1998 Camry automatic transmission troubles

My 1998 200K Camry automatic transmission seems to be shifting hard on both acceleration and deceleration. Actually one of the reasons I prefer a Toyota to a Honda was because the transmission shifts were so smooth one hardly knew they were happening. Is this a problem and/or a simple fix? Also what is the correct way of checking tranny levels? I no longer have the manual.

RD

Reply to
RD
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The correct way to check it is to drive it around for a few miles, park, leave engine running, pull out dipstick, clean and reinsert, check dipstick again. If the fluid you cleaned is black or has metal shavings you need to get that fluid changed. Toyota recommends drain and refill every 30K miles (I think). Some will say drop the pan and clean the screen. Some will say do a flush instead. I say do what the manual says.

Reply to
badgolferman

With the vehicle parked on level ground, engine running, transmission in park, parking brake set, pull the transmission dip stick, wipe it clean with a rag or paper towel, re-insert the dipstick all the way until the catch engages the dip stick, and pull it out. If the transmission has been running for less than a few minutes, the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) should be up to the "cold" mark, and if the transmission is warmed up, it should be up to the "hot" mark. The fluid should be red and translucent. If it is brown or black or has a burnt smell, the transmission fluid should be changed. If it has been more than 60,000 miles (95,000 Km) since the ATF has been changed, I would get it changed.

Check the condition of the engine and transmission mounts.

If the ATF and the engine and transmission mounts are all in good condition, the accumulators may be worn or leaking. The accumulators reduce shift shock.

Some shift shock is not harmful to the transmission.

Reply to
Ray O

OK thanks. Are acculumulators something that only a transmission specialist can change or any mechanic?

Reply to
Saskatoon1

I've seen "mechanics" that cannot do a proper oil change, so I would not go so far as to say that **any** mechanic can change an accumulator. Basically involves draining the ATF, removing the transmission oil pan, swapping the accumulators, re-installing the pan and gasket, re-fill the ATF.

Reply to
Ray O

They are little chambers in the main valve body inside the transmission that time-delay the full engagement of the next gear for a few tenths of a second. They most likely have to drop the pan for access.

A regular mechanic might be able to do the work - eventually. Much transmission work is farmed out - most independent repair shops don't really 'do' trannys, even some smaller dealer shops don't have the time to mess with them. For warranty repairs they often just swap out the entire trans with a new or remanufactured one, and send the 'bad' one back for dissection.

A transmission specialist shop can figure it out and fix it much faster, because they do it all day, every day. To people who know the insides of the box intimately they'll probably be able to diagnose it from a quick test run around the block, and it's a quick & simple repair: Drop the pan, change the part, button it up, top off the fluid, Done.

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Reply to
Bruce L. Bergman

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