"Rumble Strip" Transmission issue
- Thread starter Ducman
- Start date
CookieRoe
Senior Member
Nice! (albeit 3 years later, LOL).
YAM93
New member
My 2005 V6 4x4 also recently started this rumble strip issue, shifting between 4th and 5th. I had a full fluid exchange done about a year ago, at roughly 160,000 miles. I got the vehicle used with 128k miles, so not sure if the original owner had ever serviced the transmission. Also had the spark plugs and wires changed about 6 months ago.
I took it to a shop last week and they drained 4 quarts and added new, along with the "Shudder Fix", one tube. Within a few miles the shudder was gone. I have since driven it this past week, probably 500 miles total. Just today it did a little 3-stutter shudder going from 3rd to 4th gear. I was only driving from grocery store to home so I'll have to test it more the next few days.
Looks like I'll be taking it back and have them do a full exchange and add another tube of SF in. This time I'll be sure to have them save a sample of the fluid. Praying it doesn't get worse.
I took it to a shop last week and they drained 4 quarts and added new, along with the "Shudder Fix", one tube. Within a few miles the shudder was gone. I have since driven it this past week, probably 500 miles total. Just today it did a little 3-stutter shudder going from 3rd to 4th gear. I was only driving from grocery store to home so I'll have to test it more the next few days.
Looks like I'll be taking it back and have them do a full exchange and add another tube of SF in. This time I'll be sure to have them save a sample of the fluid. Praying it doesn't get worse.
Shuddering
Been a while since I’ve been on this forum! Anyway, I got myself an ‘06 SR5 4WD about two months ago with 126k miles and in the last 3 weeks or so, I started getting the shudder around the 45mph mark like many of you. I currently have about 129k miles.
I did a drain and fill with shudder fixx and the issue seemed to have disappeared. However, a few days ago I experienced the shudder again, this time at around 25mph when entering a freeway on-ramp. It caused my CEL and other lights to light up and my 4R seemed to have gone into limp mode. I pulled over, turned the car off for a few minutes and restarted. It was almost as if nothing happened and the car started driving fine again.
Has anyone had this issue with the CEL and limp mode happen? I’m not sure what to do at this point so any help is greatly appreciated.
Been a while since I’ve been on this forum! Anyway, I got myself an ‘06 SR5 4WD about two months ago with 126k miles and in the last 3 weeks or so, I started getting the shudder around the 45mph mark like many of you. I currently have about 129k miles.
I did a drain and fill with shudder fixx and the issue seemed to have disappeared. However, a few days ago I experienced the shudder again, this time at around 25mph when entering a freeway on-ramp. It caused my CEL and other lights to light up and my 4R seemed to have gone into limp mode. I pulled over, turned the car off for a few minutes and restarted. It was almost as if nothing happened and the car started driving fine again.
Has anyone had this issue with the CEL and limp mode happen? I’m not sure what to do at this point so any help is greatly appreciated.
AuSeeker
Elite Member
Which engine do you have?
I've never heard of the transmission/torque converter shudder causing any codes nor make it go into limp mode, sounds more like the AIP issue.
Probably should’ve included that in my previous post. I have the 4.0L V6. Pardon my lacking knowledge but what is the AIP?
AuSeeker
Elite Member
The AIP is a air injection pump system which pumps air into the exhaust for emission control, but I think it's only an issue for the 2005 and onwards V8 engines where parts of the pump's plastic impeller breaks off and block the special valves open that are also a part of that system.
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Gotcha. Honestly don't know what the issue could be. It doesn't happen a lot but now when I do get that "rumble strip" feeling in the 25mph range when entering the freeways I get paranoid the CEL lights up and I go into limp mode. Seems to only happen when I do a gradually moderate acceleration. If I punch the gas, doesn't happen at all. If I put it in 4th gear, it doesn't happen either (at least not yet), even when gradually accelerating.
