2008 Tranny clunking ???

[DocW8494]

Gents, Asking this for a friend with a 4th Gen Automatic T4R. Has about 80K on the odometer.

Story goes, cold morning, puts the truck into R, backs up and then shifts to DRIVE. He steps on the gas and the Trans and it didn't engage right away. Waited a few seconds and then it kicked in finally.

My thoughts were, transmission fluid & filter change. Possible pink milkshake like the 3rd Gens (I have a 3rd Gen/manual).

He had the codes checked and it only came up with Evap system - Gas cap replacement most likely.
Any ideas would help a lot.
Thanks!!!

 

[gm350reratliff]

My guess would be low fluid level. Slide underneith and see if it is leaking anywhere. There is a special procedure for checking the level on these trannys.

 

[chitown40]

Not enough info here to diagnose this issue. How cold of a morning? Did he jump right in and back up without any warmup at all? Cold fluid will make a transmission sluggish until it warms up. Did it happen more than once? Did the problem disappear or get better after the truck was warm?

 

[DocW8494]

Thanks for that info above. He's gone to the Pacific for a week and will check a few things and ask some more questions too as far as his driving style and such.
I'll keep you posted and at least give an end to this story.

 

[cacarbuff]

Mine has done this every once in a while since I bought it a few years ago. Sometimes I pop it back into Neutral and then back to Drive and it engages. It seems to have to do with how fast I shift it into drive. I read on here once that had to do with a sticking shift actuator, but mine really isn't more than a momentary annoyance every once in a while, so I haven't really worried about it. Hope this helps!

 

[4RunnerFan]

It seems to have to do with how fast I shift it into drive.

Yeah, I would also suggest being a little more deliberate with the gear selector, i.e. a little slower in shifting. Also, I would ask if he does any towing. If so, I would strongly recommend having the tranny fluid changed out. I tow with mine, so I had my dealer change it last summer at 50k. It needed it. The WS stuff really doesn't last forever.