"Rumble Strip" Transmission issue

[Andyspsu]

600 miles good to go

I had the same issue, started at about 149k miles and got worse in a hurry. I thought I would just drive it in 4 forever. Reading this thread, I talked to a buddy of mine that has his own shop. He said that he has used Shudderfix several times, mostly helping if not correcting the problem. I had him drain and refill the transmission and add the Shudderfixx. He drove it for 30 miles after and told me he could not feel it at all. I have since put between 500 and 600 miles on it without even a shimmy.

Don't know how long it will last, but I have no reason to think it will come back soon. I could repeat the process another 8 times for less than the replacement transmission quote.

Hope this helps.

 

[sonerick]

I had the same issue, started at about 149k miles and got worse in a hurry. I thought I would just drive it in 4 forever. Reading this thread, I talked to a buddy of mine that has his own shop. He said that he has used Shudderfix several times, mostly helping if not correcting the problem. I had him drain and refill the transmission and add the Shudderfixx. He drove it for 30 miles after and told me he could not feel it at all. I have since put between 500 and 600 miles on it without even a shimmy.

Don't know how long it will last, but I have no reason to think it will come back soon. I could repeat the process another 8 times for less than the replacement transmission quote.

Hope this helps.

Glad you fixed it.

FWIW, it seems most people (myself included) can solve the problem with either a fluid flush/replacement or by doing a few drain-and-fills, no mystery additives needed. I've put more than 50k miles on the truck since I fixed the problem with a fluid flush and it has not returned.

 

[fullboogie]

Been meaning to add my two cents to this conversation. My '08 has about 78K on it, and I started getting that damned vibration in 5th as described here. I pulled the pan and did a refill, but there was no change. I added the Shudderfix, and it has "cured" about 90% of it. I still occasionally feel it a tad, but the worst of it is gone for now. I sincerely hope it stays gone, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Quantum1]

I'm not sure if it has been mentioned in the thread yet, however, my understanding of the reason to not add fresh fluid on sealed trannies with high mileage is the increased odds of breakage. Over time, the transmission parts fatigue but are able to function fine due to the reduced stress being placed on them by virtue of older fluid which does not hold pressure as well. By adding fresh more resilient fluid, parts come back under pressure and are more prone to breaking. Just my thoughts.

In my 04 V8 SR5, I have noticed a severe rumble strip feeling only when turning at low speeds. Examples where it is most obvious are getting in and out of parking spots, making hard right or left turns from a stop, etc. I have not checked driveline grease status nor fluids in any of the driveline components but will make those two tasks first on my list. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it perhaps normal for the full time 4WD nature of the V8? You can definitely feel it as well as hear a vibrating sound.

 

[JB.]

In my 04 V8 SR5, I have noticed a severe rumble strip feeling only when turning at low speeds. Examples where it is most obvious are getting in and out of parking spots, making hard right or left turns from a stop, etc. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it perhaps normal for the full time 4WD nature of the V8? You can definitely feel it as well as hear a vibrating sound.

Only happens at very slow (single digit) speeds with a tight turn while using some throttle, right?

It's a vibration that's a normal consequence of the operation of Torsen center diff. In most trucks, it's so subtle many people don't notice. I suspect it can sometimes get a little more noticeable with high mileage but it's no problem from a reliability standpoint. A transfer case and/or rear diff oil change might soften it a bit.

Anyway, it's unrelated to the phenomenon being described in this thread.

 

[Betrunner]

!!!!! SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN RUMBLE STRIP OFF THE BAT!!!!
Will continue the 3 quart drain until fluid runs red
Maybe 3 more drains

After 5 3qt exchanges over 5,000 miles The fluid runs red and I am not rumbling down the road.

If anything else I'll drain, remove pan and replace filter and refill.

Keep in mind I have 2wd and no transer case. The fluid in the beginning was black and smelled foul with 170+k.

You wouldn't want your engine oil black so I didn't want my tranny fluid black either.

