Transmission shudder

Sitting at dealer. The mechanic I rode with said the computer waits a brief moment to see if you are still gonna apply gas, then cuts the firing of the cylinders and initiates engine breaking. He says the resistance I feel when letting off the gas is normal..

 

My 09 automatic 155,000 miles does the same thing. When it happens I slap it into 4 and it goes away, i finally learned to just start of in 4 and put it into D once I hit 50mph.

 

If that has a diesel engine it helps to keep the engine warm when the outside temp is in low double/single digits

 

Please read by review in the Tacoma World .com, 2008 Tacoma Prerunner 4.0 V6 Transmission Shutter Fixed! If you seriously want to eliminate this issue for good. Dale.

 

Listen to dale

 

Hey everyone. I know this is an old thread but I wanted to give a heads up to what fixed my truck. 2009 TRD Sport with 120k miles. My truck was doing the exact same thing as mentioned by many other people in this thread. Took it to my mechanic, he recommended changing the torque converter. As a last-ditch effort to prevent or delay the costly repair I tried a few things at my house. First, off I went and got Lubegard Dr. Tranny instant shudder fix, some Lubegard Automatic Transmission fluid protectant, and plenty of the best high mileage transmission fluid that works with Toyota that my parts store had. Completely flushed the transmission (link to instructions below) and added the two additives when I filled up transmission for the last time. So far the problem has been completely eliminated, not to mention I have better throttle response and shifts are much smoother. The old fluid was completely brown and in no way resembled what transmission fluid is supposed to look like. Hope this helps folks.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-full-flush-for-automatic-transmission.68462/

 

Sub’d, this is what I have. I’ll write more during thanksgiving
https://youtu.be/nQgk_FzoZPE

 

Try the brake tap test when you feel the shudder . https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

 

Damn, I’ll have some material to read over the thanksgiving break. Thank you .
I discovered that it only does it on D, if I drive in 4 no shake whatsoever.

I already replaced:
New OEM center bearing carrier.
Center bearing spacer.
3 New U joints.
New shocks all around.
New rear leaf pack.
3 degree shims.
New alignment.
Full transmisión flush. (12 quarts).
Rear differential oil replaced.

 

Braking during the shutter doesn’t change anything.

 

I had the same problem with my 06, auto trans, 4.0 6 cyl. I was quoted 6 grand to replace my transmission in Schenectady, New York at Lia Toyota. I told them to pound sand. It only needed a complete flush and it was completely fine. Two years later and about 35-40k miles later, the truck doesn't shutter still. If anything it'll shift hard going into fourth gear but only when its cold.

 

Thank you. I did a full flush with 12 quarters of fluids last Sunday, the shutter it’s softer but the rumble it’s the same.

 

@GlennHaggis check this thread out.

 

Thanks, Bro!!

 

Good luck dude, I spent so much money trying to find the problem until someone tagged me in this thread a few days ago. I hope I don’t have to replace the transmission.
What kind of problem are you experiencing with your transmission?

 

I have a 09 five lug and have no trans issues knock on wood

 

Since they burped the tranny it’s pretty smooth but like I said, I’m going to thrash it for a few days to see if it will start f-in up again. I know I’ll eventually have to pull the trigger on a new one, but $4100 is a pill you have to take with tequila.

 

If the shudder does " NOT " go away when you perform a brake tap test , its not a tork converter problem . You may be doing the tap test incorrectly . When was your last engine tune up ? I see this truck is lifted . Have you cancelled your driveline angles to under 3 degrees ? There are at minimum , 12 different Tacoma vibrations . A proper diagnostic is the key to fixing the truck properly the first time . Throwing parts at it can be an expensive way of eliminating possibilities . When you perform a brake tap test , you are NOT braking . You are stroking the brake switch which turns the converter clutch off for a few milliseconds .

 

DIAGNOSING converter clutch shuddering from home .

When transmission fluid has been stressed to its limits either from stop and go traffic , overheating , towing , or just day to day heating and cooling cycles , eventually the fluid breaks down and becomes less effective in providing the smooth shifting characteristics that you normally find with new transmission fluid .
The friction modifiers in the fluid have depleted


When the Aisn Seiki A750 series transmission was released back in 2003 , the required fluid change interval was lifetime 100K
Now , Under normal driving operations , Toyota says to change your transmission fluid every 60k ,but this does not take into account Towing or heavy stop and go traffic .
Take a guess at why Toyota changed the fluid service interval from 100K and dropped it to 60 K ????

When friction modifiers become depleted , the most common complaint is torque converter shudder . Your torque converter locking clutch works just like a clutch in a manual transmission but its controlled by the computer in your truck rather than foot operation in a manual transmission
That nasty shake you feel at 45 with your shifter in the overdrive position . Your fluid is depleted and chances are the converter clutch mating surfaces have become all glazed up

Here is how you can test for a converter shudder from home .

Allow the truck to warm to operating temp . Your converter will not lock up when its cold .
Place the shifter into the overdrive position and drive until you feel the converter shudder .
Once you begin feeling the shudder , use the " Brake Tap Test " to see if the shuddering goes away .

As soon as you feel the shudder , use your left foot and " GENTLY " tap the brake pedal about 1/4 inch down but leave your " RIGHT FOOT STEADY ON THE GAS PEDAL " .
The idea here is not actually hitting the brakes but manipulating the brake switch . Manipulating the brake switch tells the computer that you are coming to a stop . Your computer will then command the converter clutch to the off position for a couple of seconds . When the converter turns off , your shudder is going to go away for a brief moment .
Because , you only tapped the brake pedal to manipulate the brake switch and you still have your right foot steady on the gas pedal , the computer in your truck will then command the torque converter to re-apply the locking clutch and your shudder will instantly return .

How to fix converter clutch shudder ? Read the write up as there are many variables that come into play
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/
Toyota dealerships instantly tell you to replace the converter $$$$$$$ This fix doesnt always work
This is why I stay away from dealerships .

 

I really appreciate you taking the time to explain all this. The shutter happens at around 25 mph and while I’m feathering the throttle, and the RPM are around 1.500 otherwise no shutter and no rumbling.
I did the flush and the fluid was very very dark, I don’t remember if the fluid was ever changed. I have 110.000 miles and this started at around 80.000 miles and it will do it once in a while, now it does it every time except when the truck it’s cold (when the truck is cold it starts doing it after I drive a few blocks). I don’t tow but I do drive in traffic. Luckily I’ve been busy with work leaving me with no time to do maintenance.
I do change the oil every 5.000 using full synthetic oil. I did replace the spark plugs at 90 k ( I think, perhaps 95k). I did clean the K&N air filter at the same time.
No other tune up done. Unfortunately I don’t trust the dealership, they did the maintenance of my truck until it had 60.000miles, unfortunately the managed to make all kind of mistakes so I can’t trust them anymore.
I’ll try to check the driveshaft angle next week, but the truck was lifted at 20.000 miles and I never had a problem until it reached.
I’ll keep you posted.thanks again and happy thanksgiving.