Help! Transmission Slipping

Hello,

I have a 2012 Tacoma with close to 250,000 miles and an automatic transmission. I use it as a second vehicle for going to the dump, getting lumber, etc. and really enjoy it. Recently, I started noticing an issue with the transmission at very low speed (as in a parking lot) and when I'm at a stop with the break applied. When moving, I definitely feel a slight slip and when stopped, I feel a little clunk and the vehicle moves ahead ever so slightly. This problem is not constant, but is becoming more frequent. Otherwise, the truck runs great and the body is in great shape. I've never had the option of having a second vehicle and am hoping to keep it. Do any of you knowledgeable Taco owners have any advice? Is my tranny spent? Obviously, I would hate to put big money into a 2012 truck. Advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

I’d start with checking the fluid level.
And then a drain and fill and add some LubeGuard.

You have nothing to loose by trying. And it’s relatively cheap.

 

Binding dried out driveshaft splines. Mark both pieces, separate, clean old gunk out, grease with red and tacky or similar. Match back up, replace the boot, drive.

 

+1 for Shudder Fixx.

 

I mean 250k on a vehicle is about time for the transmission on any vehicle to either get rebuilt or replaced.

 

It is a sealed transmission. Unless you've seen evidence of where it's leaking it's got the same amount of fluid in it that it had when it left the factory. Toyota did let a few get out the door with transmissions that were not full. But if that were the case it wouldn't have gone 250,000 trouble free miles.

If it were mine, I'd keep driving it until it gets a lot worse. The way you drive it that could be 2-3 more years then have it rebuilt. I was quoted under $3000 when I asked a few years ago which isn't that bad. If the transmission is starting to go bad putting in fresh fluid just speeds up the process. You won't find another used truck 1/2 as good as what you're driving for the cost of having the transmission rebuilt.

As the clutches in the transmission wear the abrasive coating wears off and becomes suspended in the transmission fluid. When you drain out the old dirty fluid and replace it the new clean fluid it is TOO slippery, and the clutches slip even worse, and it becomes undriveable. No reputable shop will change your fluid.

 

$6,000.00 to rebuild it, "I had to". ck those cooler lines, they will weep fluid and you may not notice. Do not drive with low fluid, they are extremely likely to melt the bands even when driven a short distance.

 

Thank you all for the responses. I had a leaking cooler line last winter and had it replaced, which involved a transmission fluid flush and change. I'm surprised it only happens at very low speeds. I agree that I won't find a replacement truck as good as this one.