Transmission issues: help!

[rwh963]

now that i have your attention ! this question pertains to a 2011 highlander v6 AWD. belongs to a friend. vehicle has about 112k miles. it was being driven, and they noticed it was having issues shifting. i wasn't there, so i don't know exactly what occurred. in the end, they had it towed to a body shop that had recently done some front end work to it. they thought it might be accident related (was not).

turns out at least one tranny line had sound a rust leak. a mechanic was called in, and the line (or lines) were replaced. fluid was replaced (not sure in all fluid was drained).

went for a drive with the owner. issues we noticed: seems to be gap/dead spot when shifting between 1st and second. may be grindy upon start up and shifting down the gear selection.

gonna put it through more paces, but does anyone have comments? may end up getting a full fluid change-out at the dealer.

 

[JONBOY345]

This is the wrong place for Highlander discussion. Think there's a sub-forum on here for other vehicles.

 

[rwh963]

This is the wrong place for Highlander discussion. Think there's a sub-forum on here for other vehicles.

that's correct; i checked in at that sub-forum and its pretty dead. this is not really highlander specific, and since i post for my 4th gen. 4runner, i wanted to get more eyes on it rather than have it fade away in the "other vehicles" section. i guess i could have pretended it was my 4runner....

 

[gm350reratliff]

Hard to say without actually being there but, did all the fluid get pumped out of the rusty lines? Like run dry? If so, the clutches may be burnt. Another possibility, did the proper fluid get put back in? I’m not sure if those take Toyota WS or something else but it needs to be that specific fluid. Is the ATF at the proper hot level? This can be a huge deal in newer transmissions.

 

[waypoint]

now that i have your attention !

Had.

 

[rwh963]

Hard to say without actually being there but, did all the fluid get pumped out of the rusty lines? Like run dry? If so, the clutches may be burnt. Another possibility, did the proper fluid get put back in? I’m not sure if those take Toyota WS or something else but it needs to be that specific fluid. Is the ATF at the proper hot level? This can be a huge deal in newer transmissions.

thx for the input. i haven't been able to find out that info yet. unlike my 4runner, this vehicle does have a transmission dipstick. i don't know how dry out was. the shop suggested driving it to get all the fluid circulated. the owner has reported that the transmission might be smoothing out. we will see.

 

[Flesh Eater]

If the RPM’s fluctuate in that dead spot the clutch packs are probably shot.

Fluid needs checked. Smell for burnt fluid, then take it for a drive if it wasn’t topped off before.