Local Toyota Transmission Repair Experts

The Advanced Transmission Center team is your go-to source for Toyota transmission repair. Toyota cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs are number two in the United States for several vehicle categories on the road, with more than 2 million vehicles sold annually, second only to General Motors. Toyotas are especially popular in Colorado, and their passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks are highly valued for their performance, fuel efficiency, and longevity. With that many vehicles on the road, Advanced Transmission Center has plenty of experience working on their automatic and manual transmissions for both service and repair, as well as handling their transfer cases, differentials, and other driveline issues. Lexus, Toyota’s luxury line with similar specifications and a premium touch, is also extraordinarily popular among Colorado drivers.

SUV Transmission Problems

Toyota sport utility vehicles have been some of the most popular vehicles in the United States for years. The 4Runner, Highlander, FJ Cruiser, and RAV4 (among others) are extremely popular In Colorado due to their versatility and 4WD/AWD capabilities. Two of the most common transmissions used in these vehicles are the A340H and the A750 transmission.

Toyota A340H Transmission Issues

The A340H is a Toyota OEM part built by Aisin Warner, a company that specializes in building driveline components for a number of automotive manufacturers. The A340H is a 4-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled and has a 2-speed 4WD transfer. In addition to Toyota SUVs, this unit is regularly seen in Jeep and Isuzu vehicles. It has been popular because it makes for a very easy-driving vehicle, especially shifting into and out of 4-wheel drive. However, trying to make the driving experience smoother can create other problems in the driveline.

Given the large number of vehicles this transmission is used in, it is no surprise that there are known issues with the A340H transmission. This includes erratic or delayed shifting, noise when shifting between gears, and even loss of forward or reverse gears in some cases. There are also two specific Technical Service Bulletins (TBS) put out by Toyota for the A340H transmission; one of which covers the known issue of a delay when shifting from Park or Neutral into Reverse, and the other TSB which covers a “chatter” noise when shifting from Reverse into either Park or Neutral. The A340H transmission was used by Toyota from the late 1980s well into the 2000s, and Toyota’s are known for their longevity. As a result, Advanced Transmission Center has plenty of experience diagnosing and repairing these issues.

Toyota A750 Transmission Issues

The A750 transmission was also built by Aisin Warner and used by Toyota in sport utility vehicles and trucks from 2003 through 2015. In 2-wheel drive vehicles, it is the A750E, and in 4-wheel drive vehicles it is the A750F. While the A750 is considered one of the best Aisin Warner transmissions ever made, it does have some known issues that can give drivers problems. One very common issue has to do with the 5-4 downshift and main forward clutch failure. The main forward clutch (C1) is the smallest of the seven clutches and bears the brunt of the force during the 5th gear to 4th gear downshift. This can eventually lead to the clutch welding itself in place and not releasing. Because this clutch has to be released in order for the transmission to shift from 4th to 5th gear, it will feel like the transmission has lost 5th gear.

Another known issue with the A750 transmission is rough downshifting. The A750 is electronically controlled, and the transmission control module (TCM) sends signals to the control solenoids inside the transmission. Very frequently, the line pressure solenoid will fail to move correctly, which will result in insufficient pressure to downshift. The TCM senses this and increases line pressure until it shifts, and the increased pressure makes the sudden downshift feel VERY hard! The technicians at Advanced Transmission Center are well-trained in diagnosing electrical and mechanical problems in these Toyota transmissions.

Truck Transmission Problems

Toyota has been building pickup trucks since the founding of Toyota Motor Company in 1937. The car manufacturer first introduced a pickup intended for the U.S. market in 1964. As with all Toyota vehicles, their pickups are very popular and are known for their durability. It is not unusual to see Toyota vehicles with over 200,000 miles on them, and we often see them with 300,000 miles or more. Given the fact that they are known for lasting so long, it is a small wonder that, eventually, they will need to have their transmissions serviced and repaired. Due to the expectation from Toyota vehicle owners that the overall vehicle can last 200K+ miles, the Advanced Transmission Center team encounters countless customers ready and willing to replace transmissions in high-mileage Toyota and Lexus vehicles each year.

Toyota AB60 Transmission Issues

The A340 transmission is very commonly seen in Toyota pickups as well as SUVs and was discussed previously. As with most manufacturers, Toyota decided to meet the demand for greater fuel efficiency by introducing transmissions with more gears. This led to the AB60, a 6-speed automatic transmission introduced in 2007 for the Toyota Tundra and in 2008 in the Toyota Sequoia. From the moment the AB60 was introduced, customers have complained of issues, and Toyota has been aggressive in putting out TSBs to address the issues.

