Early torque converter issues?

BRANSTEP653

MEMBER
1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
237,000 MILES

Hey all,

My car makes a clunk when going into overdrive and does it really well going 60 MPH, letting off the gas and engaging again.

Other symptoms (maybe unrelated) are a grinding noise at 1800-200 rpm under load, slight vibration at idle, and occasionally the engine RPMs will drop almost to a stall (very rarely stalling). Transmission fluid level is good, no burnt smell, but very dark.

I’ve had the car 2 years and haven’t done anything with the transmission. There are no other symptoms (no CEL), and the car shifts great going into the gears, forward and reverse no problem.

Any thoughts fellas?

Saturday, February 15th, 2025 AT 12:16 AM

4 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
50,159 POSTS

Yep, I would change out the transmission fluid because even though it does not smell burnt the fluid breaks down and stops working, the way it should. Here is a guide to help you with instructions in the images below on how to do the job for your car and what type of fluid to use.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission

Fluid Types
A/T Fluid

Type .................... D-II, DEXRON II or DEXRON III
Capacities
Automatic Transaxle Fluid

Drain and Refill .................... up to 2.5 liters (2.6 US qts)

Fluid Type .................... ATF D-II or Dexron-III - Dexron II (r)

Differential Fluid

Capacity .................... 1.6 liters (1.7 US qts.)

Fluid Type .................... ATF D-II or Dexron-III - Dexron II (r)

Total dry fill combined .................... 7.2L (7.6 qts.)

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

Images (Click to make bigger)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Saturday, February 15th, 2025 AT 11:07 AM

BRANSTEP653

MEMBER
18 POSTS

Thanks for the information, I really appreciate it! Should I start with just the fluid replacement, drive 500-1000 miles, change again, then the third time replace the filter?

Just worried as this car has 237,000 miles and I don’t know if this transmission fluid has ever been replaced.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Saturday, February 15th, 2025 AT 3:03 PM

BRANSTEP653

MEMBER
18 POSTS

Another possibility is the transmission mount. I get the same clunk if I have to stop hard. If I go easy on the gas going into overdrive, there’s no clunk. Will check that first before anything else.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Sunday, February 16th, 2025 AT 5:19 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
50,159 POSTS

Yep, the mount can cause the issue as well, I would still change the fluid and filter to see what happens. The fluid is completely broken down by now if it has never been changed.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, February 17th, 2025 AT 9:00 AM