Tranny Question

[sjvicker]

Recently I have noticed that when I'm making turns where I have to slow down or taking off from only a couple of mph every once in awhile it feels like my transmission shifts into Neutral and if I dont watch it the rpms will get high and then once it finds a gear it makes a bang noise and the truck jolts from the higher rpm's. I checked my fluid while the truck was cold and found it to be under the "cold" line by about 2 inches, so I am planning on filling that tomorrow but is there anything specific that could be causing this problem?

-Spencer

[Bryanccfshr]

Sounds like it is really low on fluid. Go to buy a couple of gallons of ATF and keep that tranny full. My tranny seems to be a bottomless fluid taker. 4-6 qtd for a drain and refill and it never seems to fill up. Seriously someone probably folllowed the toyota recomendation for a drain and fill that is grossly under estimated.

All this is assuming you have no leaks an other problems but your showign classic cavitation symptoms from under filling.

[Mike-in-WV]

Bryanccfshr, It sounds like you hit the nail on the head on this one. The book calls for my 01 auto to take 2 quorts to refill after a drain but it takes 4 quorts. This was mentioned on another form and a Tacoma tec came on and said the book is a misprint and it does take 4 quorts. I found out he's right because I bought 4 before doing my last drain and fill and it took just a little less then 4 quorts.
Spencer, Fill it up while hot and see if it helps, if it does then I would have a flush done. It filling it doesn't help it then it's to late and you need a new trannie.Not trying to tell you what to do but you may want to have a complete flush done. Most of your quick lube places will do it for around $40.00 plus the price of 18 quorts of trannie fluid. Not cheap but it's a whole lot cheaper then a new tranny. Mike

[sjvicker]

I'm hoping its just a little low on fluid, its not like I really beat on the thing. I drive like an old man. And since its such an intermittent problem maybe its not to late to catch the problem. What kind of fluid do our auto transmissions take?