QuestionTed,
MY VEHICLE is a 1990 Toyota 4WD Deluxe Pickup, with a 3VZ-E engine, and an Automatic Transmission. According to my Chilton's manual, the transmission is a model A 340 H; 4sp ECT.
MY PROBLEM - The problem that I have with the transmission is intermittent. The transmission sometimes gives a "hard" shift from first to second gear (I'll call these "bad instances"). When it does shift hard, the truck seems to accelerate slower. Also, during the bad instances, the overdrive button doesn't work, and the passing gear will not engage. The ECT button(near the shift lever)does not work during these instances either. On other occasions, I have to let off of the accelerator for the Trans to shift from first to second. Otherwise, the rpms will increase and the Trans doesn't shift.
On other occasions (good instances), the transmission shifts fine and the acceleration is good. The overdrive button will work during these instances too.
As I mentioned before, the problem is intermittent - it comes and goes. Of late, it's good about 60% of the time that I drive, and bad about 40%.
MY QUESTION - Can you tell me what's causing this? Do I have a bad component within the transmission or electrical system? Because the problem is intermittent, that's what makes me think I have a bad system component. Maybe one of the ECT switches or controllers? Please help.
Thanks,
Robert Garcia
AnswerA solenoid or other electrical malfunction would cause the O/D indicaor light to flash but even if it's not the diagnostic codes should be checked anyway just in case,you can get the codes by putting a jumper wire in the diagnostic connector under the hood between the terminals TE1+E1, if the light blinks steady about two times per second there is no trouble code, if there are codes they will show up as a blinking pattern of two digits( one blink followed by four would be a code 14)the fact that the engine revs up between first and second is an indication that there may be pressure loss in the transmission,has the fluid level been checked?
