Tranny problems...again?

My wife's 2011 Sequoia (2wd, 4.6L) is slow to engage 1st gear when parked overnight. Not really outside temp related since I'm in South/Central Texas and it doesn't get too cold here. When taking off, the vehicle moves, but seems sluggish. Kind of feels like you accidentally put it in neutral rather than drive and are just revving engine. There's no kick or anything strange feeling/sounding when it finally starts going into gear. Seems like after a few minutes (warmed up) problem is gone. History on this vehicle is, we bought it in 2016 with 123k miles on it. At around 130k miles it lost 5th and 6th gear driving down highway. Took to local mechanic and he found large metal slivers/flakes in transmission. He found a replacement transmission from a totaled Tundra (4.6L) that was rear ended with only 7k miles. Sequoia ran fine over the last 5.5yrs until recently (currently at 182k miles). Shifts like butter once it's warmed up. Just took it for a 600 mile roundtrip this past weekend and no problems on highway. I'm hoping it's something other than the transmission and am curious if anyone has had a similar issue and how they resolved it. I haven't checked the transmission fluid yet, but I do think that's a good place to start. Open to any additional thoughts/ideas.

 

Low fluid level, most likely....or the vehicle is parked on a incline/decline allowing gravity to drain the transmission fluid away from the oil pickup tube.

 

I'll check the trans fluid once the weather allows. Sequoia will get very little use this week. It's parked in my driveway which is very flat. I check for leaks periodically under vehicles and on driveway and haven't noticed any puddle or drips, so if it's low on fluid, it shouldn't be much. Probably really good time to do a drain/fill anyways. Trans has around 60k miles now. I was also thinking throttle body related. If it continues after drain/fill, I'll check/clean TB next. I just remembered that doing a drain/fill on my son's 1st gen a few weeks ago resolved the clunk at stops/starts, so hopefully it's a similar situation.

 

There could be a transmission code, but you need a code reader programmed to read tran codes.

 

Since mine was new it's behaved very similar to that. When cold (and it doesn't have to be cold out) it feels like it's slipping 1st gear when you give it gas... it over-revs and is weak. Lasts for a minute or two? I figured it was Toyota's way of protecting everything from a heavy foot until some warmup had occurred. I only have like 22k miles on the truck so it's still basically new. That behavior hasn't worsened as far as I can tell.

 

This is good to know. Yes, this only last a minute or two. Is yours the 4.6l? My 2016 Tundra (5.7l) won't go into OD if it's not warmed up long enough, but it definitely doesn't feel sluggish when engaging 1st gear like my wife's Sequoia is now.

 

No, it's a 5.7. Don't know if the transmissions are different. I hope someone chimes in because if if this ain't normal, then...

I wouldn't call it "sluggish at engaging 1st". It goes into gear right away, and I can get moving. It's just when I press harder on the accelerator that it acts funny for the first minute or two; engine revs like the transmission is slipping.

 

Wife’s Odyssey was slipping, acting similar as you said. I replaced the tranny fluid and fixed it immediately. The fluid had 60k miles on it.

 

Your description is more accurate than mine. Sounds exactly like what's happening with ours. Wife says this just started a few weeks ago. I don't drive the Sequoia very often, but when I did recently, I noticed this right away. IMO, this is not normal. I've owned 3 Tundras, Gen 1, 2 and 2.5 and the Sequoia...have never experienced this in either of them till now.

 

Possible that she just didn't notice? I guess I need to pay more attention to mine and see if it always happens when cold.

 

I drive it from time to time...usually has a very sensitive throttle, even after being parked overnight or for days, until recently. When everything works as it should, it has better throttle response than my 2016 w/5.7l. Kind of drives like my previous 2008 w/5.7l did. Should have time on Sunday for trans drain/fill, fingers crossed that it's just a little low on fluid.

 

I just learned that these are sealed; no dipstick. So the only way to "check" the level is to buy the tools and do a drain and refill. Going to drop the pan too, or is that not necessary?

Very interested in what you find. Mine only has 20k miles and it's out of warranty.

 

There's a procedure to do the drain and fill. Here's one of the recent posts that discuss it. Lots more if you do a search for "drain/fill". https://www.tundras.com/threads/transmission-drain-and-full-amount.119340/

 

OP be sure to find the correct directions for a 2011 4.6 A760H trans as I see different temperature ranges listed... 90 - 110 and 110 to 130'ish.

I use an Elm327 Bluetooth OBD dongle and the App, OBD Fusion $5, with the Toyota PID pack to read the trans temp.

