A44D Valve body help!

Hello all,

I've recently purchased my first Tacoma (2004 2.4l Regular cab automatic 2wd) and was having issues with getting the transmission to shift from 1st-2nd. After extensive research on the forum, I have deduced my issue most likely to be the 2nd gear transmission valve to be sticking. All other gears work fine and I can shift and drive in 2nd on the PRNDL with no issues. Just no shift when the truck is in drive. After pulling the transmission pan, I noticed the valve body gasket had deteriorated a bit and led me to believe that maybe some of it got into the valve.

To cut to the chase: I have the valve body out, began to disassemble to clean and install new gaskets, and realized I did not have all the proper info to source parts and figure out how to correctly reassemble the valve body. If anybody has any info at all to supplement the very little info there is on these transmissions I would highly appreciate the help. I have the service manuals that @gearcruncher recommends for the A43D but they do not show how to accurately reassemble the valve body itself from what I can tell.

Thank you to anyone who can contribute! I really want to enjoy my new truck!

 

A bit confused... your post title mentions A44D valve body but your post says A43D, regardless thete is this and I beleive what you are looking for starts at AT77. Hope it helps.

https://www.scribd.com/document/685711355/A43D-Transmission-Service-and-Repair-Manual-1

 

@Glamisman You are the man! I apologize for any confusion lol. Yesterday was a long day and I was running on fumes writing that post. From my understanding the A44D and the A43D are virtually the same mechanically. So the manuals should be good for the A44D (which is what I have) as well. Thank you for sending this over, I will be trying to get ahold of the gaskets today to try and rebuild this weekend.

 

Turns out Toyota has discontinued 2 of the 4 valve body gaskets... anybody have any sources to get them all?

 

Might be able to get them from Transtar, they used to have full rebuild kits and individual pieces.

 

Try :

https://www.wittrans.com/New_link_parts.php?type=A44D (AW72)&section=7_case

 

I hope your old gaskets are in one piece because you are going to have to match the new one to the old one.

 

Yeah... they aren't lol. I am going to see if I can find reference images when I get time to work on it next week. When I was tearing everything down there was pieces of it in the oil pan.

If none of this works out it sounds like a 5 speed is in the near future.

 

Dang I’m fixing to have my 04 rebuilt I hope if parts are available mine has a low rpm whine i’m thinking it’s the pump. All gears shift fine just sounds like AT Tires at low speed.

 

Some version of A43x has been in production for over 20 years

there will always be options......

Overhaul Gasket Seal Kit Toyota AW A43D Series AW70L AW72L 1981-On 4 Speed Auto | eBay

A43D/AW70/71/72 Gasket, Main Valve Body (46913C) | eBay

just might have to look around........even my local trans supply..."oklahoma transmission supply" carries all the kits

 

Just to provide an update to those following this:

Valve body pulled apart and cleaned thoroughly. When I get time I will post all of the resources I've accumulated to be able to accurately rebuild the valve body.

Nothing else visibly wrong from what I can see, just the gaskets disintegrated and everything a bit gummed up.

Tried to throw everything back together with a few friends this weekend... only to figure out the gasket kit I ordered from Sun Transmissions has the incorrect gaskets. I will be reaching out to them to see if I can get money back or the correct stuff. @O'Silver_Taco I may reach out to Oklahoma Transmission Supply if Sun Transmissions is a bust.

If these problems persist I may just buy another transmission to put into the truck.

 

Found this on an unrelated search. There are a couple of places in the manual that show there should be a 1-2 check ball in the valve body. It would be sweet if thats all the problem is.

 

Oklahoma Transmission supply was a bust, they said the transmissions are dinosaurs and parts are a dime a dozen...

Still waiting on Sun transmissions to give me a response. Unfortunately starting to lose hope.

@Glamisman I have all new check balls and everything, but just not the right gaskets to put it all back together sadly.