2001 4cyl AT shifts from 1st to 3rd

Update to a previous post. I am new and have a 2001 4 cyl SR5 Xtra Cab with AT, 208k miles.. Just recently the trans started acting strange. If I take off gently from a standing start it will shift from 1st to 3rd, shifting somewhere between 1800-2100 engine rpm. If I maintain a constant pressure on the accelerator it will go up to 3200-3400 rpm before shifting from 1st right into 3rd. The only way it will shift into 2nd is if I put the gear shift lever into 2, it will shift into 2nd, then when I advance the lever to third, it will shift to 3rd and then O/D at the appropriate point. I have changed the AT fluid and filter twice in the past 2 weeks, checked the exterior of the valve body for any obvious damage, no large metal flakes, removed the EFI fuse for 10 seconds that somebody suggested, have checked the resistance on the TPS, was in spec; all to no avail. No engine trouble light either. I have an Alldata subscription and am using that to troubleshoot. About all that is left to check and/or replace is the vehicle speed sensor/VSS (but no check engine light showing any DTC codes for the VSS), and then the governor valve. Transmission is not electronically controlled. If it's not one of those last two things, I don't know what else to do short of replacing the transmission. Does anybody else have any other ideas? Stuck check ball or something in the valve body? Thank you.

 

Check the resistance in your shift solenoids they should be between 11-15 ohms. My 98 was shifting the exact same way and it ended up being shift solenoid no.1. Its a 75 dollar part from napa and just drop the pan pull 1 bolt and plug it in. http://www.tankota.net/repair/Repair_Manual/03tacoma/di/ata340ea/cip0753p.pdf

 

98tacoma27, will do, sorry about that. I was going after the governor valve next, eithedr this weekend or next. Other than getting it from a dealer, are you aware of any other places I can order/get it from? I think the part # is 35480-28010. I do have access to the FSM, any suggestions when I get under the truck and go after the governor valve? Thanks.

Firefighter 160, this transmission is an A43D and is not electronically controlled so there are no solenoids I could go after and replace. Already dropped the pan once and nothing electrical in there. However, my understanding is that the only electric is a solenoid for shifting from 3rd to overdrive, which makes sense as there is an overdrive on/off button on the side of the stick shift lever. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I almost wish it were electronically controlled so I could change out the solenoids. Oh well...thanks for the suggestion.

 

Apparently, only place I can get a governor valve is from the dealer for about $200. Will try that next and if that isn't it, will proceed further as you suggest. Will let you know how things turn out.

 

Well, I ended up taking the truck to the local Mr. transmission shop. Said 2nd gear was "burned up" and tranny would need to be rebuilt, $1600-$2200 depending on how extensive. Guess I'm going to have to eat it, I use it every day and don't have the time to take apart and do it myself now, unfortunately.

 

He said it had a lot of brake material in the fluid and on the magnets as well as some bearing material. With 209k miles on it, said maybe just wore out, as for the 2nd gear, maybe a busted spring. Don't really know much more detail than that, will ask when I go to pick it up and let you know. I normally use it to commute an hour/60 miles one way to work daily at interstate speeds, ~70mph. Said they would be using a master rebuild kit to rebuild it, with seals, steels, etc. Somewhat smoke and mirrors to me. If I had the time and extra vehicles, I'd just park it and rebuild it myself over a few weekends and learn along the way, but I don't have that luxury. Oh well...if I can get another 200-300k out of it, probably worth it.

 

If you have the know how/desire/another friend with a truck to get it there, pull the trans yourself. It'll save you money at the shop.