Shudder on deceleration!? Need help!

I have a 2012 tacoma reg cab auto 4x4. 30,000 miles. I have had the truck for one year. Since I bought it I have had a recurring problem in that sometimes when I am slowing the truck down, it will shudder momentarily. It feels exactly like when you run over rumble strips on the interstate. It only happens randomly but I have noticed a few similarities. It is more likely to happen when cold. It almost exclusively only happens once per driving cycle regardless of how far I drive. It is almost exclusively the first time I brake for that driving session. It only happens at very low speed around 1st-2nd gear. I have taken my foot off the brake once it started and it still continued on its own. It lasts 2-3 seconds only. I have made several notes of it at the dealership and had it in once for a few days but they said they couldn't find anything wrong. I have researched extensively online but so far nothing at all. I need help and something to go back to the dealership with.
Thanks

 

My truck does the same. Feels the same as the shudder while accelerating between that zone of rpm/speed. Except its while breaking right before you stop, pretty much through that same speed zone. Dealer did the drive-line TSB for me which didn't do shit. Since they barely understood that TSB and the problem, and pretended like it fixed everything, They then started saying the vibrations are factory and supposed to be like that.

Unless its not the typical vibrations these trucks have you will have a hell of a time getting a dealer to fix the problem. Best to live with it and keep an eye on these forums in case toyota ever comes up with a fix.

 

Same here, i had shudders when braking moderately/hard going 65 plus. A lot of the guys here have the same problem and they said it was because of the rotors being warped and your choice is to resurface them or buy new ones.

I decided to change my pads and that reduced the shudder by 75 percent, but i think im going to change the rotors and see if that fixes the problem.

But i had the exact same problem you did, except mine was always shudders during high speed braking.

 

See I don't think it can be the brakes since I have had it happen and taken my foot off the brake and the shudder continued. What's weird is that it usually only happens one time. Like the first time I stop it will do it then nothing. If it was everytime I could narrow it down better but it's so damn intermittent. What is the drive line tsb?

 

Also dealership had it several days for test driving. They said that they couldn't determine the cause. They said the only option left if for me to somehow drive a tech around and hope it repeats.

 

I know what your talking about, Sean. It's like when the transmission downshifts when it's cold, it vibrates &/or shudders. Seems to be random, like you said. Usually when it's cold & the first or second stop you make. I wouldn't worry to much about it. Probably just the nature of the beast, since the dealer found nothing. The driveline TSB has to do with split driveshafts which we don't have (one advantage of having a regular cab).

 

Check transmission fluid level yourself .

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/63851-how-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.html


For some reason , most dealers are letting the trucks go out to their customers low on transmission fluid . After driving with a trans low on fluid for a period of time , it can do some nasty damage

 

I wonder why they would do this? When I had it in I specifically asked about trams fluid and they said it was fine. But if they are hiding it I guess they wouldn't tell me.

 

I just read on here where there is a new tsb for driveline vibrations. I wonder if this would apply to mine?

 

does your truck have driveline vibes on acceleration?

if so.... then yes.

 

Does it make a nasty grinding sound too? When I lifted mine it shuddered like crazy and made some horrible noises on deceleration. Flipping the driveshaft around has fixed that issue for the last 5k miles. I still have slight vibrations on acceleration but no more noise, that was what I was most concerned about.

 

Mine does it, too, although it's nothing severe. To me it's reminiscent of braking while driving a manual trans car, and not depressing the clutch soon enough.

 

Mine does this at exactly 20mph whether I'm accelerating or braking when I first start driving and sometimes more often.

 

Mine is right around 20mph but only during deceleration. It feels exactly like I'm going over rumble strips. It is during the downshift from 3rd to 2nd I believe

 

Yes, Sean. This TSB:www.tacomaworld.com/forum/attachments/2nd-gen-tacomas/250165d1389289194-tsb-list-2005-toyota-tacoma-t-sb-0250-12.pdf does apply to our trucks. Not that specific problem, but at the end of the bulletin, it does say to confirm that there are no abnormal vibrations. So, you could try & see if the dealer will replace the driveshaft. At least if they replace it & it still vibrates, you'll know that's not the problem & you'll have a new driveshaft w/ new u-joints. Let us know how it goes.

Edit: Nevermind, apparently TSB is only for 2WD. If you were referring to this TSB (Part 1 & 2):www.tacomaworld.com/forum/attachmen...eline-vibration-tsb-out-t-sb-0008-14_1-10.pdf
& www.tacomaworld.com/forum/attachments/2nd-gen-tacomas/255326d1391871355-driveline-vibration-tsb-out-t-sb-0008-14_11-20.pdf
is for split driveshafts (access cab & double cab) NOT regular cab. Although, one thing that is said in that TSB is "Some level of driveline vibration is normal in all vehicles." I'm not worried about it.

