2002 Toyota Tundra 4.7 shift quality...

[gregk24]

This is my brothers truck that is in question. He owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra with 207,000 miles on the clock that he purchased last December. It's his only ride and he puts a good amount of miles on it traveling back and forth to different job sites. So, tonight he asked me to ask a question for him on "that ask bob is the oil guy website"

and I said I would. His question is, how should the transmission in this truck shift. I immediately asked him if the shift behavior had changed recently, he said no. I have driven the truck a couple of times recently and I haven't noticed any degradation of shift quality since he purchased it back in December. He just notices how when shifting (especially from first to second *NOTE THIS IS AN AUTO* the transmission kind of starts the shift smooth then quickly engages the next gear making the shift more noticeable, as in you can actually feel the shift.

I told him it was probably normal, in fact almost every Japanese auto I have ever been in (and I have owned 3 Hondas, and drove / ridden in numerous other Honda and Toyota products) seem to have more noticeable shift points. In contrast most American cars I have been in have nearly seamless shifts that if you weren't watching the tach or listening to the engine note you wouldn't even know it was shifting.

So, do any of you have experience with this drivetrain or similar Toyota drivetrain that could comment on shift feel?

 

[Oro_O]

I had the same drivetrain in a LC for several years (4.7 and A340E). Nothing described sounds unusual.

Do a few drain fills if you cant document any past ones a reasonable intervals. This is a very capapble and durable drivetrain; some modest maintenance on the transmission will make it last a very long time.

 

[Tomioka]

Quote:
the transmission kind of starts the shift smooth then quickly engages the next gear making the shift more noticeable


Having an 01 Tundra myself the shift feel and duration will change as the engine temps climb. If the engine is cold (OD locked out to keep the engine revs low. When it reaches operating temp the shift points lengthen and stiffen and OD will engage.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I have driven quite a few vehicles with the AW4 variant of this transmission and that's normal. My transmission has done exactly the same for the last 120K miles. There is very poor shift logic in these.

Tell him not to worry! However, it wouldn't hurt to change the fluid and filter!

 

[OneEyeJack]

I have a 03 4Runner with a 4.7 V8 and the 5-speed transmission.

I drain and refill with Red Line D4 on a regular basis. My setup shifts much better than a friend with a similar setup and dealer service but no trailer pulling.

I tow a heavy horse trailer, drive on terrible rutted roads in the desert and mountains and have about 165K+ on the ODO. My friend has recently started the drain and refill routine with RL D4 and noticed an improvement withing a couple of months. Gone is the hesitation on some shifts and the faint intermittent whining when cold.

I think the next year, 04 had the universal transmission fluid and no dipstick. Ouch.

 

[SZR48207]

Even my newer Toyota with a AW A750F trans has really noticeable shift points. Just the nature of the beast.

 

[NYSteve]

He can always go somewhere like CarMax and drive other Tundras, LCs to see how they feel for comparison.

 

[SatinSilver]

gregk24,

I think you've posted about doing drain and fills on your Honda so you can do this on the truck as well. For the first D/F I would use some Maxlife ATF along with a bottle of Lubegard Red. This won't do any harm and has all the upside in the world of getting some fresh fluid in there plus help condition some of the old worn out seals.

 

[gregk24]

Thanks for the responses guys, this is what I figured since shift quality has not degraded. I'll pass the info along to my brother.

 

[simple_gifts]

Change the fluid; I did that on my friends 2002 Tundra and she noticed the difference (without my asking her)

The original spec is Dexron III; if never changed, certainly sheared down by now.

I used ML. The pan has a drain plug; capacity if over 12 qts; D+F is 4 qts.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Change the fluid; I did that on my friends 2002 Tundra and she noticed the difference (without my asking her)

The original spec is Dexron III; if never changed, certainly sheared down by now.

I used ML. The pan has a drain plug; capacity if over 12 qts; D+F is 4 qts.


Dex VI works great in mine. It still shifts nice and quick, but with less clunk.

 

[meep]

I'm not sure which fluid his year takes. Mine wants the thinner WS spec.

Story: when I bought mine, the dealer had done a full flush at 103,000. They used a BG universal fluid, but it was thicker than the WS. I questioned them on it and they said it's what they always use, they have had no problems, etc.. It shifted solidly but it sort of positively landed the gear much like a 4 cyl accord. I did 3 Drain/Fills with amsoil low viscosity, which is what amsoil lists for the WS replacement. I was very glad I did - it shifted even quicker than it did before, but felt almost seamless - quick, snappy, and smooth shift, especially noted on 1 to 2. Mine is the 5 spd.

-m