HELP! Transmission isn't working right.

I can't figure out what's wrong with this thing. I recently purchased a 2007 tacoma crew cab 4x4 and I really like the truck but unfortunately the oil pump went out and the motor blew up . 2 weeks and 4,400 dollars later I get it back with a new motor in it. The motor is a strong motor but the transmission isn't working right . When I put it in (D) drive it takes of very sluggish as if it's in a high gear. I can go down to (L) and it pulls great but from L to 2 it doesn't shift and then from 2 to 3rd it shifts hard and from 3 to 4 it shift a little hard but not near as bad as from 2 to 3rd . Once I get to 3rd I usually just go to Drive. But when I come to a stop it goes back to the same problem and takes off sluggish like its in a high gear . So I have to go back down to l and start all over . Took it back to where the motor was put in and they ran the codes which were, pressure sensor shift sensor and torque converter clutch . The mechanic told me to just drive it and it may fix it's self which doesn't make any since at all . So can anyone tell me what may be going on or what I may need to do to get this fixe I really don't wanna have to drop a whole new tranny in it .


Also I've noticed that the cruise only works half the time any info to why that's happening will be much appreciated !

 

It is an auto and you are driving it like a stick?

The gear options on an auto are for engine breaking.



When you pull the battery terminals off the Computer has to relearn your driving habits.

 

Your symptoms sounds 100% like the torque converter is working against you. Your torque converter is toasted me thinks.



Sounds like your stator one way clutch is free wheeling in both directions. So you've lost torque multiplication.

 

Take it to a trans shop who knows what they are doing. A general mechanic probably doesn't know much beyond sending the whole thing out for a rebuild. Not hating on anyone, just reality, a modern auto trans is a specialty thing.

If I had to guess, I'd guess that the fluid level is low or they topped it off with the wrong fluid. I have a stick shift, but my understanding is that there is a very specific process for drain and fill on these trucks.

Find a good trans shop, probably something simple.

Edit: could even be a loose wiring harness connector somewhere. There's a lot of potential things to get missed when swapping an engine in a truck this complex.

 

Yeah it is a auto but I have been driving it like a stick to its hard to take off when I leave it in dive . It seems like there isn't a second gear though. When I shift from low to 2 it doesn't shift at all. Could the new motor be the problem since I locked the old motor up . Also when it locked up I was going fast enough it was probably in second gear .

 

I doubt simply pulling the battery cables off will fix ur problem... Might want to get it checked out by the dealer or a transmission shop.

 

When I got the new motor out in I had them service the tranny . It's throwing the code for the torque converter is that a simple fix or am I looking at a whole new tranny ?

 

Engine breaking? Hope not. I'm sure you meant braking, and not necesarily for that. Yes pulling the negative battery terminal over night will reset the computers, but I don't think that is going to help much. Sounds like the trans needs some help. There are so many things to list as to what it could be, but try the simple things first if you want, like disconnecting the battery, making sure you have the proper fluid level, or just take it to a different shop, preferably a trans shop, and have them look at it. Mention that you had the engine replaced, they may find that something wasn't connected properly, and it's an easy fix. Then you can have the engine shop refund that money to you. If it has nothing to do with the other shop, then at least you are getting the problem resolved.

 

Very true it could possibly be a disconnected shift solenoid or some other connection.

 

Torque converters are about $500, plus labor, and if thats all it is, then you don't need a complete rebuild or a new trans

 

I lold

 

Just because the code refers to the torque convertor does not mean the convertor is bad. Fluid, loose or damaged wiring, and possibly other things that an average guy like me doesn't know about.

Torque convertor is a separate part that installs at the front of the trans. The entire trans would not have to be replaced.

It worked fine before the engine job, right? Stuff like this it's usually the last thing that was messed with. It's got to be fluid, or a loose wire harness somewhere.

Check out Yelp or something similar and see who's the honest trans shop in town and let them look at it. Chances are good that they will go right to it. I see this type of thing in my line of work all the time. General handyman messes with something, owner messes with it some more, finally calls a specialist, ends up wishing they had done that in the first place. An hour labor for an accurate diagnosis is worth it, no wasted days of your time and aggravation.

 

The transmission was in good shape before the motor blew up so maybe it's a simple as someone not knowing what they are doing . Sounds like I'll be calling around tomorrow to find a good transmission shop

 

What did the service include?

 

They drained the old transmisson fluid and put new fluid in it

 

^^^^ might want to check that first and move to the wiring.

 

It would have been a great idea if the mechanic who did the work supplied you with the codes rather than the defenition .
When wires going down to the transmission or back up to the PCM get pulled and twisted during an engine replacement , there is a good chance some break or pulled from their sockets .
Now your transmission is stuck in limp mode because the transmission is not sending or receiving the information it needs to shift properly .
Limp mode or garage mode is a protection circuit designed to save the transmission from any further damage . The transmission is going to shift this way until you get the two codes fixed .
Its up to the mechanic/ garage who installed the motor to fix this for you .
They are going to need a wiring schematic going from the PCM to the transmission .
Hopefully its an easy find . Some can be a needle in a haystack to find becuase the wires were stretched rather than disconnected .
Been there many times .

 

I'm picking my 09 up from the dealer today. This makes the fourth time it's been in with a transmission shifting problems and check engine and traction control warning lights on. It started downshifting from 5th. to 4th. gear and could not up shift. It was found to be a qt. and a half low to start. Filled it, cleared codes and it did the same thing. They eneded up putting a new trans in it under my extended warranty and a week later it started doing the same thing and also felt like it would lock up on take off . ( Thought it might be axle wrap ) Terrible vibration at take off.
The dealer said the plug on the trans which connects to the computer was totally corroded and they think that's all it was to begin with.
Hopefully I'll be done with the transmission problems once and for all.
Might be a good idea to check those connectors to the transmission !!!