Transmission kicking into 2nd gear

Hi all, having an issue which is pretty scary. Driving home the other and out of nowhere I felt a kick going from 1st to 2nd gear. Next day it was fine and shifted smoothly for about 5 mins then started kicking into 2nd again. Next day shifted smoothly on and off and now kicking into 2nd everytime. I tried starting in 2nd gear and it shift smoothly for a while then started kicking going from 2nd to 3rd BUT only when I start in 2nd gear. Once the first kick is over, no matter if I start in 1st or 2nd the trany shifts smoothly the rest of the way.

Anyone have experience with this or know what it might be? Took it to a trany shop and dude said it might be a spring on valve but just got a call saying he can't figure out what is wrong since all the springs are in working order and that I need a valve body. Quick search online, $1,000 price tag.

Ouch

 

Try this link and enter your info/symptoms. Sonnax has a great reputation.

https://www.sonnax.com/units/256-a340f

 

Thank you!

 

Report back!

 

Will do

 

I'm going to call them tomorrow. Showed valve springs but Trany guy says valve springs are good.

 

How's your fluid look? Is it low/burnt?

 

Clean as can be. See through pink.

I called Sonnax this morning. They said it could be the solenoids which I had read can go bad on our trucks but Trany guy says the computer wasn't showing a faulty solenoid and that it would show up if one had gone bad.

 

Turns out used transmissions for our trucks are pretty cheap. Toyo Dealership wanted $1,342 for a new valve body, cheapest I found online for true Toyo part was $932. Called a few junk yards in my area and found a 119k mileage trany for $700. Trany guy says he'll replace for $650. This route gets me a much lower mileage trany for about the same as a new valve body would cost from the dealership. Think this is the right way to go about this.

 

Its in your tranny mans hands right now. We have to trust him.

 

Maybe it’s not a man at all........

 

Excellent point.

 

Trany dude came through... New-er trany in and shifting smoother than ever.

 

Did they tell you what went bad exactly?

 

The Valve Body

 

IIRC a new Sonnax Valve Body cost about $400.

 

So was it just easier to replace the whole thing vs pull the valve body and just replace that? I'm completley lost when it comes to the inner workings of automatic transmissions.

 

I’ve had bad luck with aftermarket parts in the past. When it comes to mechanical, I stick with genuine Toyota parts.

 

Valve body would’ve been easier but dealership wanted $1,400 for a new valve body. Cheapest true Toyota part I found online was $1,000. Mechanic wanted $400 to replace valve body. Found a lower mileage transmission for $700 and mechanic said he’d swap it out for $650 so I just chose the lower mileage trany over replacing the valve body.

 

Yeah. You did good. The cost was a little more for the newer tranny. I put up the Sonnax Kit recco for DIY purposes. It doesn’t look difficult to install. Hardest part is getting the trans pan bolts off, then its a Plug and Play unit Swap.

 

https://www.sonnax.com/units/256-a340f