2014 - Base 4X4 - 2.7 / AT - Transmission Issues

I have a 2014 Base 4X4 that I have had for a little over 2 yrs. When I purchased it, it only had 46K miles and was in immaculate shape, with service records from previous owner. At that point in it's life all it had were oil changes and tire rotations. When I got the truck i changed out the air pump filter to a pleated K&N type filter.

Last year I put some brand new TRD takeoff suspension parts on (Struts, coils, leaf's, and shocks) with a 2" bloc in the back and a 1" spacer up front. I also swapped out tires and wheels during hunting season to a set of 2004 16" Tacoma wheels and some Buckshot 2's (265/75/16). After the lift I drove it for a day and then took it to be aligned. Then I did a drain and fill on the Front and Rear Diff and the transfer case. All that looked fine. After hunting Season I put the 17" 4 Runner Wheels and Tires on, cleaned it up and used it for daily driver duties.

Fast forward to today (75K miles) and I have an odd noise that seems to have started sometime in July. I cant swear it hasn't been doing it all along, but I know it's not normal, however, its hard to describe, but I feel like I have it narrowed down to some particular circumstances.

When I am in 3rd and/or 4th gear if I let off the accelerator I hear a swish kind of mechanical noise for just a second, and when I press the accelerator again it does it. If I just barely press the brake pedal with foot on accelerator also, but not actually braking, it makes the noise. If I throw it into neutral, the noise is kind of continuous, but sporadic also the same noise if I am just barely on the accelerator.

There seems to be no weird shifting going on or anything like that. I have been draining and refilling the transmission fluid 2/3 qts at a time (draining and filling with graduated bucket) the fluid doesnt look bad and it looks like most pics I have seen on this board. My plan was to drain and fill a few times and then drop the pan and do the filter, but honestly I was hoping for a change in the noise, but I am suspecting Torque Converter or something. To me it sounds like some kind of plates rotating and meshing and when in neutral they are just there coming i contact from time to time. When I am stopped and rev motor I get no sounds that I am referring to.

Does anybody have pics of the 4 speed transmission? I'm not sure where the overflow plug is nor the fill. I've been filling from the dipstick....

Looking for advice, I need this truck to last......

Thanks!

 

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That sounds like the air pump to me

 

You sure the noise isn't in the diff or transfer case?

Can you get it to make the noise stationary with the rear wheels off the ground (you will need to disable traction control)?

The A340 doesn't have an overflow or fill plug as it has a dipstick.

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

 

@Geeves77 - Alabama - Air pump? Would that not make the noise if I was in neutral and revving the engine? Others on FB group have suggested that, but I don't hear anything weird there when the hood is up.

@Dm93 - I haven't been able to do this with the wheels off the ground. This may be something to try. Maybe I could get a gopro under there for a video. I'll need to get some new Jack Stands......

Does the Drain and fill technique that's posted somewhere on here apply to the A340 as far as the level goes and putting the truck into temp check mode? Not sure how this will benefit me if there is no overflow.

 

I wouldn't think it's the air pump as it only runs on a cold start for 30-60 secs.

I was thinking if you could get it to do it sitting still you could go along with a long screwdriver or wooden broom handle and isolate where it's coming from.

The A340 trans does not use temp check mode, there are hot and cold marks on the dipstick (truck must be running in park to check).

 

I was thinking that was the case, however i didn't know the truck had to be running. So, "cold" meaning the level at a cold start and "hot" meaning the level after it's been running for while?

Thanks for the replies!

 

I haven't messed with anything other than draining and filling the transmission fluid. The reason I am hear is to look for advice and opinions or maybe someone had the same issue. I maintain, install, troubleshoot and repair many millions of dollars worth of heavy industrial machinery. I'm no auto mechanic and never claimed to be one, to be honest, I hate it, but I'm hoping someone here can can help me decide where I need to take it. Thanks for your input, I'll take it into consideration as all the others who will chime in.

 

I’m just throwing this out there…. the belt tensioner… change that pulley before you find out the hard way and it explodes 300 miles from home. Use oe, only.

 

Would I sound crazy if I said the noise sounds like fluid shuttling around? I know when you let off the accelerator and press the brake pedal that the ECU sends signals to the transmission to do something. I'm know transmission guy, but I have had a few comments on the FB group that referred to the torque converter locking and unlocking. Is this a thing? When does it occur? Lock when accelerating and unlock when decelerating? I can also hear this noise, though sporadic in sound (it always does it) if I throw it in neutral and coast. Is there a piece of electronic/pneumatic hardware associate with just the torque converter that Locks and unlocks it? Like some solenoid valve or something?