2002 Automatic Gearbox Not Shifting Into 4Th Gear

[B3rtie]

My Avensis is intermittently failing to shift up into fourth gear. A few years ago the car began to delay shifts into fourth occasionally under certain conditions. This week it failed to shift up but no lights, the next day lights on ('VSC' and 'VSC OFF' together) and no fourth. This pattern has repeated and today the fourth missing and lights.

This is a similar fault to member daidoc, here: ttp://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=79484

This is the fault read out from my PC:

P1653

Sensor values:

Calculated Load

87.84 %

Coolant Temperature

96. C

Short Term Fuel Trim Bank 1

8.59 %

Long Term Fuel Trim Bank 1

5.47 %

Short Term Fuel Trim Bank 2

9.38 %

Long Term Fuel Trim Bank 2

7.03 %

Intake Manifold Pressure

87 kPa

Engine Speed

3491 rpm

Vehicle Speed

25 km/h

Intake Air Temperature

47. ºC

Fuel System 1 Status

Closed Loop

Fuel System 2 Status

Closed Loop

Haynes manual as usual silent on any fundamentals or diagrams for the auto-box so I am at a loss where to start (other than the Vacuum Valve Assemblys mentioned in the previous post) and reluctant to go straight to main dealer.

I am not familiar with working on automatic gearboxes other than servicing so any help would be welcomed.

[Mistermena]

When was the box oil last changed?

[B3rtie]

Hello,

Fluid was done about six months ago / 5000-7000 miles.

The level does not usually budge but must admit that it has not been checked in a while - I might have a look in case there is a leak.

Thanks

[B3rtie]

I guess not many people on here know about the Dark-Art of repairing automatic transmissions?

Given the quote from my local dealer of £165, and my lack of time at the moment, to replace one of the pressure valves I am taking this in for the garage to repair. Also Mr T found another fault code P1203 (but cannot remember what this meant).

The removal of the valves seems quite straightforward - drin fluid; remove transmission cover plate underneath; remove valve assembly housing; replace valves and; refit. I did find an exploded diagram on the web.

[B3rtie]

I guess not many people on here know about the Dark-Art of repairing automatic transmissions?

Given the quote from my local dealer of £165, and my lack of time at the moment, to replace one of the pressure valves I am taking this in for the garage to repair. Also Mr T found another fault code P1203 (but cannot remember what this meant).

The removal of the valves seems quite straightforward - drin fluid; remove transmission cover plate underneath; remove valve assembly housing; replace valves and; refit. I did find an exploded diagram on the web.

[Alan Morgan]

Sounds like a pressure valve problem to me! I was a toyota tech 1998-2001 and specialised in transmissions. Without the data in front of me I can't give an accurate diagnosis, but the toyota dealer should be able to run tests on the valves rather than just replace blindly? When it does shift into 4th are there any unusual noises before during or after the shift and is it shifting smoothly? I know you said the oil had been changed recently but does it look or smell burned or does it look "metallic"? Any further info ,however insignificant it seems, could be helpful.

[B3rtie]

Hello Alan, thank you - it was a faulty pressure valve!

Now running perfectly for 1 year after main dealer replacement but it took some pursuading for them to take it in for reapir as they were skeptical about whether the fault could be identified. :)

[Parts-King]

Blimey........that reply took 15 months to come through :D: :D:

[B3rtie]

well i saw the reply but forgot to thank Alan :)

poor form to restart the thread but might help someone... Incidentally i now strongly recommend changing box fluid to a synthetic and do this every couple of years (25k mls) to prevent any problems.

[Marcis]

Hi,

Facing the same issue (Avensis 2000 2.0, AUT) .. got the same error P1653 ..

Checked Intake Air Control Valve .. seams working .. No sure to replace (valve ~100 GBP).

So will changing transmission pressure valves will help? What about error then - seams non-related to transmission..

Thanks

Marcis from Latvia

[Flakmann]

well i saw the reply but forgot to thank Alan :)

poor form to restart the thread but might help someone... Incidentally i now strongly recommend changing box fluid to a synthetic and do this every couple of years (25k mls) to prevent any problems.

I understand that I`m supposed to use Dexron III in my autobox,(`98), which I know is a mineral oil. Has this now been superceded by a synthetic fluid?

If so, who makes it and what`s it called? Useful post BTW.

[B3rtie]

Marcis - I will check the receipt and repost as the Toyota dealer identified another code to the one posted. The fix seemed to work.

Flakmann - The fluid to use is TIII on the 2.0 (the 1.8 may be OK with DIII but please check the owner's manual if you can) - I looked in the owner's book (mine is the later 2.0 VVT-i) it says not to use DIII in the 2.0. I am not sure whether the TIII is mineral or synthetic.

The fluid I have meets the TIII spec and also DIII so figured this was OK. The fluid make is Amsoil - expensive but as I noticed a big difference in function it seems to be worth it.

[B3rtie]

Mr T found another fault code P1203 - seems to relate to an injector fault?

[Flakmann]

Thanks for the info B3rtie.

i will stick with DIII for the present, but will probe further.