Transmission strangeness

[Shamish]

I have 1300 miles on my rig. I got it a month ago. Since I had it, I noticed that there were certain times that the engine would rev to about 1250 RPM before the transmission hooked up. After monitoring things (mainly when driving around in the parking garage...), I determined that the transmission would take a while to "hook up" under the following conditions:

1) Less than 10 MPH
2) On flat ground
3) Transmission is in second or third gear

Basically, if I am creeping through the parking garage, and I press on the sccelerator slightly, the engine revs up, then the transmissionm hooks up, and the vehicle will "lurch" forward. It's not a big lurch, but the hook up is pretty firm, and it is wierd since I would expect the transmission to engage as soon as the engine begins to rev (just like it does in every other gear).

I took the vehicle to the local Toyota dealer, and duplicated the condition for the tech. He then duplicated the condition. The tech then set up an appointment for Wednesday. They said they want the vehicle for the whole day.

I am not sure if the "problem" is indeed a problem, but it sure is annoying and I sure hope they can fix it.

 

[Snowfox]

I think i saw this issue has been brought up a couple time in the forums, if the memory serve me correctly, they (dealer) have to re-flash your system with the newer software to correct this problem.

 

[westwind77]

I have 1300 miles on my rig. I got it a month ago. Since I had it, I noticed that there were certain times that the engine would rev to about 1250 RPM before the transmission hooked up. After monitoring things (mainly when driving around in the parking garage...), I determined that the transmission would take a while to "hook up" under the following conditions:

1) Less than 10 MPH
2) On flat ground
3) Transmission is in second or third gear

What is your VIN #? There was a problem with early production 10's...see the following link....

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/68173-good-news-tranny-lag-new-tsb-fixes.html

It is more than a few pages long but read through them, see if they seem to be what you are getting. Mine was within the TSB, sounded like yours, fixed it 100%! I would step on the gas and it was like it sat in N and could not make up its mind, very annoying, but happy now!

This TSB applies to vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below:
2WD JTEZU5JR#A5001122
4WD JTEBU5JR#A5002648

Hope that helps!

 

[Narkhelek]

There was a TSB for shifting issues at low speed but it only impacted a low number of early VIN numbers. If you do a search for it I'm sure you'll find some posts on it.

When driving a very low speeds I get a bit of shift lag that feels like a bit of a lurch as the transmission engages but it doesn't bother me so I haven't worried about it.

 

[luv2eat]

Mine did this and it's a "later in the year model" (not within the VIN range). To make a long story short, I took mine in to the dealer a month ago. They hooked it up to the diagnostic computer and it had the latest ECM/ECU software. The service guy told me that they didn't do anything to the truck and that everything was normal; they didn't even "reflash" the ECM. The funny thing is that my 4R shifted smoothly/normally ever since the visit to the dealer. My guess is that when they hooked it up, it did "reflash" the ECM. Either that or they have some "secret" fix that Toyota doesn't want us to know about:naughty:.

 

[Rafael]

Mine did this and it's a "later in the year model" (not within the VIN range). To make a long story short, I took mine in to the dealer a month ago. They hooked it up to the diagnostic computer and it had the latest ECM/ECU software. The service guy told me that they didn't do anything to the truck and that everything was normal; they didn't even "reflash" the ECM. The funny thing is that my 4R shifted smoothly/normally ever since the visit to the dealer. My guess is that when they hooked it up, it did "reflash" the ECM. Either that or they have some "secret" fix that Toyota doesn't want us to know about:naughty:.

luv2eat-
I have the same issue as you did where my rig isn't within the VIN range. I see that you're from SoCal as well, can you tell me which dealer you took yours to? I've tried the local ones around me and they just give me the run around stating that it's not applicable to my truck because it's not within the range.

Thanks

 

[Shamish]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the replies. I did see the TSB (thanks to this site and all the great posts), but my rig is a late '10 build (VIN ends with 5032959).

I will let everyone know what the dealer does...

Also, I am in Washington State...a little way from So Cal!!

 

[Ben_Mueller]

I have this issue and I have a '11... Guess i will have to bring er in and get it reflashed

 

[luv2eat]

luv2eat-
I have the same issue as you did where my rig isn't within the VIN range. I see that you're from SoCal as well, can you tell me which dealer you took yours to? I've tried the local ones around me and they just give me the run around stating that it's not applicable to my truck because it's not within the range.

Thanks

Sent you a PM.