Over the drains there were very small paper thing flakes of parts. I feel like it's better for those to be out. And by few I mean 5 or 6 very tiny paper thin "flakes"

Hope it helps seems to have done the trick for me

 

[bac131]

I had the same problem between 20 and 25 miles per hour. I took the master mechanic at the dealer for a test drive and he told me it was the transmission and replaced it. He was right. Luckily I had an extended warranty.

 

[yhfyudy]

I am curious if there are more out there with the rumble strip problem on the 4runners. It has been documented in the Tacoma, so it stands to reason that it would be present in these as well...

 

[46runner]

It's happened twice to me in the last few months. Cannot recreate on demand. Each time it lasted about 5 seconds. I forget how fast I was going. Had planned on changing ATF this summer anyway. I have 130k miles.

 

[cpark_12]

Is this only a problem in the 2004 and up? I swear I can fell the same sensation from 45-50, but only when there's a load on the engine. Mine is an 03 V8 4X4

 

[fullboogie]

I'm about 4 months out since my pan drop/refill/shudderfix. Still haven't experienced it again, so I'm happy so far.

 

[IanB]

Recently noticed this "rumble strip" sensation in our '04 Lexus GX470 (same drivetrain as a V8 4Runner), and some googling lead me here. Seems to do it around 80km/h (50mph), I'll do some more testing and see if it's on the 4-5 upshift as many here seem to experience.

I did 3 drain & fills with Toyota WS fluid about a year ago as preventative maintenance, truck has 190,000kms (119,000 miles) on it now. Fluid should be fine still.

 

[IanB]

Testing complete, only seems to occur during mild-moderate acceleration, around 75-90km/h where it shifts from 4-5.

So seeing as I've got fairly fresh WS fluid in the trans already, what's next? More drain & fills just to see if it helps? Is there any chance of doing damage to the trans from continuing to drive like this? Start saving for a new TC?l

 

[fishin]

Shudder Fix

Did you put Shudder Fix in it?

 

[IanB]

Did you put Shudder Fix in it?

I have not, and I'm honestly a bit hesitant to put a product like that into an expensive transmission that's already picky about what fluid is in it, and what exact fluid level at a certain temp range, etc.

I saw a few in this thread had, and I guess I haven't seen any follow up posts where their trans grenade afterwards, is this really the go-to move when you experience this problem?

I've never seen the product available locally, probably something I'd have to order online.

 

[cpark_12]

I have not, and I'm honestly a bit hesitant to put a product like that into an expensive transmission that's already picky about what fluid is in it, and what exact fluid level at a certain temp range, etc.

I saw a few in this thread had, and I guess I haven't seen any follow up posts where their trans grenade afterwards, is this really the go-to move when you experience this problem?

I've never seen the product available locally, probably something I'd have to order online.

I've seen it in just about every O'reillys I've been in. I bought a tube of it for when I do my last drain and fill to see if it helps my problem

 

[IanB]

I've seen it in just about every O'reillys I've been in. I bought a tube of it for when I do my last drain and fill to see if it helps my problem

We don't have O'Reilly's here in Canadia. :sadwave:

 

[cpark_12]

We don't have O'Reilly's here in Canadia. :sadwave:

Dang! I guess you will have to order it!

 

[fishin]

Shudder Fix

I had a drain and fill at the Toyota Dealership and they added the Shudder Fix. It took two days but solved the problem. A mechanic buddy told me about it. Couldn't believe it. Don't dare do a flush. A guy I know just had a flush done on his perfect running Tahoe then came the shudder. He had to replace the torque converter. It's available at most auto parts stores. I paid $6.00 here in VA. It's been well over a year for me. So far so good. If it reoccurs, I'll do another drain and fill and add the Shudder Fix.

 

[07V8]

A fluid exchange does not "flush" anything out. The Toyota equipment returns fresh fluid as the old is pumped out from the transmission. There is no high pressure anything. It's a fluid exchange. We just did it a second time in our sealed trans Land Cruiser with 180k on it and I will be doing it for the second time in the near future on the 4runner. The dealer cost is around $300.