If you love the truck and have gotten that much out of it, replace the tranny, read the towing Bible and gear crushers AT thread, and resume loving your truck.:)



    Edit: holy crap I just realized you have a 4 banger. I got confused by another posters pic.

    Get a tow truck, or a truck that can tow.

    Not sure how many HP your SC adds or if you have all the fuel pump/trims and pulley mods. But betwewn that and I heavy load or over drive or both, it is likely your AT has essentially become the equivalent of a fuse in your powertrain, especially if that model AT is matched to 4 banger output.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2024
    Rock Lobster likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top