Ask the Toyota mechanic!

Haha no no no tips... I'm saying please don't come and complain about 12 different noises and expect them to all get fixed under warranty just cuz I'm on here... that's all I meant. Bring it in and request me


Lolzzzzzvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

 

Could be your AC drain tube. Mine was clogged on a Toyota echo and it sounded the same. When I made turns it would pour on to my feet . I got under the car with a coat hanger and uncloged it no problems after that.

 

@LOTSOFTOYS - My son's 2007 Tundra 5.7 Limited - Was on his way from Dallas to Houston (about 3 hrs of highway speed and pulled off for a quick stop). When he started up again transmission slipped when changing gears between 40-50 mph and then CEL came on along with VSC flashing and traction control light on. Took to dealership and the said CEL code was P0976 Shift Solenoid "B" Control Circuit Low. They said only thing to do was to replace the transmission(at a cost of between $5k -$6K). The pickup has 170,000 miles on it. It runs fine other than the slipping when it changes gears between 40-50 mph. Why can't the Shift Solenoid B just be replaced? Appreciate your taking time to help us understand the issue. Thanks.

 

Ok bear with me as I try to get this in writing. The code masically means the ecu commanded the solenoid (B) to activate. When this solenoid turns on, it shifts the transmission into a gear (probably 4th or 5th based on your speed). Like u said the solenoid could very well be bad. It could be stuck closed or stuck open(unlikely because u said it slips... if it was stuck it would not shift). It could not close or not open all the way... that could cause issues as well.

The more likely problem is there is a mechanical problem with the transmission vs an electrical problem. When that solenoid is commanded to activate, it is probably working as designed. It closes and applys a brake in the transmission or applies clutch packs. If these clutch packs don't hold and slip, u feel a power lose. Or if a brake slips, the component it is meant to hold slips...
The ecu can only see a few sensors inside the transmission. Most important is input speed(torque converter) and out put speed (driveshaft). If the ecu commanded a shift and the two speeds don't jive with what it should normally be it knows there was a problem with that shift. It doesn't know if the wiring is bad, the solenoid is bad or if the internal components are slipping. Thus, it sets a generic code for that solenoid.

The correct way to diagnose it old be to drop the pan and inspect the fluid and magnets in the pan. If there is evidence of metal or brass flakes then its obvious the trans is toast. If not, fluid looks good then it's time to test the solenoid and wiring and verify proper operation.

I can honestly say 95 out of 100 times u get that code, it's the transmission. I have only like twice replaced solenoids or repaired wiring...

My question for u, is that trans should have been serviced 3 almost 4 times at that mileage. Was that done and was toyota w/s fluid used?

 

Thanks LOTSOFTOYS for that explanation. It makes sense that might not be as simple as replacing the solenoid. The dealership didn't say whether they dropped the pan or not. My son drove it back from Houston and we will take it to a local dealership and have them drop the pan and confirm that the transmission is toast. To answer your question we got the pickup at 100,000 and have the transmission serviced then. I do not know what service was performed before that time. Thanks again!

 

LotOfToys I finally got my Tundra back from the 2nd dealership. The problem with the Transmission was that it was low of transmission fluid and now it is running fine (KNOCK ON WOOD)

 

Nice, easy fix! Goes to show how important quality fluid and correct level is

 

Where could the fluid be going I don't have a leak ?

 

It could have been under filled from the factory...

 

What I assume is a fuel computer behind the tank under the bed was buzzing a few hours after I turned off my truck. I noticed that when I pushed on a wire harness plugging into it the noise lessened... Anything I need to worry about?

 

It's part of the emissions system to prevent gasoline vapors from getting into the atmosphere. It collects vapor in a canister as pressures change and then equalize before and after driving. It's normal. When you press on it, you're just squelching the vibrations or changing their frequency, like pressing on a buzzing door panel.

 

Yup^^^ totally normal

 

LOTSOFTOYS - Well they dropped the pan and it was full of shavings etc. They were surprised it made it back to Dallas from Houston. Would you tell me what the approx. number of hours to replace the 6 speed transmission on the 2007 Tundra Limited 5.7. The service rep first said it should be around 5 to 6 hrs and then he was working up the quote and called a service tech to get the number of hours and he said more like 10 or 11 hrs. I think the service guy in Houston quoted 6 hours so is there some guideline to the number of hours. Would you also tell me the approx. time to replace a fan clutch on the 2007 Tundra Limited 5.7?