The first major complaint for the AB60 is the torque converter shudder. This can be felt after an upshift in the 20-45mph range or after a downshift in the 30-50mph range, and the vehicle will feel like it is driving over a rumble strip or on a washboard road. Toyota addressed this by updating the torque converter design for later vehicles, and owners of an early AB60 can have a transmission specialist address this issue through a comprehensive driveline diagnostic inspection.

Another very common complaint has to do with the electronic control system for the transmission and “on-off” solenoid mechanical fault codes. These occur when the transmission control module commands a gear change, and the speed sensors detect an incorrect gear ratio. This will, in turn, throw a solenoid performance error code (which changes based on which gear gave the incorrect ratio). Because it is a solenoid error code, many untrained people attempting to repair the problem will simply replace the solenoid. However, this same code can indicate that the clutch responsible for holding that gear is slipping and needs to be replaced. Knowing whether the code represents a faulty solenoid or a bad clutch requires a transmission specialist who has been trained to know how to diagnose the problem.

Passenger Car Transmission Problems

Toyota has produced and sold a dizzying number of passenger cars over the years, and it is safe to say that you will see them everywhere you go. There are rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive models to choose from, and they enjoy a reputation for fuel efficiency and being very driver-friendly. As with any other popular vehicle on the road, the more there are means, the more chances that one will eventually have a problem. Over the years, Toyota passenger car transmissions have had some notable issues that drivers have complained about.

Toyota U660 Transmission Problems

The U660 is a 6-speed transmission (technically a transaxle) intended for front-wheel drive applications, usually combined with a V6 engine. It was first introduced in 2007 in the Toyota Camry and is still in use today. These are also common transmissions found in the popular van, the Toyota Sienna. There are a number of issues that have been seen in the U660 over the years, and owners of Toyota vehicles using this transmission will want to make sure that they pay attention to transmission maintenance. Toyota does recommend transmission fluid changes, but it is very particular. Toyota is very specific about the type of transmission fluid used in their units. Don’t allow your local “quick lube” shop to put the wrong fluid in your Toyota U660, or you will be seeing a specialist about an expensive transmission rebuild sooner than you would like!

The most common issue with a Toyota Camry using a U660 transmission concerns the valve body itself. You can think of the valve body as the “brain” of the transmission, and it is the primary point for both hydraulic and electronic controls and switches to command shifting up and down through the gears. Over time, the various channels in the valve body will wear out as hydraulic pressure causes degradation and erosion of the control valve bores themselves. This will result in various leaks and loss of pressure, all of which will contribute to erratic and delayed shifting. When this occurs, you will need a transmission specialist to replace the valve body as well as any other worn components that interact with it.

The U660 is also known for having problems with the TCM. Thankfully for the driver, the TCM is external and bolts to the outside of the transmission. When it starts to go bad, it is unable to properly control the transmission, and various shifting problems will begin to pop up. A qualified transmission specialty shop will be able to diagnose this and replace the TCM without having to remove the transmission. Additionally, the U660 is prone to cause wear in the area of the main gear train bearing support. On vehicles that have seen quite a bit of mileage, the bearing will wear out, and in extreme cases, the torque converter input spline area can break off, which results in the vehicle being unable to move. The U760 transmission is similar to the U660, except it is commonly found on 4-cylinder vehicles. It is always a good idea to have a qualified transmission shop do regular maintenance and inspect your older Toyota for wear!

Toyota Driveline Maintenance and Repair Specialists

In Colorado, drivers routinely depend on Toyota all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles to help deal with snow and ice. This makes the rest of the drivetrain (transfer cases as well as front and rear differentials) every bit as important to maintain as the engine or the transmission. Due to the complexity of electronic control systems, most general automotive repair shops simply don’t have the tools or training to diagnose or repair driveline issues. 

Advanced Transmission Center has been handling driveline issues on Toyota cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs since 1986 and has the training and expertise to handle routine maintenance of your 4-wheel or all-wheel drive systems and can handle any transfer case, front differential, and rear differential repairs you may need.

Toyota vehicles are common in Colorado and have come a long way in the decades they have been on American roads. The old manual transmissions and 3-speed automatics have given way to electronically controlled 8 and 10-speed automatics. As Toyota has found ways to innovate and improve the drivability and fuel efficiency of their cars, trucks, and SUVs, Advanced Transmission Center has kept pace by continuously training in the latest diagnostic and repair strategies for these vehicles. Don’t trust your valued Toyota to a general automotive shop. Instead, call either our Lakewood or Westminster shops today for a TrueTest Inspection to get all of your Toyota driveline needs taken care of!