Low RPM shudder/vibration

Double check all your wires to make sure there is no damage, also check to see if they are all plugged in securely / correctly. I'm sure they are, but it doesn't hurt to double check everything you did on the tune up or changed / touched recently.

 

This just started happening to me at 99,000mi. The shake started happening as the transmission shifts around 22-25mph. I noticed it the moment I went for a drive after I rotated my tires my self. I put the tires back into their old configuration assuming it was a balance issue but the problem still persists.

I bought my truck new in 2019 and noticed the passenger seat vibrated more than normal while on the highway. I showed it to multiple dealers and they all said it was normal Tacoma shake. Over the years I’ve noticed the shake comes and goes, which made me assume it was a tire balance issue.

Around 65K I noticed mild vibration when braking, which got worse until 70K.

I took it in for service and they hit me with 4K estimate to replace the lower control arm since the ball join was leaking. I pressed it out my self for about $200 in parts and tools and it seemed to fix the braking vibration. During that fix I put Bilstein 5100 shocks (set to the 2” lift setting) in the front and Bilsteins in the back with a 1” leveling block on the rear axel. I also put a new set of tires on.

All has been normal until today, 24,000mi later.

The internet seems to think it’s the needle bearing but after reading this thread I’m skeptical. I’m going to try the battery disconnect/transmission reset. I’m also past due for the transmission fluid service (not flush).

I have full tank of gas so I have to wait on the bad gas theory.

I have new spark plugs and wires ready to be installed but I’m going hold off for now.

 

I found a solution. My transmission fluid was low.

I disconnect the battery for 8hrs to reset the transmission, which changed the shaking from 22-25mph to 30-35mph, leading me to believe it was a transmission issue.

I drained and refilled the transmission just as Team Oil Drop did:https://youtu.be/rNqYpEpmUng

Only 1.75 quarts drained out. It took 2.5 to get it back to full (until fluid dripped out of the overflow plug). I heard some techs on YouTube claim that some Tacomas, especially ones with a tow package, come off the lot with low transmission fluid.

I’ve been driving it for a day and the shudder is gone. Hopefully it stays that way.

Low transmission fluid was probably the issue but I wonder if putting the transmission in temp check mode during the refill process affects the programming like disconnecting the battery does?

 

As far as I have seen disconnecting the battery for a period just forces the ECM to go through a re-learn process to maximize driveability for the driver. It learns new shift patterns. I doubt that the check temp mode changes anything as it is just a way to monitor trans temp. Yes, some Tacomas came underfilled, as did yours. But low fluid off the lot would show up immediately if it was low enough to cause a problem. Trans fluid doesn't evaporate. I suspect yours was worn out. (the low level didn't help) The overall fix for most of these low speed shudder issues is simply changing out the old transmission fluid. If the vehicles has really excessive miles w/o a fluid change you may have to drain and fill 2-3 times to get back to all fresh fluid. Remember these trans hold about 10 quarts of fluid and draining only replaces about 3 quarts. Another option is to go for the more expensive flush and fill.

 

Thanks for the info and your point makes sense about fluid not evaporating. I’ve put abbot 6000 miles on since my last post and the transmission is still acting normally.

 

Tech stream is the only way to get rid of the old learned data. It is not affected by disconnecting the battery.

 

I've got a ' 21 6cyl with 35k miles owned it for 3 months. I haven't noticed any shutter but when it down shifts around 2000 rpm there is a definite vibration. And if I'm going through hilly conditions the vibration stays.