Hi I'm new and I have a transmission question.

Hi everyone Christine here! Just wanted you to meet me so I can tell you a few things about myself. First off, I am not a "girly" girl, and people that first meet me are surprised that I hand split my firewood with a maul and a wedge (always in a skirt). I spent over 10 years in the local fire department training newbies. I like anything that goes bang or makes a lot of noise (like a high performance tricked out engine with a minimal exhaust). I belong to my local chapter of AG&AG, and I love to shoot.

So Here's my question about my 2003 tundra...
The transmission... Is this thing a true 4 speed w/overdrive? And what's with the weird shifting point depending on the acceleration? If I accelerate modestly, it shifts where I'd expect it to (lower RPM's) Under moderate power it takes forever to shift, like over 3500 RPM's, and if I nail it, worse yet. (I usually don't go there). And, whats with that strange transition to OD. It moves from 3rd to OD briefly engaging that mystery 4th? gear. I never get it to stay in fourth unless I disengage the OD. It's been like that as long as I've had this beast and it's really annoying. Give me a manual any day! I also blew out a rear window with a wild toss of a piece of firewood, but that's another story. Thank you for responding!

 

Welcome.

Not sure if I can help, but 3500 rpm to shift does sound odd. Is that with overdrive off?

BTW, you wouldn't be the first wanting a v8 manual. When I bought mine back in 2002, I still remember a member of another forum stating he'd crawl a mile through broken glass to get a v8 manual. I don't disagree.

 

Welcome from NY.
Is that Grafton outside of Troy, NY?
Do you really split wood in a skirt?

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

I have to agree, I love three pedals and rowing gears as well. I've owned my 2001 Tundra since new and I still hate the slushbox. Thank goodness I have motorcycles. Welcome.

 

Pic or it ain't true...."we like pics, like a lot" @bmf4069 would say !

 

Mmmmmmm. 3 pedals. Mmmmmm.

 

It's a 4 speed transmission and 4th gear is less than a 1:1 ratio (.705:1) and is the over driven gear.

The different shift points are based on throttle position, if your pressing more on the gas it changes the shift points to higher rpms where more engine power is available.

That last little 'shift' is the torque converter lockup engaging, not an additional gear. That's for less drivetrain loss, lower trans temps and better fuel economy. It only happens once you're at speed and cruising steady with throttle position below a certain %.

Disengaging O/D drops it into 3rd gear. Torque converter lockup will still occur once steady speed is achieved. So it may feel like a 4th gear at times.

 

Welcome from sunny AZ

 

Dang I was afraid of something like that. I'm not a fan of that auto Xmission! Thanks for the comments. BTW can you post to a particular comment? Or how do you address it to a specific person in the thread? TY!

 

Is that Grafton outside of Troy, NY?
Do you really split wood in a skirt?


The answer to the first is no, it's in WI
Second one, Absolutely, preferably a mini skirt. It's way cooler than pants!

How do you use that dang quote tool anyway?

 

Welcome

 

Hit that button then it'll put it in the text box. Scroll to the bottom in the text box and make sure you're not typing in the quote.

 

For this put @ in front of the person you wanna tag. Like this: @bmf4069

 

Also also, we need pics of the truck. We like pics. Like, a lot.

 

Like others have said, bottom right QUOTE tab.

 

The mystery gear after 3rd is 4th, then the torque converter locks, and feels like 4th.

when OD is off the tc locks in 3rd.

 

Will take some pics and put them out there, but it ain't pretty. It's a work truck! Trying this quote thing now...
@bmf4069

 

have to agree. My last Toyota was just like this one. 238,000 mi. All original parts in the drive train. I only sold it because the frame and gas tank were in bad shape. Put it on Craig's list and sold it in 45 mins.

 

I see you have a black 03 access cab. I have a black 03 access cab too.


The good news is everything you described is normal. Might be bad news for you but at least nothing is broken. Welcome to the forum.

 

Is that a T100?

 

It is not. it's the precursor to the Tacoma, simply called a SR5. it was a super sturdy small truck that actually felt and drove like a REAL pickup, unlike that "luxury limo" I'm currently driving. LOL! Thanks for the question.

 

Looks like an 89-92. I had a 94 and it had the 3rd brake light.

 

I love my truck, but have the same feelings about the auto trans. Give me a stick shift any day.

I think I read somewhere that the ECU calculates how quickly you are increasing speed, and if it's not speeding up as quickly as it thinks it should, it will hold the gear assuming you are towing or climbing a grade. If you give the same throttle input going downhill it seems to shift much sooner. I partly blame the tranny logic for the abysmal gas mileage, but hey, it's a truck and just driving like you would want it to if you were towing or fully loaded, so it's not shifting constantly.

I have also found that if I am climbing a grade where it is holding 2nd or third longer than I want, that backing off the throttle a little will let it go into the next gear. Then I can get back on it again and it has plenty of torque to continue accelerating without downshifting.

 

That is pretty much what I have observed also. I find the OD is fine for cruising, but not so great for pulling a trailer.

 

Turn it off while towing