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Toyota Tundra Transmission Problems

26 messages,  Last post on Feb 03, 2013 at 2:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Tundra, Transmission, Truck

Messages Page 2 of 4

#4 of 26 Re: 4WD/Transmission failure 2008 Tundra 5.7 6 sp? [mcsmadison] by mattinboston

Feb 08, 2009 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: mcsmadison (Feb 08, 2009 2:49 pm)
Wow that doesn't sound good... Your post is the first one I found after doing a Google search so I haven't seen any of the NHTSA compliants.
 
I couldn't get the truck going again. The battery was dead when I went back out - I think the 4 wd actuator was continuing to run in a loop trying to get the truck out of 4 low even with the key out. I could hear it switching. I think that ran the battery down. I'm charging that now but don't expect anything good.
 
To make matters worse, a flat bed came out, I struggled but got my huge dead truck loaded on it only to find out that the truck was too long for the flat bed. The tow guy told me that he could only fit it on front forward and there was no way to do that with the way the truck is situated... so I'm stuck calling the dealership in the morning for help.........
 
Anyway I'm writing this to help any others that might find this info useful.
 
Toyota - oh what a feeling.............

#5 of 26 Re: 4WD/Transmission failure 2008 Tundra 5.7 6 sp? [mattinboston] by mattinboston

Feb 09, 2009 (9:40 am)

Replying to: mattinboston (Feb 08, 2009 9:40 pm)
An update for posterity:
 
I don't know what did it, but when I went out this morning, took the charging cables off the battery, and started the truck it was in 4 high and the wheels were engaged (I left the switch in the 4 high position overnight). The 4 low light was no longer blinking like it was last night when I left it to charge.
 
I don't know if it was moving the truck back and forth off/on the flat bed, or the battery going dead... or what, but it managed to get itself back in driving shape. I didn't turn it off or shift out of 4 high - just drove it straight to the dealer in 4 high.
 
I'll make one more update with the dealer's findings. I hope this helps someone... and I hope Toyota fixes this thing properly!

#6 of 26 Re: 4WD/Transmission failure 2008 Tundra 5.7 6 sp? [mcsmadison] by mattinboston

Feb 09, 2009 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: mcsmadison (Jan 06, 2009 11:51 am)
MCSMadison,
 
Don't know if you're still monitoring this feed... but I'd appreciate any more info on your specific dealer findings if you have them (e.g. what specifically was wrong (4wd actuator?) and how they reproduced if you know). My dealer is having trouble reproducing this and is starting to push for me to take the vehicle home. No way am I doing that without a big ole' fight!
 
Thanks again for the trouble.
 
Matt

#7 of 26 Re: 4WD/Transmission failure 2008 Tundra 5.7 6 sp? [mcsmadison] by garn1

Jul 29, 2010 (6:51 pm)

Replying to: mcsmadison (Jan 06, 2009 11:51 am)
Help My 07 Tundra has a scrambled transmission display after fixing my trailer plug. 4 lo came on VSC came check engine came on No manual shifting was possible.Truck is drivable but had severe brake lockup of Tundras brakes with trailer in tow. My Mechanic hooked up Genisys systems analyzer we came up with a transmission range sensor problem. New safety neutral switch was crossreference fro Toyota parts now installed with some improvement. All warning lights are still on and no backup lights will come on when in reverse. Severe brake lockup has discontinued. My Mechanic recomends a tran shop that has better diagnostics equipment . Any solutions out there. Still driving. but nervous

#8 of 26 4WD/Transmission failure 2008 Tundra 5.7 6 by nri201

Jan 29, 2011 (6:05 am)

My 2010 Tundra's tranmission went out last week when attempting to shift from 4 WD high, into 4wd lo, then back into high. Transmission was not responding in any gear and it was making grinding noise when shifted to P. I called dealer and aranged for a tow truck to be towed away next day morning since it was stuck in 4 WD low and no motion I read your thread and accepted it as it must be a dealer job now. Next day morning I started the truck let it warmed up and shifted from 4 WD low to 4 WD High. It shifted and running again. I think when I was stuck in snow previous night I kept changing gear from D to 4Wd Low to 4wd High then low again kept accerlating kept spining the wheels again and again .The Transmissin fluid or rear diffrencel oil got very hot and it stoped working when it cooled down over night it started working again.Try this before you call tow truck. Good Luck. Never Never shift in to 4WD Low Gear thats where the problem arise.

#9 of 26 Similar experience with 2008 Tundra 4WD by pfiff_granby

Feb 21, 2011 (2:13 pm)

To: mcsmadison, nn201, mattinboston:
 
I have a 08 single cab Tundra with 5.7L V8, 6 spd transmission purchased used, with 41,000 mi. I always want to know the reason the last owner sold the vehicle, and I usually find out about 5 days after the used car warranty runs out. Such is the case here.
 
Several days after I purchased the truck, I took it out back in the pasture in deep snow to try out 4WD Hi and Lo. 4WD hi worked great, but, when I put it into 4WD lo, the 4WD lo lite came on and there was alot of beeping. I experienced the grinding and loss of any gearing described in the forum.
 
