Transmission Issues! Help!

[wickedmatt717]

I have a 2000 SR5 with an auto trans and about 175,000 miles and I have been having some problems with the transmission over the last few weeks. At Highway speeds (65-70 mph) when I try to accelerate or add throttle to climb over a hill either THE RPMS increase but I get little or no acceleration or it will accelerate but it will slip for a really short time then grab several times. It works perfectly fine sometimes then all of a sudden it feels seconds from death. I know it isn't pink milkshake (first thing I checked) and the car has never had any history of transmission problems. Please help I really can't afford a trip to the shop right now!

 

[ukrunner]

Have you checked the fluid using the correct method?

 

[gamefreakgc]

How does it drive with OD off? Could be a problem with 4th gear. Hit the button on the side of your shifter and then try and see if that improves things.

Also, is there slack in your transmission kick down cable? That will cause it to shift funny. There should be no slack, just the tiniest bit of wiggle room to make sure it's not overtightened. If there is slack, loosen the lock nuts with a 14mm wrench and turn the first nut closer to the end and tighten it back up until it's right. Might as well do the throttle cable too while you are at it!

 

[wickedmatt717]

I checked it by driving on the highway for about 20 seconds then shifted through each gear pausing for a few seconds in each before leaving it in Park.

There is no slack in the kick down cable but there is a good bit of play in the throttle cable because it's so stretched out I can't quite get the last bit of slack out. I will try driving without overdrive to see if that helps, if not I might just have to take it to the shop and have the fluid and maybe the filter changed.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'm assuming the fluid is also a good color (not black or brown) and at the correct levels? Reason why I brought up the cable is when I got my 4Runner the tranny cable was so loose that it wouldn't downshift at all. Drove really strange.

If everything checks out, it could be something wrong with the torque converter. If you do go to a shop, make sure you go to one your trust and don't get fleeced!

 

[wickedmatt717]

Yea the fluid looks okay bit dirtier than I would like. As for a trusted mechanic I always go to the same little family owned shop because I know the owner really well.