Hard shift from park to drive......? (1 Viewer)

[gringojj]

Hey guys a have done alot of searching but I havent found anything exactly like my problem. I have a 1997 LX450 with 190k. I just got it and have started working on it and want to know where to start with this issue.

When I am in park I have idle about 900 to 1000 rpms. When I shift into drive, I get a jolt. Also shifting from drive to reverse, same thing. If I shift from d to n then back to d its fine, the same with r, n, r.

If I press 2nd start and shift from park to drive there is no problem.

I also noticed that sometimes my overall shifts are hard during regular driving. I dont know if this is related.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated thanks!

 

[IdahoDoug]

For starters, warm idle should be about 650. Does your check engine light work? Is it on when you're driving around (two different questions).

DougM

 

[gringojj]

Thanks yes my CEL light is on. I had turned it off before and it said it was the rear o2 sensor.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Also pull pan and flush until clear trans. fluid. Mike

 

[gringojj]

Yes it is going to the shop next week and I will have them do my fluid.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Sounds potentially to me like someone had the throttle cable and or the tranny kickdown cable off and they put them on too tight which is holding the idle up high and screwing up the shifting. Tranny fluid is not the issue here though it's hard to argue against fresh tranny fluid. But I would not spend the money on bringing it to a shop since cable adjustment is a one banana 20 minute task.

DougM

 

['74 UA FJ]

Sounds potentially to me like someone had the throttle cable and or the tranny kickdown cable off and they put them on too tight which is holding the idle up high and screwing up the shifting. Tranny fluid is not the issue here though it's hard to argue against fresh tranny fluid. But I would not spend the money on bringing it to a shop since cable adjustment is a one banana 20 minute task.

DougM

It could be the fluid. Water in the tranny fluid will cause hard shifts into Drive and Reverse. I wish I didn't know that.

 

[jonheld]

It could be the fluid. Water in the tranny fluid will cause hard shifts into Drive and Reverse. I wish I didn't know that.

Possibly, but water in the tranny fluid wouldn't cause high idle. Fix the idle and all your dreams will come true.

 

['74 UA FJ]

The AC is probably on.

 

[darwink1]

Mine goes away after the engine is up to operating temp. Itll rev at 900-1000 for a minute or two then kick down to 600.

Im thinking its the high revs that result in the rough shifts. It would be like having your foot on the gas and going from park to drive no? If I start the van and want to leave right away I find that, for some reason, if you go from P to first N then to D slowly (physically pulling the shifter slowly lol) it will shift nicely without the clunk. Try it out for the hell of it.

D

 

[taylort232]

Long shot, did you ever solve this problem?

 

[ZetheGSD]

To the OP Toyota vehicles of this vintage are known to have an abrupt shifting feel going from park to any gear. This is even worse if you’re rolling backwards when you shift to drive. So it’s something to consider as that’s normal behavior these transmissions.

Also I’d have a person stand in front of the vehicle with the hood open as you shift from drive to reverse a few times. If the engine is flopping around your mounts could be toast which would explain your issues as well. It’s hard to tell while under the vehicle with a flashlight if the mounts are torn. If you’re not sure still post a video of the engine movement during gear selection and post that. We are happy to compare and help!

 

[taylort232]

To the OP Toyota vehicles of this vintage are known to have an abrupt shifting feel going from park to any gear. This is even worse if you’re rolling backwards when you shift to drive. So it’s something to consider as that’s normal behavior these transmissions.

Also I’d have a person stand in front of the vehicle with the hood open as you shift from drive to reverse a few times. If the engine is flopping around your mounts could be toast which would explain your issues as well. It’s hard to tell while under the vehicle with a flashlight if the mounts are torn. If you’re not sure still post a video of the engine movement during gear selection and post that. We are happy to compare and help!

This is super helpful. My f1z is an instant abrupt shift into first, but shifting into reverse has a normal delay and a softer engagement. All other gears are smooth. Is that normal?

 

[ZetheGSD]

This is super helpful. My f1z is an instant abrupt shift into first, but shifting into reverse has a normal delay and a softer engagement. All other gears are smooth. Is that normal?

Honestly I wouldn’t suspect any issues with that operation. I’ve driven over 100 80 series vehicles and A440 and A343 units seem to always find drive fairly fast. I’d be much more suspect of your mounts. Just think about it, your vehicle spends probably 99% of its life moving forward. So with that being said if the mounts are worn/torn it would be in that rotational direction. So in that theory when you put it in reverse the trailing mount would be much more supple compared to the leading mount. Also the transmission mount being worn could cause that sensation as the transfer case could be moving more than it should.

With any older Toyota vehicle you must always be stopped fully before you move the shift lever to reverse or drive. These transmissions are old and don’t rely on soft engagement. They more or less send fluid to areas to actuate a gear selection. That is it.