1993 Toyota Camry Won't Shift into 2nd.

Tiny
ACLOSE78
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
Hi, My name is Andrew and I have a 1993 Toyota Camry. It's got about 136,000 on it and at about 118,000 I had the transmission replaced. Everything went smooth for a while up until about a month ago. It started skipping second gear. It would redline and then I would have to let off the gas to get it into 3rd gear. I had it replaced and got it back today. I drove it to work and everything was fine. After work I started home and it started doing the same thing again. I had the transmission under warranty so I only had to pay 400 to get it replaced again, but I can't help getting pissed because obviously whatever the problem is it isn't coming from the transmission itself. I mean what are the odds of getting 2 transmissions with bumb 2nd gears. So I know it's not the tranny, but it has to be something that affects the transmission but isn't contained within the transmission. I was hoping you would be able to tell me a possible cause or at least list the things that have influence on the transmission, but aren't in the transmission.
Friday, September 12th, 2008 AT 9:55 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Andrew,

If there is a manufacturing or design fault, you have 50/50 chance of getting 2 trans with the same problem.

Were you certain the trans was replaced the 2nd time?

It could be a faulty PCM or its wiring circuits. GEt a diagnostic done.
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Sunday, September 28th, 2008 AT 6:33 AM
Tiny
ACLOSE78
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  • 5 POSTS
In the original my reverse was slipping, After I got it back it stopped slipping, They've been looking at the car and they've checked and replaced and checked and replaced some more. It happens a lot less now, but It still happens once or twice a day. Is it possible a wire is grounding out somewhere? I mean it has to be electrical, that's the only way to explain the randomness of the occurences but I have no idea what it is. The ECM has been replaced and so has the ECT power switch, because it sometimes didn't work, it still does the off and on thing, but I have no idea why. A ground maybe? I checked some of them myself and they were ok, also the mechanics at this auto shop have regrounded it in different places to be sure.
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Friday, October 10th, 2008 AT 4:02 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Andrew,

Slipping clutches are usually not caused by solenoids or electrical controls.

I suspect a pressure line or clutch is leaking internally causing the problem. It should be an internal problem and I would suggest testing the line pressures.
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Saturday, October 11th, 2008 AT 8:41 AM
Tiny
ACLOSE78
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I just don't understand why it would happen twice in a row with completely differen't tranny's. Especially if it's internal. I had 2 motor mounts replaced right before I lost second. And now it's just every now and again, reving the engine in neutral seems to get it to go through second, but My new question is, is there anything they could have switched over to this tranny from the old one? I mean you said the lines, well could they have used the same ones? Or are those literally inside the assembly? I'm just clueless with this car. Toyota's are supposed to be reliable. I got a real Lemon. Someone has rolled back the odometer. It says 138,000, but I know it's closer to 300,000. On the original engine, when it was replaced, it showed that the serpentine belt had been replaced at 178,000 and the date said '99. We've put so much money into this car, if we would've known we were going to spend this much either way I would have a baller car right now, instead of a '93 Toyota Camlemonry. I even thought of looking for a camry with a seized engine or shot tranny and having some place put in my car's engine and tranny. Weak huh.
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Andrew,

When trasn skips 2nd gear, does the OD indicator light blinks on the dash?

Line pressure = trans internal problem. If line pressure is present and 2nd gear is not selscted, it means the clutches are leaking internally resulting in no engagement.
Revving in neutral works might mean there is line pressure or fluid problem.

It is difficult to explain your problem why it is happening but as mentioned earlier, it could have been a design flaw which would have many trans of the same batch having similar problem. That explains the possibility of 2 trans giving the same fault. Was the replacement trans a used unit or rebuilt? After replacement were the symptoms/fault similar?

The other possibility is the valve body. The valves are sticking and not shifting.

You mentioned the engine mount change prior to it happening. If it is electrical, the engine mount replacement could have dislodged, unloosensed or damaged some wire couplers. However thsi would normally be indicated by the OD light blinking.

Maybe a second opinion might get you somewhere.
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 AT 12:40 PM
Tiny
ACLOSE78
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  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for your help. I finally just got fed up with it, so me and my dad took it to Aamco. It's there now, They're running a diagnostic on it, and they're supposed to be the experts, so I hope they figure it out. And once they do, we're going to take what they say back to the shop we had it done at and show them. If they say it's the transmission, the warranty should still cover it. And I'll raise some hell if they try to tell me otherwise.
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Friday, October 17th, 2008 AT 2:06 PM

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