Lost power in Drive - 92 Automatic Tranny

[HanginInUtah]

I was driving my project around today for the first time, and I'd been out most of the morning. Coming home, I lost my forward power. Nothing. I pulled over and tried the 'power' button, the transfer case... After sitting for a few minutes with the engine off, I started it and it started to move so I could pull into a parking lot at a gas station. I went to get some towels to check the fluid level, thinking maybe I'd had a leak or something. Fluid was fine. Sat there for a bit and tried it, and it let me pull back out on the street... and then no power!

Lucky for me, I have a buddy who has a tow truck. He came and picked me up, and by the time we got it home, I could pull off the ramp of his truck and into my driveway and the garage like there had never been a problem.

Any ideas or experience anyone? I'm going to go drop the pan and filter, change the oil. While I was sitting and waiting I searched the net and found that there may be issues with solenoids?

I'd love any help you guys have!

 

[fourwd1]

If one of the solenoids went bad it should trigger a trans code that can be read in a way similar to reading a CEL code. Check the FAQ in one of the stickies.

 

[HanginInUtah]

Alright. I feel a little dumb.

I did some research over the weekend, and was filled with anxiety that my speed sensor was bad, or solenoids had gone out...

How about going back to basics???

I dropped the pan today, changed the oil and filter, and after all the fun that it was to do that, everything seems okay now. Let me back up a little... this morning, first thing, I tried to pull any codes. None. Then I tried to pull it up on my ramps, and couldn't. I'd lost the power again. So I checked the oil level. It seemed to be a little bit low, like a half inch on the dipstick. Now, back to the oil change. I also added in Lucas Automatic Trans additive, that says it's for hard shifts and leaks, but I really like Lucas products and figured I'd give it a go as long as I was changing the oil.

Kind of embarrassed I asked everyone for help, when it turned out to be just needing the right amount and/or new oil.

By the way, for anyone else that would like to know, I dropped the swaybar, and I would have dropped the front driveshaft if I could have got the bolts to break loose. As it was I had to fight it a little around the driveshaft. But it was nice not to fight the swaybar.

 

[HanginInUtah]

Guess what? Maybe I'm not dumb, and maybe it isn't simple maintenance.

Yesterday and today, I drove to work, which is only a few miles away on city streets, so top mph would be 40. Tonight, I decided to run an errand in the next city, so I hit the highway. Short distance, maybe 2 to 3 miles. 60 mph speed limit. On the way home, about the time I was exiting the highway, lost my power again. RPM's will peg, without any feel of slipping or anything. I coasted as I came off the highway, and amazingly enough was able to get some power back to get to the turnoff to my street (right off the highway), then lost power again. Coasted to the side of the road. Turned off the ignition and waited about 30 seconds, then started it up again, and I had power. Got up to speed, and went about a half mile (25 mph) then lost it again. Coasted a little, pulled over, waited... started up and had power just enough to get to my driveway.

So... I've been searching the net. Maybe heat related? Torque converter? I'm not getting any OD light when I lose power, and there aren't any codes at all. Over on Pirate 4x4 forum there's a bunch about these trannies, and it does say you can lose a solenoid, but not set a code. Trouble is, it seems to me if I lost a solenoid, it would still work in one of the gears, not lose all power in all gears.

Help!! Anyone know anything at all about this? I am going to try to find the connector that supposedly you can disconnect the electronic function so you can test manual function, and if I can find it then test the manual action of the transmission. But if any of you have heard of this before...

 

[KidVermicious]

I don't see anybody else jumping in so I'll take a swing at this. I'm no expert but that doesn't sound like a solenoid to me either. Next time it acts up, try shifting through the gear range manually and see if any of the gears work that way. Hard to tell if the truck is reverting to N, or is in gear but not getting power through the TC or what - when you lose power, do you have anything at all or does it act just like it's in N?

How was the oil when you drained it, black and burnt?

 

[HanginInUtah]

Thanks for jumping in!
Oil didn't seem too bad. A little darker than virgin, but no smell of burnt. Filter looked clean. Nothing in the pan.
It acts like N.
But, here's another thing... this morning I tried to drive to work, but only got about a few blocks from home.
Another thing I noticed: when I'm going, and there's power, there's a sound like a power steering whine. When the whine fades away, so does the power.
I'm starting to wonder about maybe a pump problem. The thing that just amazes me is that when it failed last week, it would give me a little power then fade away every time I tried to drive it, right from cold start (before I serviced it.) Then after the service, I drove it around with no problem at all multiple times, but never over 40 mph, until last night at highway speed. Now, it's back to acting up immediately again.
I really want to figure it out, but then I wonder if I just need to replace the tranny.

 

[KidVermicious]

^ That's an option. $200-$300 for a junkyard trans, swap it in in a day, drive away happy...

 

[HanginInUtah]

Okay! Talked to my repair/refurbish/body shop buddy, and got a lead on a good tranny guy today. Guess what? The tranny is done! Finished! Dead! Kaput!

Toyota A430H automatics are great transmissions, and you can expect around 200k miles out of them. Mine has 275k, so that's a bonus. However, because of the design with the transfer case that is also hydraulic, and basically part of the whole thing, the achilles heal is inside it. There is a drum that has to be held by the case inside the transfer case in order to move. When the drum starts to spin, it's like you shifted into neutral.

That is the problem.

He's offering me a rebuild, complete, tranny and transfer case, if I pull it out for $1600. Probably a good deal, and I have confidence in his work, but... this is still in my head as a 'low budget' hobby build. So I may try to find a nice used one around here somewhere to use for awhile until I decide the money is worth it.

Just wanted anyone else that runs across this problem to know the reason. No codes. No overdrive light flashing. Just no go.

And knowing is half the battle... right?