Weird slow speed shudder (20-30mph on small hills)

[bac131]

Update:

I took the car to the local Toyota Dealer. Took the tech out for a test drive to confirm the shudder. He had never experienced it before so he called tech support. They told him the tranny needed to be replaced. I have an extended warranty so the insurance company is footing the bill.

 

[bac131]

I've had it back for a week now. Runs great.

 

[Shane08]

Any news yet?

Hey guys. So, i hust purchased a 2007 4runner v6 4x4 last night. It has 232,700 miles mostly highway. Everything is tip top shape in good condition. Last night while driving at a low grade between 25-35 mph i noticed this rumble problem. I have bo warranty and will go to toyota to see what they think. I didnt experience this on the the test drive. Ill def. Try the fluid change and see how that works! I have no warranty! Ugh

 

[firebirdguy]

I took the car to the local Toyota Dealer. Took the tech out for a test drive to confirm the shudder. He had never experienced it before so he called tech support. They told him the tranny needed to be replaced. I have an extended warranty so the insurance company is footing the bill.

what is the warranty you have & what does it cost? is it toyota or one of teh other companies that offer used car warranties?

 

[00GTvert]

I have the same issue on my 2005 SR5 V6 with 187K on the odo. I have no problems doing a full trans service but am apprehensive due to the high miles.

I've always been told a trans service on a high mile'd car could cause more problems because the clutches have worn significantly and the material is in the fluid. Replacing this fluid will remove the friction material and increase tolerances between the clutches to the point where slippage occurs.

Is this not the case with these toyotas? Anyone ever had their car shift/drive worse after a trans service?

 

[AuSeeker]

I have the same issue on my 2005 SR5 V6 with 187K on the odo. I have no problems doing a full trans service but am apprehensive due to the high miles.

I've always been told a trans service on a high mile'd car could cause more problems because the clutches have worn significantly and the material is in the fluid. Replacing this fluid will remove the friction material and increase tolerances between the clutches to the point where slippage occurs.

Is this not the case with these toyotas? Anyone ever had their car shift/drive worse after a trans service?

While there maybe someone who has had worse issues after doing a full fluid replacement or doing several drain and filla over time as some choose to do because of your same concerns, I haven't read of any on these forums who has had issues after doing either, most all if not all have reported that the transmission works nuch better if not flawlessly afterwards, 187.000 miles is about midlife for these T4Rs if they have been cared for, not what used to be considered high mileage, high mileage for a T4R is 350,000 to 400,000 miles and upwards, someone just the other day posted his at over 800,000 miles.

 

[Geecole]

Torque Converter

Same symptoms on my '08 2 weeks after I bought it. It was torque converter...replaced at 93k, now at 122k and running great. Thankfully, the dealer split the cost with me...my end was $450.

 

[slimjj]

I’m just posting this for posterity’s sake.

Driving home one day going uphill at about 50 mph it felt like my ‘05 Sport Edition V8 4Runner (230,000 miles on it) was searching for a gear between 4th and 5th and kind of stumbling, losing power a little. It happened again going up another hill on the same drive. I took it to a local dealership and they took it for a test drive and hooked it up to their machine and verified that it was the torque converter.

The dealership said they could replace the transmission for a used one w/ 136,000 miles on it and a new TC for $4k, um no thanks.

I took it to a local transmission (very reputable) shop and he verified it was the TC and said he could do it for $3.5 to $4k. Ugh

Took it another shop (Kirkland Transmission) that’s been around for 35 years and also agreed that it was the TC. He quoted me $2.8 to $3.5k, so I went with them. When they got it apart, they said the transmission itself looked great, but the TC and valve body needed to be replaced. He said the way the new transmissions work, they cycles fluid through the valve body much more than older tech transmissions and it causes them to wear out. Not knowing much about transmissions I let them move forward with the work. I looked up a valve body and it’s an amazing piece of machinery! I can see why they are so expensive (~$1k). They sent mine down to California to be rebuilt as they didn’t have any on hand.

He called me 2 weeks later (they had it over Labor Day weekend) to let me know it was all finished. Total bill was $3,554 after tax (10.1% in Washington state).

On the drive home, I was absolutely amazed at the amount of power it had. It felt completely hooked up in all gears better than it ever had before. Smooth shifting and great throttle response even up the big hills here.

I had already purchased a 2019 TRD ORP in the meantime because we knew it was time to get a new one that was going to be more reliable going forward. But man, do I miss that V8, that was a thing of beauty even if it only got 15 mpg. The new one is better in every other aspect, but I do miss that power.

I sold it to a nice new family for $8k, paid off the transmission work and put a bit towards the new one.

In the end, it’s an expensive repair, but well worth the cost for the performance and longevity of these trucks.