Hilux SR5 trans problems

[Hiluxlemon]

I bought the SR5 diesel 2012 model auto. I tow a camper trailer and am having some issues with trans. Now the manual says to tow in 3rd not overdrive. At 110km in overdrive revs at 2000rpm in 3rd it sits on 3000rpm. In overdrive it towed all the way from Adelaide to Queensland and not an issue, on the way back to Adelaide however it was fine until i got just out of Hay then we had some headwinds and trans dropped back to 3rd economy went out the window 3000rpm will do that hey.

This is not the first time it happened, from Adelaide to Flinders ranges it did the same drop back to 3rd thing. Once again head winds. I told Toyota where i. Bought it from and told me that if i tow in 3rd fuel economy would be better????? I told them i was not happy and was told trans was going into protection mode . They said in next service they will check to see if there was an update in software, there was apparently???? And they did they did the update????. That weekend i went from Adelaide to Berrie fine on the way up once again on the way back trans did the whole 3rd thing.

Now i bought the hilux top of the line for the reputation of being bullet proof and towing ability. To me towing at 110km at 3000rpm is not what i expected. Now after $55000 for the hilux and $10000 or more worth of extras im stuck with it. Toyota dont want to seem to know about it.

Wondering if any one else has had this problem and if so how has it been overcome if it has or any other tips for me except for driving at 90kmh from adelaide to queensland its a massive drive made bigger.

What about beefing up trans, is it possible?

[CONROD]

Hey mate,I also have a 5 speed Auto Hilux 4.0l V6,First thing I did was enquire about the pros and cons of towing with the auto transmission.Didnt even bother asking the guys at Toyota instead I direct all my enquiries to reputable Automatic transmission specialists, after all these blokes deal with these things day in day out!!!

First thing they reccomend is installing a decent High quality transmission cooler.I purchased a large alloy cooler and installed it and when I tow our twin axle pop top van I did as they suggested and leave it in fouth gear(which is 1:1 ratio) and the torque convertor locks up around 75-80km/h so I have no slippage in the convertor to build up any heat.Only and then Only on a flat stretch of road do I slip it into O/D but as soon as I feel it starting to pull I flick it back out of O/D.

I rang two or three different auto trans, specialist and they all gave me the same advise,and by the way I also got a litre of FULLY SYNTHETIC transmission fluid off the mob I got my cooler off as this is what the transmission run.

I sit on on around 95-100kmh in forth approx 2800rpm,loves it right smack in the middle of the torque curve,pulls hills with just a slight throttle opening and I,m not a heavy footed person either.

Maybe you should have a look at what you are expecting from your tow vehicle and driveline combination and maybe another vehicle might be more appropriate.I see you had to battle headwinds,those ba*tards are sometimes worse than pulling hills all day long.

Hiluxemon If I were you I would stick the Hilux in and have the fluid changed,have an auxillary trans, cooler fitted,(I reccomend getting this done at a reputable transmission specialist (NOT TOYOTA)and revise your driving style,forget about trying so sit on 110kmh in overdrive,you,ll save more fuel in 3rd and crank the kays back to say 100kmh Approx 2800rpm as the diesel should pull a house down at those rpm.

Sick with it mate as you have a good rig for doing what you want ,cheers mate

[T_Money]

Although tough, the auto's are not that well suited to towing decent loads in overdrive. The manual is right in saying use 3rd for towing, like 4th in the petrol models, 3rd in the 4 speeds is a 1:1 ratio which essentially keeps the torque converter locked at all times. This is much easier on the transmission as opposed cruising around in O/D when the converter us in a constant state of slippage.

One thing you may think about investing in is this: Clicky Here

It is an aftermarket torque converter lock up. You would be able to tow in O/D no worries but would not get any slip, hence saving the transmission. Side affect of this is power delivery from 2000rpm might be a little slower. No reason you cant just knock it into 3rd to get up a hill though.

Also like the article says, don't leave it engaged when coming to a stop or you will stall your car.

Also installing a large oil cooler should help keep the oil temps down and may stop the 3rd gear engagement problem from occurring.

I think installing both these options would solve all your issues and keep the transmission in good shape for many years.

