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Toyota Tundra Transmission Problems
mcsmadison
Member Posts: 4
in Toyota
My 2008 Tundra's tranmission went out last week when attempting to shift from 4 WD high, into 4wd lo, then back into high.
I was stuck in the snow in 4wd high, then tried low, to no avail, tried the tranmission in lo (which didn't engage--just 'lo' light blinking and alarm buzzer, then tried 4wd HI and there was NO transmission response, a grinding in "P' and no low, high, or anything--from Park to D, Reverse, all the gears were gone, and I was getting ready to call for a tow truck, and after grinding the P gear for a while and back into N, it went into 4wd high.
Toyota replicated the problem, after some doing, and they're trying to fix it as the 4wd acuator is a problem--it's backordered to Japan which means the truck is out of action for a month.
There are similar reports of damage and problems listed on the NHTSA website.
I was stuck in the snow in 4wd high, then tried low, to no avail, tried the tranmission in lo (which didn't engage--just 'lo' light blinking and alarm buzzer, then tried 4wd HI and there was NO transmission response, a grinding in "P' and no low, high, or anything--from Park to D, Reverse, all the gears were gone, and I was getting ready to call for a tow truck, and after grinding the P gear for a while and back into N, it went into 4wd high.
Toyota replicated the problem, after some doing, and they're trying to fix it as the 4wd acuator is a problem--it's backordered to Japan which means the truck is out of action for a month.
There are similar reports of damage and problems listed on the NHTSA website.
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Like you, I was ready to call the tow truck (stuck in the middle of the street) and as you say fortunately not out somewhere really far away from anywhere but I was on enough of a hill I let the truck roll backwards about 20 ft in N or P and in 2wd and eventually a clunk sound and was acting ready to drive again...but this did not make me feel anybetter--in fact I was feeling less settled and more ticked off than ever--wondering what kind of 30,000 dollar junk was this?
The truck's been down for almost 40 days now, one problem after the other, the dealership has done what they can, Toyota HQ is now aware that I am not pleased in any way...but they aren't doing much...funny how as I type this there is an add for a new tundra! All I can say is whatever remedy they propose ought to be really good and swift--probably the last toyota I ever buy--which I say after having Toyotas in the family for 28 years.
Good luck with yours--I hope your situation pans out better than mine.
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.............
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!
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
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
Good luck! It's a bugger of a problem.
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..................
The only way I can properly enter 4WD Lo, is by having the vehicle motionless with no wheels spinning. Wheels not turned but, straight ahead, transmission in NEUTRAL. It should engage and there should be no blinking or beeping. If it does then, the transfer case control, is not functioning properly.
I have also found that even if the vehicle is fully stopped and in drive, it won't go into 4WD Lo from 4WD Hi, the Lo lamp will blink indicating "not fully engaged". It appears that if there is any loading or stress on the drive-line, while turning to 4WD Lo, it might not properly engage.
This is clearly a design related problem that Toyota will NEVER admit to. An obvious weakness in an otherwise decent truck. Time will tell whether these trucks age gracefully , or not.....
As far as getting it out of 4WD Lo, my only experience was again making sure there is no load on the drive-line, putting the switch into 4WD Hi, shutting the ignition off, then re starting.
If it is really "stuck" in 4WD Lo, the dealer will have to explain why that is OK or give you an answer as to the problem.
If it is a critter nest under the intake manifold, it is very hard to see. It just about takes a fiber optic light to see under the manifold, by removing the foam rubber blocks from around the manifold openings.
Good Luck and let us know the results.
Also .....Do not click on any links offering a free Toyota service manual. I did and picked up some kind of trojan horse or virus in my PC.
I need a solution, we have tried mouse traps, dryer sheets, ect. I will do doing the work my self this time as we are out of $$$ but also was going to see if there was a way of protecting the cables.
Help
Thx
Gosh, if it has happened to you 3 times in 2 months, it is probably the same mouse declaring war on you!
A mouse actually squeezed into the ventilation grille on the hood of my 72 Chevy Pickup and ate through the squirrel cage rotor on the heater fan (I always wondered why they called it that?) and camped out in the heater chewing everything in sight.
I have never found a chemical or animal irritant that you could safely sprinkle on your engine. I am getting all kind of advice from "experts" who have never had to clean up one of these messes. Some examples: Moth balls in a plastic bag with some holes poked in the bag, Dryer sheets like snuggles...etc., peppermint which mice allegedly don't like. Oh and this one.....Make your engine compartment smell like a cat because.......you guessed it!.......mice don't like cats!
My problems all occurred while parking close to a tree line. When I parked my vehicle out in the open and closer to the house, I never got a critter invasion. My theory is mice don't like to run around out in the open because of eagles, hawks, and other predators. Assuming it is the same mouse that has invaded your truck, I'd also try some traps with peanut butter. I know that works, but nail them down somewhere under the hood so the caught critter doesn't hop into some un-reachable place where it will die and stink up the vehicle.
I intend to try this and some variation of the peppermint smell. Still looking for a shop manual for the Tundra in case I have to do the repair again.
Good Luck!
Any ideas?
Also, even on a low traction surface you should disengage 4WD once underway, traveling above ~20-25 MPH.
Since 4X4 mode "4WD low", uses a spline/dog type clutch so it will often be difficult to engage, trying rolling slowly, VERY slowly, backward while shifting into 4X4 mode.
Any ideas?
The fact that the transmission will not go into drive, indicates that there may be mechanical damage as well (can't understand what that might be).
If it is possible, take it to the dealer and have them use their diagnostic equipment to examine the problem. The fact that it is a mouse nest, means that the damage can be covered by your homeowners insurance. The dealer charges are quite expensive but in this case, D.I.Y. is not a good idea,and Homeowners should cover all parts and labor, which in my case exceeded $700.00.