There are 100 opinions on the topic, I suggest you set the app up, there are two trans temperature outputs, pick the one that works. Over the course of a few day start the app, start the rig and notice it that just idling, it takes roughly 10 minutes and the overflow temp range is exceeded. It only stays in range for a very short time.

My Tundra has the 4.6 w/ A760 at 107k and shifts rock solid. 5th gear is overdrivin but 6th is locked out until the engine hits roughly 165°.This is normal.

FWIW I also have an IS-350 with the same trans. I flushed 2 gallons of Amsoil through it and it shifts fine at 105k.

GL

Edit: you might consider cleaning the MAF and maybe the throttle body. The MAF for sure. My 4.6 has good throttle response. Wife goes from Highlander to Tundra and throws gravel all over the place.

 

@KeepOnTruckin Thanks for your input! I wasn't able to pickup any trans fluid from Toyota this weekend. I'll grab some this week (hopefully) and look into the Elm327 you recommended. I moved the Sequoia yesterday and didn't notice the problem? Luckily, my wife only drives a few miles a day, so hopefully no real damage before I can find time to drain/fill. I'm beginning to think it was slightly underfilled when I had it swapped in nearly 6 years ago? Especially since no leaks are visible. If not this, maybe something intermittent with transmission? I need to put my code reader on it also. It's just a cheap O'Reilly's one, but interested in seeing if any codes are present.

 

Bought a 2019 4Runner new and it did this as well.

 

Does it still do it, stopped on its own, or did you fix it?

 

I traded up for my 16 Plat and it does the same. Bought at 65k and had fluid changed at 75k along with both diff's. I paid close attention last night after starting truck, it's about exactly 30-45 sec after putting in drive that it 'catches' if you will. I think it's a safety feature. After putting in D, it goes without pushing the gas, so I just cruise for that first bit, then tap gas pedal and good to go. Like you said, if push gas pedal right away it's not slipping, it just has no affect /effect until that first min +- is up.

Had both dealer and private mechanic tell me nothing wrong.

 

That sounds suspiciously like low fluid. As it warms the level rises. I'd check the fluid level.

I can't believe anyone would call that behavior normal.

 

Typically when I leave home I head down a -10% grade for ~500ft with a stop sign at the bottom and then turn right. From memory, this is the place where I typically notice the transmission slipping (truck revs almost like it's in neutral for a couple seconds); right after I make that turn. So a combination of the fluid being cold, a low level, and the gravity moving the fluid to the front, might be responsible.

 

If you do this when warm, does it behave differently?

On downhill events like this, and if coming to a complete stop, it does take off in first gear and bangs through a couple more gears with no real load due to the slope and gravity. This can allow the revs to climb somewhat.

But if in doubt about low fluid, check ASAP as the alternative is new tranny.

Source - used to r&r and build them.

 

Interesting! I don't think it happens unless the engine is cold, and I'm not certain if it's done it anywhere else at all. This is a spot that I encounter regularly, and it's nearly always with a cold engine. I guess I need to see if I can replicate it when warm.

So it's normal for the transmission to actually rev up, and act like it's slipping for a moment when upshifting? Seems like odd behavior. I thought it was part of their "torque management", trying to protect the transmission and engine from excessive torque until they warmed up a bit.

Do Tundras have many tranny issues?

 

So since last post, I noticed when leaving the garage/home : I back out onto street, when shift from R, to N (rpms rev to 1000 or so) then D (by habit now I just coast a few feet before push gas) and no 'lag' at all. Last 2 times and never noticed anything odd.

Since I back in space at work when I leave there is no shifting thru gears, it's a straight put it in D and go. By habit I just go a bit on no gas pedal push. Anyway last 2 times now there has been no 'lag' and it's been warmer so maybe it's a cold temp situation too. Let you know tomm if experience lag tonight.

Next oil change, might just have dealer check (again) to make sure not low. Be worth the $$ and have it documented.

 

I can't say for certain, what I can say is mine does the same thing as I live near the top of hill and after each stop, it bangs through the gears with no engine load which makes it sound like the engine isn't really engage to the trans, but its just the low gear ratios... And ya, it's cold do I purposefully keep the revs under 2.5k for the first 10min...

Have you ever manually shifted into low at the same time you come to a stop? Take off like normal and when it can't upshift, you will be tossed forward a little.

I'm not worried about mine as it shifts fine cold or hot no matter the ambient temperature. It does have 107k and desperately needs the trans fluid dumped. I did the PS, diffs, transfer case, still need to do the trans and coolant.

Sadly, ever since doing the PS the pump has a slight whine to it.