Edited February 22, 2013 by T_Money

[tufflux07]

Gday matey , I was just wondering if your SR5 has a dash light simmer control switch as standard?????

[T_Money]

Gday matey , I was just wondering if your SR5 has a dash light simmer control switch as standard?

sure does

[RUM PIG]

Gday Hiluxemon'

Some good news and some bad news... Good news, you are not alone. Bad news we have the same model Hilux and also the same problem. We are up to 22000 klms now and still trying to sort the trans problem. We are always towing and thats why we bought the Hilux.. Unbreakable..

Ours is back at the (Adelaide)dealer every trip. Sometimes 2 or 3 times. They have had trouble reprogramming the ECU etc even had to get a new computer for the car at one stage to be able to rewrite the program..

We have had all the updates done we also had the biggest race engine oil cooler fitted to the trans and by-past the radiator. Also removed our bug screen mesh and our Shoo Roo speakers to allow more air.

Guess what? Still no good. On a 27 deg day flat road, moderate head wind, towing a single axle trailer (loaded 1.74 ton)(rated to 2.5 at least Toyota says 2.8 ton) 3rd gear 100kph... STILL drop back to 2nd by itself rev its tits off till i take it out of cruise control and let it slow done.. I can be going down hill and it will drop back to 2nd if i touch the accelerator (when its having a hissy fit).

It is then a matter of poking along at 50-60 kph for about 10 mins or pull over and let it cool down for 5 mins.

The dealership has been very understanding and have down all they can.. I have now put in a complaint to Toyota Australia as there vehicle will not do what they advertise in towing capacity. Awaiting a call back from them as they was going to speak with the dealer on our issues.

Just want to add also that WE had to pay the $600 to get the oil cooler fitted as they would only go as far as to say that "they would fit one if it was there car" "but it is up to you if you fit it"!!!

Also been having trouble with the in dash entertainment/navigation system. Reprogrammed the unit (still didnt work right) Pulled ours out to replace it but the new one but the new unit didnt work either so they refitted ours. Have now fitted a new SD card and appears to be working.. (For Now)...

[RUM PIG]

By the way i think T_Money may have the solution with the switch ... I will speak to my trans guys to see what they think but it makes sense to me..

I dont know what Toyota may think of it though so i will wait for the out come from them before fitting it :D

[JDM-GTFour]

Even the 5 speed manuals should not tow heavy loads in 5th gear.. 4th only. Otherwise 5th gear goes clunk...

Forget O/D and saving fuel money and keep it in 3rd and get a long life out of your Hilux. :)

O/D is for the freeway when coasting..

My 2 cents

[Gazdog]

I had the Sam problem towing our off road camper, towing with our 2010 SR5 diesel . If tidied a large cooler an haven't had a problem since, I would also recommend towing in 3rd on hilly stuff or head winds, but on the flat it workers fine now.

Gazdog

[Shipo]

Just as well you didn't buy the manual. My clutch burnt out at 50000km and they told me it was due to vehicle abuse and wiped the warranty. I have written to the CEO of Toyota Australia and am still awaiting a reply.

[stoney@gulf country]

Hi , I have a 2012 sr Hilux dual cab auto it has been giving similar problems from the start, I have had a ECU up grade ,and that worked for a period but with just a four wheel motor bike in the back it will have a fit now and then change from 3rd to forth back and forward, if I slow down (80Km) for a while or stop and switch it off and start again it will go back to pulling top gear for a while It also spits oil out the trans breather,If I tow a small 6+4 box trailer with only 350kg it will never lock the converter ,in fact the slightest head wind when it is empty it will not lock the converter..I have complained at the dealer but all when they test the ECU there are no error codes.The last correspondence I have had is they want to do some tests.Apparently they have never herd of these problems.They also recommended that at my expense they would fit a transmission cooler,You buy a 55000+ car and start fixing it at your own expense?I refused it should be standard!!!Please let me know if you have any success with solving the problem.CHEERS

[T_Money]

Hey man

If you install a transmission cooler you will never have the problem again. $150 of parts and the problem goes away.

