Torque Converter/Tranny Problem

[eliask08]

Hi everyone,

I've had the Runner for almost 18 months, as the second owner. When I picked it up, I immediately changed all the oils (engine, tranny, transfer case) and everything was smooth up until the last few weeks where I would notice a 'clunking' noise whenever accelerating after a full stop, and sometimes when the truck would shift at high speeds (from second into third, remember, it's an automatic). I've read up on some posts that the noise is due to a lack of grease in the propeller shaft, so I greased it up and all the noise does not occur as it did before. Today, as I left the line after a complete stop, I felt a very noticeable kick as it shifted from first to second, almost as if I was shifting a manual car at a high rpm, and held the clutch too long between the shift. Has anyone experienced this? Did I screw up by having the tranny oil changed, as some folks indicate this should never be done?

I have about 5k left on an engine and drivetrain warranty, but worry that this may not be detected by the dealership until after it runs out seeing that it occurs very rarely.

Maintenance Info:
Picked up vehicle at 72,000 km, no info on previous owner
Changed tranny, transfer and engine oil at local Toyota dealership
Changed plugs to NGK iridium at 80k (myself)
Usual Oil change every 5k (myself), now vehicle has 101k
Grease propeller regularly (but seems not enough) (myself)
Use Amsoil synthetic for last 18 months

__
Elias

 

[DaveS]

If you look at the Canadian maintenance schedule, they do recommend changing the tranny fluid every 96,000km in fact - transfer case and differentials are every 64,000km. Did you get a flush or just a fluid change for the transmission? You mentioned the transfer case, was the fluid changed in the differentials? Any signs of anything leaking when you park overnight (the dreaded transfer case actuator seal leak)?

I would keep an eye on it but not get overly concerned if it was an isolated incident.

 

[berettashot117]

search "transmission clunk" and you'll find this is something the 4th gen is notorious for, yet it seems harmless.

 

[eliask08]

If you look at the Canadian maintenance schedule, they do recommend changing the tranny fluid every 96,000km in fact - transfer case and differentials are every 64,000km. Did you get a flush or just a fluid change for the transmission? You mentioned the transfer case, was the fluid changed in the differentials? Any signs of anything leaking when you park overnight (the dreaded transfer case actuator seal leak)?

I would keep an eye on it but not get overly concerned if it was an isolated incident.

@DaveS, did not touch the differentials, and only changed the fluids, not flushed them. I guess I'll have to do quite a bit of maintenance when things warm up. Also, I did not notice any leaking since I purchased the truck. Is the actuator seal leak common? Does it leak for those who do a lot of 2 -> 4H switching?

 

[eliask08]

search "transmission clunk" and you'll find this is something the 4th gen is notorious for, yet it seems harmless.

@berettashot117, yea, this was part of the problem. Again, I can only find three zerks, but everyone swears there are six. The Haynes and Toyota service manuals I have only show the same three I found.

What I had noticed did not seem like it was the simple 'clunk' of the propeller shaft, but almost like a hesitation to shift. Driving back home from work, I could not get it to manifest again.

 

[DaveS]

The tcase leak is a known issue due to the design - a few people here have had it but I would not go so far as to say it is common - problem is it is $$$$ to fix because the tc has to be dropped and opened up to fix the problem. Oddly enough there are probably more posts of people not shifting 2hi-4hi-4lo often enough and having the actuator seize on them through lack of use which is $$$$ also.

 

[DaveS]

Just checking by the way - you did use WS fluid in the tranny and go through the whole fiddly process of checking the fluid level is right with the tranny at the right temperature according to the ECU codes? If you have the fsm you should have the full details.

 

[eliask08]

Just checking by the way - you did use WS fluid in the tranny and go through the whole fiddly process of checking the fluid level is right with the tranny at the right temperature according to the ECU codes? If you have the fsm you should have the full details.

@DaveS, thanks for the super quick reply at 6:30am! I had the dealer do the tranny and transfer case change as I had it only for a few days and wanted to get it out of the way. Hearing that the process is meticulous, I hope they did follow proper procedure.