It doesn't occur at any particular speed. I can feel the vibration when the engine has stress on it. Under acceleration or engine braking. I have an ultra gauge too and the transmission is running at normal temperatures.
My baby is hurt
2008 FJ Cruiser 200K miles automatic transmission.
I have a shudder and it's drivetrain. All week I have started to notice a faint but growing growl. Then yesterday the shuttering started to become unmistakable shake when accelerating and decelerating. As I coast to a stop I can click my automatic transmission over to neutral and shuttering stops completely. Staying at a steady speed is just as smooth as can be.
I was hoping it was a differential issue so I changed the fluid tonight and it was old and stinky, but no metal flakes at all.
So here I am and I think I'm looking at a transmission or a transmission part. It almost acts like a clutch, but they don't have such a thing on an automatic transmission, do they? Torque converter?
What do you guys think?
![Tire Vehicle Wheel Car Snow]()
I have a shudder and it's drivetrain. All week I have started to notice a faint but growing growl. Then yesterday the shuttering started to become unmistakable shake when accelerating and decelerating. As I coast to a stop I can click my automatic transmission over to neutral and shuttering stops completely. Staying at a steady speed is just as smooth as can be.
I was hoping it was a differential issue so I changed the fluid tonight and it was old and stinky, but no metal flakes at all.
So here I am and I think I'm looking at a transmission or a transmission part. It almost acts like a clutch, but they don't have such a thing on an automatic transmission, do they? Torque converter?
What do you guys think?
1 - 8 of 17 Posts
I have updates:
Decided to do the partial transmission fluid change. I took out the old stuff which was thin and orange colored. I measured the amount very precisely and put the exact same amount back in. I warmed the transmission to 120 degrees and went to do my overflow drain and nothing. I tried adding a little more and still nothing. So I added a whole extra quart and now I got about 2/3rds of a quart to drain out.
Which says to me that my transmission was about 1/3rd of a quart low. Not bad for 200,000 miles.
I took it for a test drive and found it seemed to have the same shudder at all speeds when accelerating and decelerating. But as I drove the shuddering seemed to begin to improve. Then after about 30 minutes it was mostly gone. It always seemed intermittent and now even more so. I guess I have to drive it more to be sure.
Does this sound like anything you guys have seen before? Is it possible that this is getting better and that it may eventually go away? Or is this just a placebo effect because I want it to go away?
Thanks for all the help so far.
![Plant Land vehicle Car Vehicle Tire]()
Decided to do the partial transmission fluid change. I took out the old stuff which was thin and orange colored. I measured the amount very precisely and put the exact same amount back in. I warmed the transmission to 120 degrees and went to do my overflow drain and nothing. I tried adding a little more and still nothing. So I added a whole extra quart and now I got about 2/3rds of a quart to drain out.
Which says to me that my transmission was about 1/3rd of a quart low. Not bad for 200,000 miles.
I took it for a test drive and found it seemed to have the same shudder at all speeds when accelerating and decelerating. But as I drove the shuddering seemed to begin to improve. Then after about 30 minutes it was mostly gone. It always seemed intermittent and now even more so. I guess I have to drive it more to be sure.
Does this sound like anything you guys have seen before? Is it possible that this is getting better and that it may eventually go away? Or is this just a placebo effect because I want it to go away?
Thanks for all the help so far.
This is good to hear.Of all the threads I`ve read on this the fluid change is not instant but gets better as you drive it. So I guess you`ll find out soon. I change my fluid once a year so I never have had the shudder.
I checked the drive shaft itself and it didn't seem to have any play in it. The issue seems very inconsistent and erratic so you make a good point. I'll have to take a closer look at those U joints and maybe change them just for the hell of it.
UPDATE: I'VE FIXED IT COMPLETELY!!!!
Huge appreciation to FJ-6MT who suggested I take a closer look at the U Joints.
With the drive shaft on I couldn't tell anything was wrong, so I rolled up my sleeves, cracked out the torch and got to removing my Wisconsin winters drive shaft. Once I got the bugger off I found this.
My front universal joint
After taking it all apart I found no needle bearings in two sections of the U joint. Where did they go? Were they reduced to powder after 200,000 miles?
![Purple Automotive tire Gas Magenta Auto part]()
It's midnight and my garage is trashed. I'm way to tired to clean it up, but I am so happy to have found the problem and fixed it with 2 U joints. Life is good and thanks everyone for the help, especially FJ-6MT, you are a genius man!
![Purple World Violet Art Electricity]()
![Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Gas Automotive fuel system]()
Huge appreciation to FJ-6MT who suggested I take a closer look at the U Joints.
With the drive shaft on I couldn't tell anything was wrong, so I rolled up my sleeves, cracked out the torch and got to removing my Wisconsin winters drive shaft. Once I got the bugger off I found this.
My front universal joint
After taking it all apart I found no needle bearings in two sections of the U joint. Where did they go? Were they reduced to powder after 200,000 miles?
It's midnight and my garage is trashed. I'm way to tired to clean it up, but I am so happy to have found the problem and fixed it with 2 U joints. Life is good and thanks everyone for the help, especially FJ-6MT, you are a genius man!
1 - 8 of 17 Posts