Thanks for the info!

 

Fan clutch would be about an hour or so? And transmissions on those suck.... the passenger side exhaust manifold has to be removed to get the starter out. Once the starter is out, the torque converter bolts than can come out. I'd say 8 -11 is in the ball park. I wouldn't do it for 6... that'd be rough

 

Thanks LOTSOFTOYS for the info!

 

Not a problem man. I'm Glas u guys found the source of the problem

 

Not even a truck question, more of a general one. I'm looking to leave the military soon (next year or two), and want to get into a mechanic position either in Toyota or another brand. Would you suggest going to a school like WyoTech or UTI?

 

Right out of high school I went to Nashville Auto Diesel College (now Lincoln College of Tech) and took their collision repair and refinishing program. Earning a lot of I-CAR certifications, I had no problem getting a job at the local GM dealership as a collision repair tech. I have heard great things about Wyotech and UTI. If you take their programs and get certified, you will have no issues getting a job as a mechanic. Me on the other hand learned real quick I didn't want to spend my life in a hot body shop with bondo dust stuck to me. Went back to school and got my Electronics Engineering degree and now work in an air conditioned electronics lab. Sometimes I do miss working on cars though.

 

I've always enjoyed working on anything that I can put my hands on. I'm looking more into salaries and such because I want to be able to provide for my family.

 

Surely your starting salary will be more if you have an education in the field your going into but correct me if I'm wrong Jace, mechanics make their money just like body men do, on how fast they do their job. Everything has a "time to complete". Say a super charger install pays 16 hours, if you can get it done in 14, you still get paid for 16 and that extra two hours can be spent working on something different that is also paying a time. So it's like your getting paid double for those two hours (Hope that makes sense). On the other hand if it takes you 18, you are out those 2 hours. So I say yes, taking one of those programs to become proficient in repairs would be worth your time. My $.02.

 

It depends on what u did in the military man, thank u for your service btw! We've hired 2 techs right out of the military at our shop. They both did well. Slow at first but we sent them to TOYOTA training and they do just fine.

I chose to go to a 2 year toyota program instead of wyo tech. Wyo tech and uti Re great schools. Fast tracked to becoming certified. Down fall is price... and the fact u don't have a job after school, u gotta go find one.

My toyota program was 2 years and alot cheaper. It was focused solely on toyota scion and lexus. I had a Gaurenteed job by my dealer if I went to that school...

U can pm man if u have questions

You are correct. Flat rate. Can be really cool and really aggravating....
I do pretty well for myself tho at my age

Warranty always pays less than customer pay. I have no idea how they come up with the labor times on items but some of them are absolutely ridiculous.

 

Jace is 100% correct on the fact the downside of those schools is the price. One year at NADC cost me right at $20K not including living expenses for that year. And that was 10 years ago. I believe Wyotech was more expensive.

 

Hey Lotsoftoys,

I had my dealer install a Bluetooth module to my factory jbl stereo so I could listen to music and talk on the phone through BT (rather than just have the phone capability that I had from the factory) , shouldn't the new module REPLACE the factory one and utilize all of the factory Bluetooth controls and menus?

Right now I'm having to use my BT thorough SAT3 and the BT connection is no longer called HANDS FREE, it's called Car Connection.

Thanks!

 

@LOTSOFTOYS I sent you a PM.

 

That sounds like an aftermarket Bluetooth option? It uses sat to connect to ur phone? Seems not factory but a dealer offered product

 

Jace, just an update on my ffv. I had it flashed with the ffv program ending in 600 and all the problems my truck started having are gone. The truck fires up like a champ in cold weather now.

But I had a question for another guy on a different forum. Could you find out if the ffv program for 2nd gens applies to the 3rd gens? Or is it different?

This guy has a 2016 that he added a sc and unichip. He is having the same thing where his truck thinks it's running ethanol. He says the dealer told him the program on his truck ending in 300 is the most updated ffv program for his year model. I realize there could be a host of problems contributing to his trouble with what he has done. But I wanted to check for him on the programming from Toyota.

Thanks!

 

I'm told it's a factory module out of a 2014 Tundra that supports a2dp. I'm thinking it is and the techs just fked up install.

 

I almost Gaurentee it's different from second gen to new. Also if his is a 16, it's brand new. Updates aren't available for that new of a truck yet I doubt.

I am not familiar with that bud sorry

 

Dam, 0 for 2