Torque Converter Problems

I am going with bama on this one as well . 3 different transmissions all with the same issue . At first I was thinking wore out valve body parts ( all the links I posted above )but 3 different transmissions cant all have the same wore out vb parts . Gotta be ECU .

 

Well I just got my truck back from the shop and it drives great! I no longer feel like I'm grinding gears off a dead start-- takes off smooth and no loss of power.

Also, no more "shuddering" when shifting gears. They said they replaced the torque converter and ran through my entire transmission. Also said my fluid looked pretty shot and there were some shavings in it as well.

So, for now, all is well. I'm wondering if I should contact Toyota about my ECU getting reflashed. I didn't want to bring that up to the shop because the guy I was dealing with was a fucking dick. I'm just glad to get my truck back after all this back and forth BS. Hope to not have to deal with them again!

 

I am glad for you that they got it fixed again, but there is something definitely wrong here. This is a three year old Tranny, you said you do not drive it hard, it is the third time for a torque converter, and they tell you the fluid was shot and it had shavings in the pan after only one year from the last torque converter replacement.

The oil should not have went bad in just one year under normal driving, and there should not have been shavings in the pan from just one year if the transmission has not been abused.

I would give it 3 to 6 months and have them drain it and check it out for more shavings and the condition of the oil and ask to be present to see the oil and pan. I hope it is under warranty.

About flashing the computer. If this thing shifts correctly I see no need.

 

Yeah I know something was wrong with it; I just want to know what causes these torque converters to go bad. I agree that three failed converters is three too many. I have friends who have tacos and have done much more harsher things to and their transmissions seem indestructible. I've also found it to be pretty rare for us Tacoma owners to have transmission problems--especially in the automatics. It is now under another 12month unlimited mileage warranty and I told the guy if I start to feel anything going bad I'm taking it right back.

But really... what would cause these converters to keep going bad? I keep hearing ECU so that might be something worth checking out. But for now, all seems well. I've driven about 100 miles and it feels really good.

 

Mine just started doing the same thing.. Shudder right in between 2nd and 3rd shifts with light throttle... Time to trade in

 

Sorry to hear that man... How many miles? If you're out of warranty probably time to trade in. I know I wouldn't shell out $3500 if mine went bad out of warranty again

 

I have 87,000 on mine.. I have an extended warranty untill 100k but im sure there some fine print added.. The one thing that bugs me is. when i get the shudder and hit the brake the shudder still continues.. I though the torque converter should unlock when it receives the brake signal.

 

Not sure if that's true or not with the brakes; I never did that. What I resorted to doing was giving it more throttle when it started to shudder-- then the tranny would downshift and it would have enough rpm's to overcome the shudder. I was only experiencing shudder at low RPM's. Glad yours is still under warranty. Take it to Toyota they swapped out my whole assembly with no questions when it was under warranty.

 

When the valve body has wear in the TCC circuit , you can command the converter to turn off by applying the brakes , but the hydraulic portion gets stuck .
http://www.transgo.com/products.php...d=264&countdisplay=1&start=0&addcountview=Yes

 

I got my truck to the dealer today.. they diagnosed it as a bad torque converter. Service rep said they see this in FJ's a few times but not in a Tacoma.. My issue is now is im waiting for the extended warranty guy to come monday/tuesday for approval. I can see how this is going to end.. LIFT/bigger tires.. no approval. They wouldnt even allow me to take the truck home let alone get a rental!
my main concern is if they do the converter..what about the transmission.. did/will contaminated fluid affect the tranny.. The service rep said they will flush it out.. i was like ehhhhhhhhhh

 

Maybe some ammunition here . The FJ has the same transmission - A750F and we have the A750E. When was the last time you had the trans fluid replaced ?
If the torque converter is truly faulty , I beleive they replace the complete transmission for you or at least go through it

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...hift-kit-shift-recalibration-kit-2nd-gen.html

 

Maybe I am reading that wrong but just to clarify, the A750E and A750F are the same transmission. The only difference is the E is designed to have a connected to the output and the F is designed to have a Tcase connected to the output.

E is the 2wd version and F is the 4wd version.

 

Your post brings me back to the early 1990,s once again . Years ago , the ECM use to look at individual sensors 8 times per second . These days the ECM looks at sensors 5 times that amount . Unless there is no ECM monitor for the issue , there is no reason that I can see that this problem cant be diagnosed with a scanner / and Dvom .

 

thats what the service rep said.. he had no question and pretty much knew what i was talking about from the get go.. SORRY OP TO HIJACK im suprised they didnt want to try to change the fluid first..

 

How's your repairs going? Did they determine it was a bad torque converter on yours? When mine first got replaced by Toyota, they didn't bother messing with my old tranny they just swapped it out with another.

 

My extended warranty work was approved today. They are just replacing the torque converter.. They performed some transmission test including valve body pressure and everything was in spec. I actually have more faith in my tranny than some re-manufactured unit going in.. They also said my fluid was fine.

 

Same problem here, toyota guy says "oh that's rare we've never seen this before" well okay then how come on the forums there's like a billion people with this problem? Have an appt this Monday and I bet they quote me for a torque converter, I should just trade it in.

 

So I just had a thought... Transmission Cooler.


I've heard that if your Tacoma has a factory tow hitch you also have a transmission cooler-- my hitch looks to be aftermarket. I've looked for another radiator for the tranny but have not found anything so far.


If my truck doesn't have a tranny cooler I need to get one. Maybe that's been the problem the whole time? Fluid not being cooled which eventually leads to it failing and then causing transmission problems? What do ya'll think?

 

Converters them self's seldom fail but the lockup clutch does so I guess it is safe to say "bad converter" cause it's kind of inside of it! I believe they need to have a look at the underlying cause of the clutch failure. Locking too soon,low pressure, leaking seals seems 4 converters should lead one to think some thing else might be wrong.

 

Yeah mine does it too. I call it "rumble strip" vibration. Happens in part/light throttle around 25-35 mph. I don't think the torque converter is the problem. I think a damaged torque converter is the symptom. I would put my money that it's the ECM locking up the torque converter too low.

I would like to note that mine is a 06 DCSB Prerunner. I see TXtycoon...you're is an XCLB which I believe is the same wheel base. I say this because:

I owned a 06 DCLB and drove it quite a bit for 6 months or so. Had no issue with this problem at all.

What I'm wondering is if there is a combined problem with 1. Timing (RPM) lockup of the TC + 2. Driveline angle +3. Shorter Wheelbase......

If anyone else has had this problem please chime in with what model you have.

My problem is I'm not under warranty and I would like to find the problem the first time.