Yeah you guys who don't have this issue...

Trust me, I'm 100% sure its NOT a harmonic vibration. Forget motor mounts, forget transmission mounts. That is not it. It only happens during the shift into OD at light throttle. Again driving around in '4' instead of 'D' it never happens.

Take your truck and drive over some rumble strips in the highway.

Thats EXACTLY what it sounds and feels like, its that loud and that violent.

My money is on torque converter. My concern though is that the replacement Toyota converter will suffer the same fate over time. The threads I've read from newer Tundra and Taco owners... more than a few have had torque converters replaced under warranty and the problem has gone away.... then over time it comes back again. It seems like a build defect of some kind in the torque converters to me.

My update is my truck is still doing it.

I have some of my 75k mile WS fluid from my first drain in a Blackstone bottle on my counter. I just need to get it sent in.

Well, my truck is in the dealership right now. So far, they called me yesterday to say while they were taking the driveshafts off to replace the torque convertor, they found 1 was seized. Since it was seized, they thought they'd try to just replace that first and see if was still doing it.

Got the call this morning. It DID NOT fix the issue. They are moving on to replacing out the torque convertor. In canada, we just get hosed. A driveshaft cost me $710CAD and the torque convertor will cost be $606 CAD plus labour being estimated at 8-9 hours running $105/hr. This is not including the driveline fluid flush that i've already done. ($515CAD).
Will keep you guys updated.

I am really intrigued by this problem. As mentioned several times earlier in this thread, the transmission was designed before WS fluid was the norm. When ours started acting up, I figured I would do a drain and refill and being the cheap-o that I am, went to Wal Mart and purchased Wal mart Type VI fluid, which is allegedly compatible with the WS fluid. I drained the pan, put 4 qts back in and leveled it off using the jumper wire, pull the plug technique. Since then, we have had none of the vibrations.

Did the Type VI fluid somehow change the properties (viscosity, temperature-viscosity relationship, compressibility, etc.) just enough to mask the problem? Was swapping out 20% of the fluid enough to remove some crud that was causing problems? Did the problem just go away on its own? Was our transmission low on fluid before and the addition just brought it up to the correct level?

In any case, I submit my experience as simply that. If it was not cost prohibitive, it would be cool to get a 4Runner and remove all the WS fluid and replace with Type IV (the heavier, previous generation that the trans was originally designed to use) and see what happens. Something tells me that it might just work...

Another idea that I had, when looking at the almost watery consistency of the used WS fluid was the old friction modifier trick. Perhaps the fluid still meets viscosity requirements, but its lubricity has been reduced. Again, I did not do this, just spit-balling here.

If you're going to bother changing out the fluid, a local transmission specialist and guru suggests turning the transmission with the drain open to pump the fluid out of the torque converter. He turns the engine with the starter, has the ignition disabled so it won't start. You should be able to get most of the fluid out instead of 20%.

So an update for you guys. I had the torque convertor replaced and the problem is not happening anymore. BUT.... now i have a brand new issue. VSC lights and CEL. Error reads P0420 so basically catalyst below threshhold bank 1. This all happened after they replaced the torque convertor.

More to add to the list. Now with the VSC lights on, i assume this means it shuts it off. Just in time for our great Canadian winter and our snow fall.....

catalyst or did you mean catalytic converter?

sounds like a lovely ordeal.

Actually the code reads
Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)

It could be Cat convertor, O2 sensor, maybe something else.

So have you figured out the issue to the latest problem?

Has the 'rumble strip' issue returned?

So for my truck, rumble strip issue was the torque converter. The seized driveshaft didn't help but not the cause. It has not come back! If you guys are having this issue and have powertrain warranty left, go in asap!!

As for the p0420 error, it's the left catalytic converter. I was sooo pissed. The dealer calls, says they need to replace the front left cat. Cost :$1750 installed! Ouch! Weather being bad here and having no traction control for the wife I say go ahead. Come home same night, check my manuals and this forum, realize emissions warranty is 8 years/ 130k and my truck is still under it! Called dealer next day and get the 'ohhhh, you're right! It's under warranty so no charge! didn't the other guy check this...' Had we not looked into this, we'd be out that money!

Considering I bought 3 trucks from them including this one, they'd check the warranty status of the vehicle! It's going to be completed tonight. Will post update once all is back to normal!

Glad to hear it's working now.

Did the dealer comment on the torque converter they replaced?

Thanks! The dealer hadn't commented on it as I didn't ask. Wanted to make sure it was actually working and after a good week, I can honestly say, it is. When I pick up the truck tonight, I'll ask the techs about the old torque converter and if it showed any signs etc.

i just bought my first 07 runner sport 4x4 from somebody that was still making payments on it. so i drove it 2 days ago and it does vibrate on D when use 4 is gone. truck has only 63k and i think the owner had the extended warranty bumper to bumper to 100k. my question is if it is the converter will the warranty still covers it? the lifetime power train.warranty was not transferable. thanks

If you are able to reproduce the issue with the dealers, they will cover the costs under the warranty. I would take it in right away and actually take them for a drive. Initially, when i dropped mine off, the dealers couldn't reproduce the issue. They said they drove it around for 45mins and still nothing. I went straight there and took them for a drive and within 5mins of normal city stop/go driving, it was doing it. Once they knew the issue, they were ale to produce in on demand.

The other thing that Toyota Canada said was that things need to be documented. You can't just say that it was doing this for months BEFORE the warranty expired and you brought it to the dealers AFTER the warranty expired. If you show the issues were brought to the dealers and they couldn't find an issue at the time and after the warranty (within a reasonable timeframe) expires, they would still cover the issue.

If we had powertrain still on the vehicle, yes Toyota would cover this repair under warranty.

thanks riteshcarla, I will keep driving it for another couple weeks then i will go to the dealer i will let you guys know the outcome...[

So it's official finally. My truck is back to it's original glory! No more shudder, and after the cat was replaced, no more CEL! The tranny shifts are nice and crisp. Since all the drivetrain fluids were flushed, and driveshafts were inspected / replaced, the truck 'seems' to roll better. Expensive ordeal but it good to go now!