Just an update. I ended up doing a full transmission fluid exchange and it seems to have taken care of the problem. Also reset idle to see if it helped at all and the rig seems to run a lot smoother. Had a few hiccups (1 or 2) in the last 100 miles or so, but nothing as severe as before. I figured the new oil still needs to work its way around. I'll be adding Shudder Fixx if another issue comes up.
firebirdguy
Member
what trans fluid did you use when you reported doing the first exchange? & what fluid did you use for this one? were these full exchanges or just drain & fill the pan? are you checking the level at the right temp with teh proper trickle of fluid?
how did you reset the idle?
new fluid will "work its way around" in a minute or 2, aside from a little cleaning new fluid will do with more miles, its fully circulated & should show improvements right away.
Toyota WS auto transmission fluid was used for the drain and fill and eventually the full exchange. Not sure if the temp was checked, I had the dealership do the full exchange. I reset the idle by disconnecting the battery and letting the 4Runner sit in drive with the parking brake on for a little while.
firebirdguy
Member
if the dealer did a full exchange then hopefully they checked the fluid level correctly. what did they charge for the exchange? glad it helped with your issue.
curious, why you put it in drive with the battery disconnected? all you're doing when disconnecting the battery is wiping the stored memory of the ECM, that happens regardless of what gear its in.
I got charged $329 IIRC, a bit much but I didn't do enough research to find a reputable local shop to do the work.
Haha I just re-read my post and saw that I failed to mention I reconnected the battery, then put it in drive for the idle to reset.
Anyway, the problem came up again two days ago. Mind you, before I had a full transmission oil exchange done, the rumble occurred often. This time I had a little bit of the rumble, and the CEL, VSC, Trac Off light came up. Power was dumbed down and the 4runner started shaking. Luckily, I was able to get into a parking lot.
I shut the car off and turned on after a about 5 minutes and the car ran fine again, but I left it in 4th since I was driving city streets. Like others, it only occurs when I'm in 5th gear/D. I D/C'd the battery and cleared the dash lights. No issue since yesterday again. I'm not too sure what could be going on since I haven't found anyone on the forums with the Rumble Strip issue PLUS the CEL and other dashlights coming on. Anyone know if it could it be the rumble triggering a faulty sensor? Any help much appreciated!
firebirdguy
Member
was just curious of the cost, some only do a pan drain & fill for about $125-$150. for $329 sounds like they did the full exchange.
best of luck figuring out your issues.
Thanks. The rig's been running smooth for the last 2 days again. Again, it doesn't occur as often as it did before the ATF exchange, so I guess I'll just tolerate it for now when it happens.
blakjack23
New member
I realize this is a 4th gen post, but it's the post I found with the most information when I was researching this issue on my 5th gen.
I brought my truck to the dealer last week and asked them to do a fluid exchange and explained the problem. He called me back a couple hours later and said the tech reproduced the issue and said the torque converter was bad....with a replacement costing $2900. I asked him if he thought a fluid exchange would resolve the issue and he said no, but that maybe it would temporarily mask the issue, and that it would be a waste of money. I told him I'd roll the dice anyone and get it done. I picked it up later that night and right away I could tell the issue was 95% gone. A couple days later I don't notice it at all, and overall the shifting is buttery smooth now. I do tow a boat in the summer months, so I really should have had the fluid exchange awhile ago.
I just wanted to post to say thanks for the info and in case any other 5th gen owners come across this while searching. I found a few posts about this on the 5th gen forums, but most people were saying the rumble was normal, with some saying they've had the rumble since new, and just live with it. I don't really believe that...my rumble was bad!
2011 Limited with 139k.
I brought my truck to the dealer last week and asked them to do a fluid exchange and explained the problem. He called me back a couple hours later and said the tech reproduced the issue and said the torque converter was bad....with a replacement costing $2900. I asked him if he thought a fluid exchange would resolve the issue and he said no, but that maybe it would temporarily mask the issue, and that it would be a waste of money. I told him I'd roll the dice anyone and get it done. I picked it up later that night and right away I could tell the issue was 95% gone. A couple days later I don't notice it at all, and overall the shifting is buttery smooth now. I do tow a boat in the summer months, so I really should have had the fluid exchange awhile ago.
I just wanted to post to say thanks for the info and in case any other 5th gen owners come across this while searching. I found a few posts about this on the 5th gen forums, but most people were saying the rumble was normal, with some saying they've had the rumble since new, and just live with it. I don't really believe that...my rumble was bad!
