Hi all,

A few days ago I noticed a slight "whining" coming from below my shifter (transmission area). It's tone correlated to the RPMS - as I revved, the pitch increased. Today, I went for a drive and noticed it was sluggish shifting. Then at one point, there was a stuttering and it continued to slip a bit. By the time I got home, it was slipping a lot. I shifted into reverse at one point and it BARELY got me moving backwards. Then, back in drive, it was VERY slow to engage and felt sluggish going through gears and not "gripping" fully - lots of slip. When I got home, I checked the level on the dipstick and it was WAY higher than the marks indicating where it should be. I let it cool down for maybe 45 minutes and checked again - same. I know the correct amount of fluid WAS in there because a few months back, my mechanic caught a leak from the drain plug, tightened it up, then topped it off with Toyota ATF.

Any ideas here? Why would the fluid show high? (It's like an inch or two above the marks) Do I just need to wait for it to really cool down for a few hours then check it, or should I assume it needs to go to the shop for service?

I welcome any input.

Thanks y'all

- e

 

Did you check with the car on a level surface, engine running?

 

Level surface, yes. Engine running - no. I had just turned it off for the first check, then checked again (with engine off) 45 minutes later. I'll go start it and check again...

Just started it up (after it has been off for about an hour) and it still registers very high.

 

Go for a 10 minute drive park it leave engine running, check again. Have to wipe down the dipstick several times.

 

Need check code and smell transmission fluid.

 

Ok, well the car sat all day yesterday so I just went out and started it and just idled in my driveway. After 10 minutes I checked the levels again (with the car running). Same thing - about an inch higher than the high mark (for hot). I wiped the dipstick clean and rechecked 5 times - same thing each time.

Is it possible this could be caused by an electrical issue? The reason I ask is because we live close to salt water so electrical problems are pretty common. For example, there have been several times where I've gone to start my car and it won't start (completely dead including all electrical) and I'll go and fidget with the positive terminal on the battery and then the problem goes away. However, other times, I've had the car start but not run well (no power, not shift properly, A/C doesn't blow cold) - I'll then turn the car off and restart it and the problem goes away.

Perhaps I'll go drive around the block (if I can) and see what happens...

... No problems driving around the block. Going to chance it and take a longer trip to see what happens... Ah, 30 year-old cars...

 

With engine Off, fluid level will show high (pass Hot mark).
with engine Run at idle fluid level will go down to Cold mark.
if your fluid level not go down means your transmission pump not working.

 

Ok, yeah, I never saw the fluid go even down to the Hot mark, let alone the Cold. I just drove it for a longer trip and everything seemed fine for a while but after about 45 minutes of driving it starting slipping and it was all I could do to get it home because it was slipping BAD by the time I rolled in my driveway - wouldn't really shift at all. Would this also indicate a pump?

 

Hook up transmission pressure gauge at Line pressure port to see pressure at cold and after getting hot.

 

Thanks. My mechanic doesn't have the equipment so I'm booked at the transmission specialist for the end of September Trying to find an alternative shop now - sometimes things like this can be tricky out here in Hawaii. I'm wondering if I should just buy this trans pump on eBay now while it's available: https://www.ebay.com/itm/20399756676...xoCgewQAvD_BwE

 

Don’t buy any yet.
What’s year of your car?
PM me I can help you if you want.

 

So I just spoke with another mechanic who suggested it might be a filter getting clogged up and it just needs to be drained/refilled and have the filter replaced. Does this sound likely? I'm hoping there's a better option than the trans shop because he said they pretty much just ship in new trannys from the mainland so I'd be looking at like 5-6K which is definitely not an option for me...

 

Might this be the problem:

 

Yes it can do it.

 

Any ideas what this cable is called or how to find one?