Transmission solenoids?

My suggestion is to replace as much of the ATF fluid as possible. If you want to stay with Toyota WS, it will only last you about 30k miles, before it starts to slip again, since I imagine it will thin out. I have already replaced half the solenoids just for them to come back a year later, to the exact date I replaced the ATF fluid and solenoids.
I think Amsoil was suggested before, but at the time I couldn't remember which one to buy and went with Royal Purple Max ATF. Did a 4.5 quart drain and fill and it took a couple hundred miles to cycle through the whole transmission before I could feel a difference. Went on a 500 mile trip and roasted the fluid under heavy traffic, I coukd literally smell it when I got out of the truck. So I've done a second fluid replacement, just in case. Currently am waiting a month or month and a half before I do the next one as to keep fresh fluid in there. No current issues, no codes and it starting to feel like a 100k mile transmission again. I can feel it grab gears firmly and shift nicely. For context I'm at about 308-309k

 

How’d it get that hot in traffic? I mean it would have to be seriously pushing over 250+ right?

 

Yeah, I was following an 18 wheeler, incase my transmission starting acting up I could jump off the I-5. So, that one was on me, since I was constantly on and off the gas pedal vs rising the brakes.

 

anyone know much about the techstream software? Will it give me feedback on solenoid issues if no current check engine light on?

 

You will probably need to do an Ohms test on them, but I've read somewhere that may be hit and miss. Maybe out of spec but function well within spec.

 

So if they test ok, but are out of spec, will that show on techstream without check engine light on?

 

Idk, I replaced solenoids a year ago and codes came back. All OEM except solenoid D? The black one, that was Rostra brand.

 

Not necessarily, if you have a pending check engine light Techstream should tell you the code (as will most scanners unless they can’t access that system); the ohms might be out of spec but still function properly so the ECT will have no reason to set a cel

 

Is there a way to tell which shift solenoid corresponds with which gears? I am going to replace the Pressure Control D but figured if there was one that corresponded with 5-6 and 5-4, I would replace that while I was in there, since those are the only shifts giving me issue.
Although, that wouldn't account for the hard shift intro drive after first starting, only the pressure one would. Thoughts?

 

yeah there's a list on alldata of which solenoid corresponds to what gears; shoot me your vin and I'll dig it up.

Yeah drive engaging more roughly should be a increase in line pressure; does it happen everytime or only when cold?

 

That is awesome. Thank you! 5TFRM5F11CX046733

The jumping into drive thing consistently happens in the afternoon (Florida/hotter) but also in the morning, but if I back up far enough and shift a few times into neutral/reverse, it won't happen.

The 5th to 4th and 5th to 6th happens everytime, cold or hot.

When I used Techstream, I was able to test/activate the solenoids one at a time. After doing this, I test drove it and it shifted without problems, then the next day, right back to normal. My thinking is that at least one solenoid is not functioning consistently, but when I forced it, it got going for a bit.

 

Yeah they might be sticking; also I’m not 100% on this but you might have a check ball sticking increasing the line pressure so when you put it in drive it’s super rough (don’t hold me to that I’m not sure if that’s possible)

 

I should also add that when I hard brake through that gear shift/speed, it does not happen. Not sure if the trans skips gears when decelerating rapidly or if that is a pressure thing...???

 

It does. Although SR doesn't handle 5-6 only 1-4 usually a leaking passage has a failed shift along with p761 codes etc. S4 handles 5-6.
A built Valve Body does wonders for the ab60. They wear out and don't hold line pressure. Not saying that's your issue...

 

My code is for SL2.
It is a hard downshift from 5 to 4, and just a long shift from 5-6, that and the hard shift into D.
Initially, none of this was happening when I first got the code. I pulled and tested each solenoid and put new fluid and filter in (not toyota) and then these issues started.

 

I will say this...the ab60 seems to have its own personality. I switched to valvoline Maxlife WS and had confused shifting to 3-4. I used Idemitsu WS and it was good but not crisp. Used Toyota WS and it was all good. I currently have Dex3 in and when it's real cold it has a delayed 3-4 shift and a hard shift from 5-6, could be solenoid related on 5-6. I am going to be using AISIN WS as it has a little higher viscosity than Toyota but lower than my DEX3. If it was running well on Toyota WS and this happened when you switched then it would seem that is the issue. Toyota ws has a 5.4 viscosity at 104F and Maxlife 5.9 but is more like a DEX6 fluid.