2011 Limited with 139k.
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firebirdguy
Member
toyota suggests changing trans fluid at ~60k if you tow or abuse it.
i would suggest adding a tube of the shudder fix stuff asap, many have reported that helped a lot with trans shudder issues.
TowMeOut
New member
Rumble strip after being stupid
I decided my truck was a submarine about 2 weeks ago. Drove off into a hole after mistaking the route I'd come in. It didn't lock the motor but ended up with about 4" of water in the cab. Seats and carpet out, dash lit up like an Xmas tree. So....as I slowly dried everything out and it returned to life, the one thing that didn't go away was this damned "rumble strip" shudder about 25-35mph.
I read everything I could find on here (these threads are long). At the end of all of it I bought 16 quarts (4 gallons) of the Valvoline Maxlife ATF and the Lube Gard Shudderfixx stuff. Today I did the fluid exchange through the cooler lines. It went just fine. I made a reservoir out of an empty jug and sat it on a step ladder. Put a gallon in the reservoir then start the truck and run it long enough to pump a gallon out. Worked like a charm. I could have gotten away with only the 12 quarts I think....but I wanted to flush as much "junk" out of there as possible.
The fluid looked like crap with kind of a brown/grey hue verse the normal clear red of the new stuff. I don't know if that was just dirt/age (has about 60K on this fluid I think) or if the tranny gulped some muddy water. I'm gonna run through the breathers and check the T-case and diffs tomorrow. But....so far the terrible noise/shake seems to be gone. I'm gonna give it a few days then probably return the shiftfixx additive.
This problem only went on for about 2 weeks but I did a 1500mile road trip to my folks house in the middle. I first thought it was a suspension issue as I'd found a really loose outer tie rod end in troubleshooting. I was working on that the night before the road trip and ran out of time to do the fluid and other repairs by the time I needed to leave. I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed that this didn't do any permanent damage (outside of the normal wear and tear of a tranny with 185K on it).
Update: Been a few days and the issue came back....albeit still far less than at the start. I dumped in a 2nd tube of the ShudderFixx as I think it's only rated to treat 10 quarts (system holds about 12). Seems a bit better. Only really gets the effect on very mile acceleration up to/through 30mph.
I decided my truck was a submarine about 2 weeks ago. Drove off into a hole after mistaking the route I'd come in. It didn't lock the motor but ended up with about 4" of water in the cab. Seats and carpet out, dash lit up like an Xmas tree. So....as I slowly dried everything out and it returned to life, the one thing that didn't go away was this damned "rumble strip" shudder about 25-35mph.
I read everything I could find on here (these threads are long). At the end of all of it I bought 16 quarts (4 gallons) of the Valvoline Maxlife ATF and the Lube Gard Shudderfixx stuff. Today I did the fluid exchange through the cooler lines. It went just fine. I made a reservoir out of an empty jug and sat it on a step ladder. Put a gallon in the reservoir then start the truck and run it long enough to pump a gallon out. Worked like a charm. I could have gotten away with only the 12 quarts I think....but I wanted to flush as much "junk" out of there as possible.
The fluid looked like crap with kind of a brown/grey hue verse the normal clear red of the new stuff. I don't know if that was just dirt/age (has about 60K on this fluid I think) or if the tranny gulped some muddy water. I'm gonna run through the breathers and check the T-case and diffs tomorrow. But....so far the terrible noise/shake seems to be gone. I'm gonna give it a few days then probably return the shiftfixx additive.
This problem only went on for about 2 weeks but I did a 1500mile road trip to my folks house in the middle. I first thought it was a suspension issue as I'd found a really loose outer tie rod end in troubleshooting. I was working on that the night before the road trip and ran out of time to do the fluid and other repairs by the time I needed to leave. I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed that this didn't do any permanent damage (outside of the normal wear and tear of a tranny with 185K on it).
Update: Been a few days and the issue came back....albeit still far less than at the start. I dumped in a 2nd tube of the ShudderFixx as I think it's only rated to treat 10 quarts (system holds about 12). Seems a bit better. Only really gets the effect on very mile acceleration up to/through 30mph.
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