Transmission slip from reverse to drive

[mason4runner]

I have an 04 V-8 & when the engine/trans is cold, the transmission hesitates & slips a little bit, when shifting from reverse to park.
Anyone else have this problem or know something about it.
Thanks

 

[live4swell]

I have an '03 and have this too, there was a thread on it a while ago and I know a few people were talking about it. It doesnt just happen in the cold i dont think. I get it when i am backing out of my driveway the go into Drive, there is a slight hesitation before engaging...I have mentioned it to my dealer a few times but they just gave me the BS line its "normal"...so who knows

 

[TranceKrayz]

interesting......both of you guys have the new 5spd. my 4spd is fine, but toyota trannies are known to be bulletproof.

 

[RickyCRX]

Mine just recently started doing this as well...

I have an '03 2WD sport V8 with the 5-speed tranny. It only does it in the mornings when the engine/tranny are cold and I back out of the driveway. When I shift from reverse to drive, it feels like D is engaged, so I start gently applying throttle, then as the vehicle just barely starts to move forward, I feel a 'clunk' like a 'positive lockup' takes place a delayed second or two after shifting into drive.

I didn't notice this before it started getting cooler on a few mornings, but it doesn't happen after the vehicle has been driven that day.

Anybody else have these same symptoms?

My vehicle has 62k miles on it, by the way.

 

[Iowa4Runner]

My '04 5 speed does this too. It only happens in cool weather (40-60 degrees?). If I shift from reverse to neutral and hold it there for a couple seconds, it won't clunk when I first start out in drive. A few times it was more if a hearty slam, not merely a clunk. It strikes me as a fluid level / circulation problem.

I'm getting tired of this supposedly wonderful transmission having these "normal" problems.

 

[Northof49]

It's normal....they all do it to some extent. More noticeable when cold, as all auto trannies are more clunky when not up to operating temperature.

I wouldn't call it a "problem," it's just the way it shifts. The dealer tells you it's normal and there's nothing they can do.....because it's normal and there's nothing they can do :

 

[Iowa4Runner]

It's normal....they all do it to some extent. More noticeable when cold, as all auto trannies are more clunky when not up to operating temperature.

I wouldn't call it a "problem," it's just the way it shifts. The dealer tells you it's normal and there's nothing they can do.....because it's normal and there's nothing they can do :

Well a few times the engagement has been a slam, not a clunk. Any harder and there will be drivetrain parts sitting in the street. That's a problem in my book.

 

[Northof49]

I was addressing the threadstarter and others who had been to the dealer with comments along the same lines.....a little hesitation when shifting from reverse to drive.

If you have an audible slam in your drivetrain, that is not the issue I was reffering to......if there is enough slack in your driveline to make it slam or clunk, it is *highly* unlikely that the transmission is the culprit.

 

[Solice]

So far it seems to only be the 5-spd paired with the V8. I haven't felt this yet with the V6 and 5-spd yet. Any 5-spd V6 owners have this happening?

 

[RickyCRX]

Maybe it's an age/mileage thing. The V6's didn't get the 5-speed tranny until '05, so I doubt any will have some significant mileage on them.

Does anybody have this happening on a really low mileage transmission?

And one of the guys above mentioned that it only happens when it's colder outside (i.e. 40-60 degree) and it's only first thing in the morning... This is exactly the scenario when I notice it on mine. This afternoon it didn't do it when it was 75-80 degrees outside despite the engine and transmission being 'cold.'

I am running Amsoil synthetic tranny fluid in my tranny (I've been running it for the last 11-12k miles, starting from ~51k miles, and I have 62.5k on it now), so I doubt it's a circulation problem. Again, it's only when cold and only the first shift into drive from reverse after backing out the driveway. Later in the day when I am at the office and back out of my parking space to go to lunch, it never does it.

Ricky

 

[Spider5]

My 2005 with 5500 miles in the clock does this also in warmer weather 70F when shifting from reverse to drive about one in 10 times. It started at about 1500 miles. It is not normal because then it should do it every time. Dealer has just frustrated me further by indicating it is normal. That is why I wanted to add a dip stick on the trans (see earlier thread)

 

[Iowa4Runner]

I was addressing the threadstarter and others who had been to the dealer with comments along the same lines.....a little hesitation when shifting from reverse to drive.

If you have an audible slam in your drivetrain, that is not the issue I was reffering to......if there is enough slack in your driveline to make it slam or clunk, it is *highly* unlikely that the transmission is the culprit.

My transmission's behavior varies, sometimes it's just like the thread starter and others describe, a hesitation, and sometimes it's much more harsh. It's the same issue, and it's a 100% certainty that the transmission is the source.

 

[RickyCRX]

My transmission's behavior varies, sometimes it's just like the thread starter and others describe, a hesitation, and sometimes it's much more harsh. It's the same issue, and it's a 100% certainty that the transmission is the source.

I guess with as many people noticing it, it can be nearly considered 'normal' despite the annoyance factor of it. Has anybody had transmission failures related to this?

Ricky

 

[Iowa4Runner]

I guess with as many people noticing it, it can be nearly considered 'normal' despite the annoyance factor of it. Has anybody had transmission failures related to this?

Ricky

I'd agree that it appears to be normal for Toyota's latest 5 speed trannys to do this. But I have a hard time considering this normal in the general sense of how a correctly designed / properly operating transmission should function. If Toyota wants us to think this isn't a design oversight or a flaw in the transmission, then that's where I take issue...

 

[MDT4RNR]

V8 are all time 4 wheel drive right?
V6's have the option of switching from 2 to 4 WD.

I have a '03 V6 SE and have not experience this, perhaps if I put it on 4WD and listen out and feel for any weird things I'll post my findings here.

 

[RickyCRX]

V8 are all time 4 wheel drive right?
V6's have the option of switching from 2 to 4 WD.

I have a '03 V6 SE and have not experience this, perhaps if I put it on 4WD and listen out and feel for any weird things I'll post my findings here.

My 4Runner is a 2WD V8 model and it has done it when the ambient temperatures are cold in the morning.

Ricky

 

[MDT4RNR]

Slip

My 4Runner is a 2WD V8 model and it has done it when the ambient temperatures are cold in the morning.

Ricky

Well, this rules my theoretical research out the window

 

[TRZ06]

Well, I can tell you it is very common. I had 2 GX470's before my 4Runner and they both did it (even when brand new). If the outside temp. is low, it did it.

Now it is not winter yet, but there have been a few cold mornings here, and my new 4Runner has yet to do it.

My 4Runner is a 06' SE 4X4 V8, so as the winter sets in, we will see if it starts. But at least to this point, it has not done it.

 

[RickyCRX]

Well, I can tell you it is very common. I had 2 GX470's before my 4Runner and they both did it (even when brand new). If the outside temp. is low, it did it.

Now it is not winter yet, but there have been a few cold mornings here, and my new 4Runner has yet to do it.

My 4Runner is a 06' SE 4X4 V8, so as the winter sets in, we will see if it starts. But at least to this point, it has not done it.

For the last week or two, it has been pretty nice here in the mornings... Usually in the low 70's. We just got a cold front that blew through last night and the outside temperature this morning was 44F when I started the 4Runner. It did it again this morning.

It's definitely something temperature related. I think I'm just going to make sure I don't apply any throttle for a second or two on these cold morning startups when I change from reverse to drive.

Ricky

 

[Iowa4Runner]

I think I'm just going to make sure I don't apply any throttle for a second or two on these cold morning startups when I change from reverse to drive.

Ricky

Something else you can try- When moving the shift lever from R to D, stop at N for a second or two and see if that takes care of the slipping. It seems to work for me.