Stutters in reverse

1996 TOYOTA TERCEL
140,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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GOCART1
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  • 1 POST
In the last 2 or so weeks my car stutters when I put in into reverse. It happens when I'm initially starting the car either for the first time that day or after it hasn't been in use after many hours (like 3 or so). So like when I put the gear into reverse for the first time, it stutters. It’ll continue to stutter as I'm actually moving the car into reverse. After I move the gear into drive-mode, it'll stutter for another 10 seconds or so. After that time the sound goes away

While waiting at a red light today I had my foot on the brake and I noticed the stuttering. This has been the first time the car has stuttered either in “full” drive mode or while waiting at a light.

CAN YOU HELP ME to find out what the problem(s) is?
Jul 19, 2011 at 5:00 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 52,796 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
2 possibilities.
1. an engine miss on start up. toyota had big carbon issues with there valves for this exact issue. it goes away when the engine warms up. this issue could be as simple as a set of plugs to a valve job.
2. it could be the trans trying to engage from low fluid or dirty or clogged filter. could be as simple as adding fluid to a failed trans.
either way, you need help identifing the failure from a shop.

Roy
Jul 19, 2011 at 6:26 PM
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