!! Jerky transmission anyone !!

S

steve73

New member
Just under 1000 miles on my TE....has anyone noticed that the transmission is not really all that smooth?

Iv'e noticed that when startin' her up and when accelerating that
the tranny jerks when it shifts from 1st into 2nd gear....

My 2001 Tj shifted like a dream compared to the 4Runner...

Is this normal with these trucks?
 
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My 2011 SR5 is very herky jerky when in stop-and-go traffic...sometimes the acceleration won't kick in until I press the pedal overly firm. I know that it won't die on me, but it sounds like it could sometimes when in between 1st and 2nd gear.
 
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isuvbjordan said:
My 2011 SR5 is very herky jerky when in stop-and-go traffic...sometimes the acceleration won't kick in until I press the pedal overly firm. I know that it won't die on me, but it sounds like it could sometimes when in between 1st and 2nd gear.
Click to expand...

That's excactly what mine is like...Have you brought yours in to get ckecked out?
 
No...I can't say I have....I'm rarely in stop-and-go traffic and that's really the only time I ever notice it. I'm going to mention it when I go in for my 5,000 mile maintenance plan, but that's only 2,000 more miles for me.
 
I feel the same thing. It's kind of a shutter when I start-off and then slow down in traffic. Not sure what's going on.
 
I just drop it into Sport mode when in stop-and-go traffic or going up an incline. My gas mileage has gone up(!) nearly 1 mpg from 18 mpg to 19 mpg.
 
I have 5500 miles on my 2011 TE, I don't notice any issues shifting and im usually navigating denver city streets in the morngin getting to work.
 
isuvbjordan said:
My 2011 SR5 is very herky jerky when in stop-and-go traffic...sometimes the acceleration won't kick in until I press the pedal overly firm. I know that it won't die on me, but it sounds like it could sometimes when in between 1st and 2nd gear.
Click to expand...

Mine does it too. Sometimes, there's about a 3 second lag when I'm first taking off. I thought it was like you said, me not pressing the pedal firm enough. But, if you give it some gas and just wait a few seconds, it kicks in even if you don't press the pedal harder.

Very annoying.
 
Wow...This seems to be kind of a big deal...and in my eyes
absolutely a ''NO-GO"!!!!

It's bordeline dangerous.... when driving slow and accelerating, and all of a sudden
your vehicle leaps/jerks forward!!!!

TOYOTA has to know about this issue...and i find it unresponsible that they
have yet to come up with a solution for us!!!

Wah wah....I'm done crying
 
steve73 said:
Wow...This seems to be kind of a big deal...and in my eyes
absolutely a ''NO-GO"!!!!

It's bordeline dangerous.... when driving slow and accelerating, and all of a sudden
your vehicle leaps/jerks forward!!!!

TOYOTA has to know about this issue...and i find it unresponsible that they
have yet to come up with a solution for us!!!

Wah wah....I'm done crying
Click to expand...

I wonder if it has to do with transmission programming to maximize MPG....Or maybe the gear ratios?
 
steve73 said:
Wow...This seems to be kind of a big deal...and in my eyes
absolutely a ''NO-GO"!!!!

It's bordeline dangerous.... when driving slow and accelerating, and all of a sudden
your vehicle leaps/jerks forward!!!!

TOYOTA has to know about this issue...and i find it unresponsible that they
have yet to come up with a solution for us!!!

Wah wah....I'm done crying
Click to expand...

Well, it's annoying, but I wouldn't call it a safety issue. It leaps forward, but not like you are thinking. It goes from 0 to about 1.5 very quickly. Nothing anyone couldn't handle. It's not going from 0 to 30. lol
 
Turn_down said:
Well, it's annoying, but I wouldn't call it a safety issue. It leaps forward, but not like you are thinking. It goes from 0 to about 1.5 very quickly. Nothing anyone couldn't handle. It's not going from 0 to 30. lol
Click to expand...

I agree. I worry more about wear-and-tear on the transmission than safety.
 
steve73 said:
Wow...This seems to be kind of a big deal...and in my eyes
absolutely a ''NO-GO"!!!!

It's bordeline dangerous.... when driving slow and accelerating, and all of a sudden
your vehicle leaps/jerks forward!!!!

TOYOTA has to know about this issue...and i find it unresponsible that they
have yet to come up with a solution for us!!!

Wah wah....I'm done crying
Click to expand...

Do you think you met the exclamation mark quota for the month in this one post? While there are some seriously talented people who frequent these boards I don't think there are any Toyota transmission engineers here. The best thing to do is take it to your dealership (they did not design it either), have them drive it and start the process there.If you are dissatisified you can then escalate your issue through the channels to Toyota corporate. The Toyota regional manager will get involved (if needed - still did not design it) and try to get your problem resolved. BTW mine has a slight shudder when shifting from 1st to 2nd at low speed, usually around a left hand turn. Good luck!
 
Transmission TSB... Reflash Trans.

I was also own a 2010 Toyota 4runner SR5 & took it to the dealer & the Toyota technician reflashed the transmission. Trust me take it to the dealer & have them take a look. There is a TSB for the Transmission issue. :ybrick:
 
maelo said:
I was also own a 2010 Toyota 4runner SR5 & took it to the dealer & the Toyota technician reflashed the transmission. Trust me take it to the dealer & have them take a look. There is a TSB for the Transmission issue. :ybrick:
Click to expand...

The TSB for shifting quality is only for early '10 models. The '11 models should have the new software from the factory.

I am a production engineer for a facility that manufactures and tests transmissions. Prior to my production role, I was a quality engineer (for the engine side of the plant, though). Regardless, I do work with the testers that confirm transmission quality and get roped into different philosophical discussions about what is best for a transmission and what isn't. The general consensus is that a really smooth shift, one that you don't even feel, is the worst on the brakes and clutches in the transmission as far as longevity. That means that the piston that engages the friction disks together is moving slowly and allowing some amount of sliding between the disks as they engage. A shift that has a little bit of shock doesn't have as much time where, for lack of better explanation, the disks are partially engaged. Shift shock isn't something that a customer finds enjoyable, so the people who design the transmission are constantly walking the line for what gives you the best performance and durability and what gives you a condition the customer likes the best.

Anyway, my theory on the T4R transmission is that it shifts at low speeds the way it does for fuel economy reasons. How they spec'd out a torque converter stall and how the lock-up comes on is probably geared a little more toward eeking out just a smidge better gas mileage. I'm guessing their market research said that people cared more about gas mileage than a super linear drivetrain response versus throttle tip-in. The only annoyance I really notice from the transmission is when I'm backing out of my garage and I shift from R -> D and hit the gas too early. The vehicle doesn't seem to respond for just a moment. I'm sure, though, that is due to a fail safe built into the transmission logic to not let my impatient foot destroy my transmission.

Take your TE to the dealer, test drive a few others and see if they drive the same way. I'm also a firm believer in giving your vehicle the occasional workout. Mash on the gas every so often and rev it out. It keeps the ECU on its toes. ;)
 
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