 

Ask yourself and try this . These are some things you need to try before you post .Not only will it help you troubleshoot the vibration but it will narrow things down for some of the guys that like to try and help you with your vibes .
Vibrations usually get all mixed into the same pot and a lot of posters try and fix their vibes using what others have done without properly diagnosing their own issue .This causes additional frustration and all kind of cash $$$$$$$$
Take some time and try and narrow it down .
Does the truck vibrate in park or neutral and does the vibration change with accelarator pedal ?
Does the truck vibrate while holding the brakes and hitting the gas - Automatic ?
Does the truck vibrate in neutral at a stand still ?or coasting in neutral ?
Does the truck vibrate in 4x4 ?
Does the truck only vibrate in 2 wheel drive ?
Does the truck vibrate with the serpentine belt removed ?
Does the truck vibrate cold or hot ?
Does the truck vibrate as you are braking ?
Does the truck vibrate with weight in the truck or empty ?
Does the truck vibrate while upshifting ? Have you checked your trans fluid ?
Does the truck vibrate while downshifting ? Have you checked your trans fluid ?
When was your last transmission fluid service ?
Now that you have a lift kit installed the truck vibrates . Did you cancel your drive line angles ?
Have you looked at the condition of your tires ? Toyota says to rotate every 5000 miles .
When was the last time you rotated your tires ?
Have the balance weights fallen off the tires ?
The proper and only way to test for bad universal joints is with the driveshaft removed . You cant tell if the universal joints are seized or tight spots with the driveshaft on the truck . You may see play in the universal joints , but you wont be able to properly check the u-joints without removing the driveshaft .
If you beleive its bad motor mounts or transmission mounts , grab a big pry bar and pry at the mounts to see if the rubber is torn or weak .

 

Here's the problem as detailed as I can describe it:
It only happens occasionally.
It usually only happens once during a session of driving but sometimes twice.
It doesn't matter the distance driven.
It almost exclusively happens the first time I slow down.
It doesn't matter if I slow down hard or soft.
It seems more prevalent when it is cold out.
It only happens during deceleration.
It only happens on the downshift from 3rd to 2nd.
I can go 2 weeks without it happening or 2hrs.
I have had it start the rumble and taken my foot off the brake quickly and the rumble continued on its own for another second or two.
It feels exactly like driving over rumble strips but softer and more subdued and you mostly feel it in your feet.
I have had passengers feel it also.
The dealership had my truck for several days and said they could not repeat it and that the only option was for me to drive a tech around to get it to repeat. This is not really feasible.
The truck has had all regular maintenance through the same dealership and is 100% stock. This includes tires rotated and oil change/inspection.

To me (I'm no expert) it seems like it has to be in the transmission. If it was driveshaft/bearings/brakes/diff/mounts, it would seem to me it would happen much more frequently or even regularly even if intermittent.

Since it seems I am out of options I turned to you guys for help so I'm sorry to beat a dead horse but like I said I don't know what else to do.

 

I would recommend taking it to a trans shop for verification with a scanner connected to your truck .Using the movie feature on the scanner , just hit the record button when the problem occurs . The scanner will record everything the transmission is doing and the guys can look over the parameters after the test drive . Its that easy .

The Trans-go kit takes care of shuddle bind up

http://www.transgo.com/products.php...d=264&countdisplay=1&start=0&addcountview=Yes
I will bet the dealer didnt hook up the techstream and take it for a drive .

Have you checked the transmission fluid ? Dont trust the dealer

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-transmission-low-fluid-directly-factory.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/63851-how-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.html

 

Sean, mine does exactly the same thing. I have just under 5k miles on it and will take it in for oil change soon and will bring it up with them. I've been doing a lot of reading and convinced its the "Torque Converter Flex Lockup Shudder" that is discussed in TSB 0096-09. That TSB applied through the 2009 model year, but I've read they extended it through 2010, and I've ready many, many posts of people with 2013 and 2014s having the same issue. Although the TSB refers to this happening on acceleration, I've read many people having this problem while slowing down in the 25mph range (like mine). Its basically the same "rumble strip"-like shudder that the Tundras have had issues with. The TSB says:

"Some customers with 4 cylinder (2TR-FE) and A340 (4-speed) automatic transmission equipped Tacoma vehicles may experience an intermittent shudder or vibration. This condition lasts forapproximately one second and occurs when lightly accelerating after an upshift into 3rd or 4th
gear with the torque converter assembly in Flex Lockup. This vibration is commonly described asfeeling like driving over "rumble strips" or on a "washboard" road. The Engine Control Module/ECM
(SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) logic has been revised to prevent the learning of anincorrect value during certain driving conditions. Use the following repair procedure to address customer concerns."

I may ask them to reflash my ECM to see if that helps. Anyway, if you search "rumble strip" you'll pull up lots of threads.

Let me know if you learn anything because I've got the same issue with my BRAND NEW truck and I'm not happy.

 

Had the shudder about year and few months. Took it to Toyota they replaced brakes. Second time I took it for the shudder they replaced the rotors and wheel bearing still did it. Took it back and after a couple days being there they recalibrated the system I guess to relearn driving habits and it never did it again. A couple weeks later I started getting a ticking noise coming from the bottom of the truck took it in they couldn't but Replicate the nose so I had to pick it up. I dealt with the noise for about a year finally took it back in they heard it and it also helped that I had a video clip of the tick. The truck was there for about 2 weeks and finally got it back no shudder and no tick. They ran some test on the transmission and that wasn't it. Than they pulled the torque converter out inspected was fine put it all back no tick and no shudder.

They said that they don't really know what it was but it could of been loose bolts or not installed correctly from manufacture. Torque converter could be the cause of some of the problems we all are/experience on our trucks.