Mysterious Transmission Failure

Okay, here’s the history. On 9 February 2021 I had it towed to the Toyota dealer because it failed to climb hills. The dealer is 50 miles away. Yes, the engine light came on a few days prior to that while I was using it on flat farmland. The engine would rev but can’t say how high up the RPM scale I took it.


The fix involved a new wiring harness for the transmission and the repair of some wires. The fluid was changed at that time also. I got it back on 11 February 2021($1,536) with a note that it had a history of code P2445 that may reoccur. If so a new diagnosis would be required.


I drove it home and it did the hill thing just fine. A few days later I drove it out of the valley and it wouldn’t climb hills. I tried to make it work repeatedly without success and parked it to try to consider my options. Finally, I had it towed back to the dealer on 12 March 2021and it’s still there. During this they installed a new air pump ($374) with no change in the truck’s behavior and, so, they’re are eating the labor. So, with them I’m out $1,910 and it still won’t leave limp mode,


Right now it’s showing these codes: P0418, P2445, P0441 and P0445. And the dealer estimates $2,800 to replace three air switching valves “under the intake manifold.” Also, they won’t guarantee that will fix it.


I’m taking the weekend to think this out. I have an alternative place for a second diagnosis that thinks it could be a blocked cat converter. But I could limp it home on back roads and just use it on the farm for a while to let my neighbors weigh in .


Bottom line:


1. This forum is one of the best things I’ve discovered.


2. The alternative repair place is AAA certified and sounds promising. They will probably install the Hewitt bypass if I ask them to.


3. I have little residual confidence in the Toyota dealer’s service department, but it’s the only Toyota game I have readily available.


Thanks, Guys.

 

1) Agree

2) Nice

3) Agree. Same assumption based on my last Stealer Service Job. Bad communication, lies to cover up, and poor workmanship brought me to this conclusion. Looked around at other local shops a bit but by the time I figure out a place, I figure I could do way better work in roughly the same amount of time. Labor stuff is expensive, as well.

 

This is an easy DIY job. You can do it if you have even minimal mechanical skills.

 

Do you mind if I ask if you ever got this resolved? Reason I ask is I am having similar symptoms. Secondary Air Injection System is getting fixed as I type this, but I was wondering specifically if the alternator might play into things. Alternator is putting out 13.2-13.4 V. Battery is good. I was wondering if the reduced voltage might be affecting the computer's communication with the transmission. I've noticed that when I accelerate gradually, and on flat/downhill sections of road, it shifts like normal, but if I am trying to accelerate uphill, that RPM's go way to high before it finally shifts. It's not always between the same gears either, so I'm less sure that it has to do with a mechanical transmission issue.

 

which engine you have pip??.

 

2010 Toyota Tundra 2WD 8 Cylinders M 4.6L FI DOHC 281 CID

 

try the second gen section for better help..

 

Many thanks. 1st day on the forum and the symptoms from this popped up in the search function. Cheers

 

Having just had a secondary air injection system fail on my 07’ Sequoia and leaving me stranded in Dan Diego, I would say it sounds like your truck is in Limp Mode. But you should have Two VSC lights on and the check engine light. I also noticed when the Sequoia was in Limp Mode, the Alternator was bouncing up and down, and the AC barely worked.

Clearing the code fixed everything... for a little while at least till the system re checked and after 3 starts it would go back into a slight Limp Mode, further followed by full Limp Mode.

All my research shows that there is no vehicle harm being caused by the secondary air injection system failing.

I bet we are going to start seeing a lot of these later 1st gens 05-06 starting to have these systems fail as they age.