Transmission seems to shift into 1st kind of late

[nm_alien]

Did some searching. Found lots of threads on transmission leakage, rusty cooler lines, opinions on tranny flush vs. drain and fill. Still no luck on my particular issue.

I just bought an '05 SR5 V6. It has 195K miles on it. In general, the vehicle runs great and the transmission works well. But sometimes when I come to a stop, a few seconds after I stop, it seems like the transmission shifts into 1st gear and the vehicle lurches forward a little. It doesn't happen all the time though. My friend that is a Chevy guy and an automatic transmission tech asked me to make sure it isn't a Ford. :biggrin1:

All kidding aside, I'm just trying to find out if this is a common problem. Without a dipstick, it's not easy to figure out if I'm low on fluid or need to just do a drain and refill.

The vehicle has lots of maintenance records/history, all at the Toyota dealership. There is a recent record of a transmission cooler line leaking and being replaced. The PO told me he was driving down the road and noticed the vehicle starting to lose power so he pulled over and noticed fluid leaking out. Had it towed to the dealership where they replaced the cooler line that was leaking. I would like to think that the technician would have checked the fluid level but who knows.

 

[eleven14]

Did some searching. Found lots of threads on transmission leakage, rusty cooler lines, opinions on tranny flush vs. drain and fill. Still no luck on my particular issue.

I just bought an '05 SR5 V6. It has 195K miles on it. In general, the vehicle runs great and the transmission works well. But sometimes when I come to a stop, a few seconds after I stop, it seems like the transmission shifts into 1st gear and the vehicle lurches forward a little. It doesn't happen all the time though. My friend that is a Chevy guy and an automatic transmission tech asked me to make sure it isn't a Ford. :biggrin1:

All kidding aside, I'm just trying to find out if this is a common problem. Without a dipstick, it's not easy to figure out if I'm low on fluid or need to just do a drain and refill.

The vehicle has lots of maintenance records/history, all at the Toyota dealership. There is a recent record of a transmission cooler line leaking and being replaced. The PO told me he was driving down the road and noticed the vehicle starting to lose power so he pulled over and noticed fluid leaking out. Had it towed to the dealership where they replaced the cooler line that was leaking. I would like to think that the technician would have checked the fluid level but who knows.

I'd look at two things before assuming it's the transmission, but you may want to do a drain/fill/exchange of trans fluid to be safe.

1. These trucks are pretty notorious for an annoying driveline thunk cause by dry fittings. On mine, sometimes the thunk occurs after I've stopped or just as I start moving again. Add grease.
2. Is the AC/Defrost on? On my 08 V6, there's a noticeable surge when the compressor cycles on and off accompanied by what could be interpreted as a thunk. Shut the system off and see if you're still experiencing it.

Good luck

 

[Inv4drZm]

Did some searching. Found lots of threads on transmission leakage, rusty cooler lines, opinions on tranny flush vs. drain and fill. Still no luck on my particular issue.

I just bought an '05 SR5 V6. It has 195K miles on it. In general, the vehicle runs great and the transmission works well. But sometimes when I come to a stop, a few seconds after I stop, it seems like the transmission shifts into 1st gear and the vehicle lurches forward a little. It doesn't happen all the time though. My friend that is a Chevy guy and an automatic transmission tech asked me to make sure it isn't a Ford. :biggrin1:

All kidding aside, I'm just trying to find out if this is a common problem. Without a dipstick, it's not easy to figure out if I'm low on fluid or need to just do a drain and refill.

The vehicle has lots of maintenance records/history, all at the Toyota dealership. There is a recent record of a transmission cooler line leaking and being replaced. The PO told me he was driving down the road and noticed the vehicle starting to lose power so he pulled over and noticed fluid leaking out. Had it towed to the dealership where they replaced the cooler line that was leaking. I would like to think that the technician would have checked the fluid level but who knows.

Driveline thunk, grease rear driveshaft to fix it, very common.

 

[nm_alien]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a '99 100-series LC which has exhibited the driveline clunk. Greasing U-joints and slip yokes regularly keeps it at bay. I will do this first to see if it helps.

This behavior feels different though. It's a little weird to come to a stop and be sitting there for a few seconds and then feel the sensation of a surge in the driveline and have the vehicle move forward a little, even though my foot is on the brake. Of course, it is a different vehicle as well. But I will put a driveline lube at the top of my priorities. I will also experiment with the A/C compressor influence to see what I can determine.

 

[OC2003]

My old taco did that. I just dealt with it. It didn't change after full flud flush. Also didn't hurt anything for 20000 miles

 

[Inv4drZm]

Then its probably high idle/ AC kicking in. Solution, step on the brake harder.

 

[williamteichroeb]

I also have experienced this. I first noticed it this summer when doing a road trip. The vehicle has only 60,000miles on it, 2009 SR5. Driveline greased religiously by myself and ALL fluids drained and filled more than required. It's babied that's for sure. Had the transmission flushed last month to see if it would fix the "issue" I have noticed it doing it the odd time still (maybe once every 10 days or so, if I brake really hard and come to a complete stop. In the summer it even had a moment where I accelerated hard to pass a vehicle in the on-coming lane, and it "lurched, or surged" forward roughly.

Not sure what the fix is for this issue. The fluid in the transmission when they flushed it was very clean still. I did a bit of research awhile back and some people said there was a wiring harness that sometimes gets corroded, and can cause this issue.

I'm personally not doing any more about it, except maybe change my driving habits to not brake or accelerate so hard routinely. Seems to shift very smoothly otherwise.