Toyota A-340E trans problems - possible causes outside the trans?

Had the following symptoms pre-rebuild:

'89 Toyota Cressida with 95K miles, transmission in "D" suddenly not
starting out in low, apparently starting in 2nd. This happened out of
the blue, the trans was previously working fine as far as was apparent
to me. Manually putting it in "L" puts it in low. Also when up to
speed in this condition, it won't downshift correctly. Will downshift
out of overdrive, but not out of 3rd or 2nd. This is accompanied by
the O/D indicator on the dash blinking. Sometimes the car will start
out okay but while going down the road, the light starts blinking and
the car will display the previously indicated symptoms. Alternately,
sometimes it starts out with the problem and then it starts operating
correctly.

Doesn't seem to matter whether the car is hot or cold, the symptoms
appear randomly as far as I can tell.

I've also noticed that the flashing light doesn't always go on
immediately when the symptoms show up, but pressing down the
accelerator as if to downshift (it doesn't) makes the light on the
dash start blinking if it isn't already.

I've had the engine and trans rebuilt. Engine runs great, trans still
exhibiting the exact same symptoms. The only difference now is the
"check engine" light goes on and stays on. The guy that built it has
been in business for a long time as an independent shop, and is
supposed to have a good reputation which is why I went there. I've
never had a trans built by him before though, so I don't know what to
think. He's got the car now to check it out.

So, is there anything outside of the trans that could be causing these
symptoms?I'm pretty weak on transmission theory so don't know how they
interact with the rest of the electronics/computers on the car.

Thanks!

there is a way to do a check to see what error codes are showing up in the
transmission computer(flashing OD light), but I'd have to look it up. But
seeing as you engine is also indicating an code check it too that can be
done by shorting out t and e1 in the diagnostic connector in the dash and
counting the pulses from the check engine light. You also might want to
disconnect the computer from the trans by removing you glovebox and
unplugging it. the trans will be in full manual mode and you should be able
to change gears with the stick. It could be a bad computer valve in the box
causing all the problems.
"Doc" > wrote in message
om...
> Had the following symptoms pre-rebuild:
>
> '89 Toyota Cressida with 95K miles, transmission in "D" suddenly not
> starting out in low, apparently starting in 2nd. This happened out of
> the blue, the trans was previously working fine as far as was apparent
> to me. Manually putting it in "L" puts it in low. Also when up to
> speed in this condition, it won't downshift correctly. Will downshift
> out of overdrive, but not out of 3rd or 2nd. This is accompanied by
> the O/D indicator on the dash blinking. Sometimes the car will start
> out okay but while going down the road, the light starts blinking and
> the car will display the previously indicated symptoms. Alternately,
> sometimes it starts out with the problem and then it starts operating
> correctly.
>
> Doesn't seem to matter whether the car is hot or cold, the symptoms
> appear randomly as far as I can tell.
>
> I've also noticed that the flashing light doesn't always go on
> immediately when the symptoms show up, but pressing down the
> accelerator as if to downshift (it doesn't) makes the light on the
> dash start blinking if it isn't already.
>
> I've had the engine and trans rebuilt. Engine runs great, trans still
> exhibiting the exact same symptoms. The only difference now is the
> "check engine" light goes on and stays on. The guy that built it has
> been in business for a long time as an independent shop, and is
> supposed to have a good reputation which is why I went there. I've
> never had a trans built by him before though, so I don't know what to
> think. He's got the car now to check it out.
>
> So, is there anything outside of the trans that could be causing these
> symptoms?I'm pretty weak on transmission theory so don't know how they
> interact with the rest of the electronics/computers on the car.
>
> Thanks!

"NB" > wrote in message
u...
> there is a way to do a check to see what error codes are showing up in the
> transmission computer(flashing OD light), but I'd have to look it up. But
> seeing as you engine is also indicating an code check it too that can be
> done by shorting out t and e1 in the diagnostic connector in the dash and
> counting the pulses from the check engine light. You also might want to
> disconnect the computer from the trans by removing you glovebox and
> unplugging it. the trans will be in full manual mode and you should be
able
> to change gears with the stick. It could be a bad computer valve in the
box
> causing all the problems.

A computer valve in the box? Which box are you referring to?

"Doc" > wrote in message
om...
>
> I've had the engine and trans rebuilt. Engine runs great, trans still
> exhibiting the exact same symptoms. The only difference now is the
> "check engine" light goes on and stays on. The guy that built it has
> been in business for a long time as an independent shop, and is
> supposed to have a good reputation which is why I went there. I've
> never had a trans built by him before though, so I don't know what to
> think. He's got the car now to check it out.


He looked at it and is saying it's a problem with the valve body.

Sorry, I got a bit loose with my terms at the end.

I meant a computer controlled solenoid valve in the transmission valve body.

you have about 4 of them and if one of them plays up the transmission
control computer can detect it.

Given what your other post said, it sounds right, but it could be an
expensive fix.

"Doc" > wrote in message
k.net...
>
> "NB" > wrote in message
> u...
> > there is a way to do a check to see what error codes are showing up in
the
> > transmission computer(flashing OD light), but I'd have to look it up.
But
> > seeing as you engine is also indicating an code check it too that can be
> > done by shorting out t and e1 in the diagnostic connector in the dash
and
> > counting the pulses from the check engine light. You also might want to
> > disconnect the computer from the trans by removing you glovebox and
> > unplugging it. the trans will be in full manual mode and you should be
> able
> > to change gears with the stick. It could be a bad computer valve in the
> box
> > causing all the problems.
>
> A computer valve in the box? Which box are you referring to?
>
>

While I think about it, what marking does your transmission have on the
outside of it (if you have seen it), as I have an 85 MX73 which if you look
at the transmission has a Borg Warner transmission, but the computer for it
is Toyota.


"NB" > wrote in message
...
> Sorry, I got a bit loose with my terms at the end.
>
> I meant a computer controlled solenoid valve in the transmission valve
body.
>
> you have about 4 of them and if one of them plays up the transmission
> control computer can detect it.
>
> Given what your other post said, it sounds right, but it could be an
> expensive fix.
>
> "Doc" > wrote in message
> k.net...
> >
> > "NB" > wrote in message
> > u...
> > > there is a way to do a check to see what error codes are showing up in
> the
> > > transmission computer(flashing OD light), but I'd have to look it up.
> But
> > > seeing as you engine is also indicating an code check it too that can
be
> > > done by shorting out t and e1 in the diagnostic connector in the dash
> and
> > > counting the pulses from the check engine light. You also might want
to
> > > disconnect the computer from the trans by removing you glovebox and
> > > unplugging it. the trans will be in full manual mode and you should be
> > able
> > > to change gears with the stick. It could be a bad computer valve in
the
> > box
> > > causing all the problems.
> >
> > A computer valve in the box? Which box are you referring to?
> >
> >
>
>

"NB" > wrote in message u>...
> Sorry, I got a bit loose with my terms at the end.
>
> I meant a computer controlled solenoid valve in the transmission valve body.
>
> you have about 4 of them and if one of them plays up the transmission
> control computer can detect it.
>
> Given what your other post said, it sounds right, but it could be an
> expensive fix.

Shouldn't cost me an additional dime since they were supposed to be
replaced when the transmission was rebuilt.