Shut the truck off and started it again, this time putting it in neutral, then switching to 4WD lo. It worked this time and I got to try lo ratio as well.
 
Fast forward 3 months later.........left the truck in 4WD Hi in the driveway and when I came out to start it , we were in the middle of a big February thaw with temperatures of ~60F. This was the first time since I have bought the truck that the temperature was this high above freezing.
 
At start, check engine light was on, and 4WD LO lamp as well as VSC off lamp were blinking on and off. I drove out on the highway but the truck would not up-shift beyond 4th gear.
 
(after I got out of my snowy driveway, I put the truck in 2wd and it appeared to shut off the 4WD Hi lamp). It was indeed in 2WD.
VSC off and 4WD lo lamps were blinking the whole time.
 
Later I hooked up the laptop to the OBD-2 connector and ran a scan. I got code PO328 which is a code for "knock sensor, bank 1, high input". There were no transmission type codes in the computer. I tried to clear it but it kept coming back (note: the engine is running quietly and smooth the whole time).
 
In my case the vehicle DOES work in 4WD hi, but it won't go into 4WD Low.
 
At this point, I am totally confused. I can hear a DC motor whirring when switching from 2WD to 4WD hi and back. No such whirring when selecting 4WD Lo.
 
At this point, I would be VERY interested in what the three of you have found in your search. I have low to no confidence that the dealer who sold me the truck will be of any help unless I am willing to shovel out big bucks. So far, I am comitted to troubleshooting this myself and identifying a problem before I go to the dealer.
 
Other than the experience of the 3 of you in this forum, I haven't found anything on the internet that relates to this problem. Is this a systemic problem with the Tundra 4WD Transfer case actuator? It seems like it is a little ridiculous to have a gear-motor assembly actuate the 3 modes when a lever could do it just as easily.
 
Thanks in advance for any info you can share...............
 
I will try to see if there are any obvious problems with the 4WD transfer case actuator

#10 of 26 Re: Similar experience with 2008 Tundra 4WD [pfiff_granby] by mattinboston

Feb 21, 2011 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: pfiff_granby (Feb 21, 2011 2:13 pm)
I got my Toyota dealer to replace my 4wd actuator under warranty as a safety issue. The problem did not reoccur.
 
Good luck! It's a bugger of a problem.

#11 of 26 Re: Similar experience with 2008 Tundra 4WD [pfiff_granby] by pfiff_granby

Feb 25, 2011 (12:20 pm)

Replying to: pfiff_granby (Feb 21, 2011 2:13 pm)
Well, I got the Truck back in working order. The Service Department found a mouse nest under the intake manifold on the engine. What's more, the mouse was still in the nest when they uncovered it! The notation on the bill ($929.00) said "Mouse was still in nest, and now is somewhere in the shop." I kid you not!
 
There is no defense against this kind of critter infestation. The design of the engine makes that place under the intake manifold very attractive for a nesting spot. I will have to search the internet for a solution to this problem. Living out in the country where country mice abound makes it that much worse.
 
I have to say, I was not expecting this after reading the narratives about the Transfer case actuator. The Service dept. sent a picture, and included the chewed up wiring harness in a box. The lead-in for the knock sensor as well as the signal lines for the 4WD control went through this harness.
 
In further discussions with the service folks, I learned that if you switch into 4WD while the wheels are spinning, the slip control software takes over and shuts everything down. This is one of the reasons why you cannot get the truck in gear while the lights are blinking and the alarms are beeping.
 
I experienced this problem once, and just by turning off the ignition and re-starting the vehicle, I caused everything to reset, and it all started working again. I wouldn't recommend doing this while hurtling down the highway at 50 mph, but if you are stuck in axle deep snow while trying to get the truck into 4WD Lo, it works.
 
I think these forums are invaluable for transferring this kink of knowledge among the user base. My thanks to all who contributed to my increase in knowledge of my vehicle. Even though I am $929.00 poorer for the experience, I will probably make the investment in the service manual for future problem solving!
 
Thanks..................

#12 of 26 2007 Tundra 5.7 crewmax fwd problems by sshifflett

Feb 27, 2011 (8:02 am)

I am experiencing the same 4wd hi, lo, other warning lights flashing. Had it into the dealer once, need to take it back again. It did get stuck in some pretty deep snow, but only 85,000 miles. Maybe should have stayed with the Tacoma.

#13 of 26 Re: Similar experience with 2008 Tundra 4WD [mattinboston] by sbordocj

Feb 27, 2011 (9:20 am)

Replying to: mattinboston (Feb 21, 2011 2:52 pm)
OMG. Do you mean to tell me that there is NOT supposed to be a beeping noise in 4wd Lo? We bought a 2011 Tundra in October. Until yesterday had no need of 4wd low. When we did put it in low, it stated beeping (we just thought it was a safety thing to remind you were in low...) Anyway, now we can't shift it out of 4wd Low. When we tried, no luck. The truck will move, but won't shift. Arghhh.

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