[RUM PIG]

Hi Stoney,

I have no good news for you mate. We ended up following up on T_Money's suggestion on the switch.

Because we had had a gut full of the trans dropping back and revving it's tits off whenever it felt like it we went all out and fitted a heavy duty valve body to the trans also with a torque converter lock out switch. So what happens now is, when we are in need of the trans to hold the gear for a bit longer so i can get over the slight rise in the road or if there is a slight wind so it wont hold top gear, i can flick the switch and it holds gear like a manual but you have to not let it labor to much or the trans will drop back 1 full gear.

We have found though that we hardly need to use the lock out side of the upgrade as the valve body change has changed it enough to hold the gear in most situations anyway.

We have had huge amount of fuel savings since we changed the valve body also. The 520 klms that would normally take us say 1 and 1/2 tanks of diesel while towing at 100kph we can now do it in less then 1 tank... We love the car again.(a lot quieter to ride in as well as it isn't going up and down the gears all the time)

Don't get me wrong we are still really really ****** at Toyota for landing us with this problem. We have offered for them to pay our cost to get it to this stage, about $4000.00. But they have declined. After 2 separate testing days with Toyota the have told us that "Toyota believes the automatic transmission is working how the transmission has been designed to" They also believe we should be able to tow in top gear (4th) but on approach to a rise/hill in the road we should manually put it back into 3rd gear till we reach the apex of the rise/hill where we are to return it to 4th gear again..

As you could imagine i have told them i didn't buy an automatic car to drive it like a manual and we wanted the problem fixed. Toyota has exhausted all avenues at this stage and there is nothing more Toyota can do for us... What a croc of *****..

Our car was released in 2012. We complained after the fist trip and every trip since.

At first there was no issue they knew about

Next there was a program software update ( to increase trans temp parameters)

Then the ecu wouldn't allow them to update the program so they had to fit a new updated ecu

They then suggested fitting a trans oil cooler ( at our cost of course. Some improvement but still not good)

After the first test day it was agreed the trans wasn't a good setup by there head mechanic (will continue to look into it)

2nd test day was arranged with a new SR5 Auto to compare with ours.. WHAT THE F@#*... It's another new release with a bloody 5 speed automatic transmission???

Let me get this right Toyota??

There is NOTHING wrong with our trans but within 6 months, Toyota comes out with a new software update for our model?? then comes out with the next batch of cars with the software update already on-board?? Then to rub salt into the wound you ditch the 4 speed auto that doesn't have a problem and start fitting the 5 speed auto's that come standard in the Prado??. And ours was the new face lift???

Most SR5 drivers would not even know that there car has this problem. Unless you use the car to tow or drive into wind you wouldn't have a clue.

We are awaiting our letter from Toyota to tell us how to drive our auto as a manual and we will be back to Consumer Affairs as we have already spoke with them. I'am not holding my breath for the letter but i have to give them a chance before i loose my *****..

[stoney@gulf country]

Hi Rum pig, I have hit brick walls all the way around with Toyota on this transmission not holding the converter lock and spitting oil out .I want to know how your valve body upgrade went.Would you recommend just the valve body upgrade or the lock out switch.

[stoney@gulf country]

Hi Stoney,

I have no good news for you mate. We ended up following up on T_Money's suggestion on the switch.

Because we had had a gut full of the trans dropping back and revving it's tits off whenever it felt like it we went all out and fitted a heavy duty valve body to the trans also with a torque converter lock out switch. So what happens now is, when we are in need of the trans to hold the gear for a bit longer so i can get over the slight rise in the road or if there is a slight wind so it wont hold top gear, i can flick the switch and it holds gear like a manual but you have to not let it labor to much or the trans will drop back 1 full gear.

We have found though that we hardly need to use the lock out side of the upgrade as the valve body change has changed it enough to hold the gear in most situations anyway.

We have had huge amount of fuel savings since we changed the valve body also. The 520 klms that would normally take us say 1 and 1/2 tanks of diesel while towing at 100kph we can now do it in less then 1 tank... We love the car again.(a lot quieter to ride in as well as it isn't going up and down the gears all the time)

Don't get me wrong we are still really really ****** at Toyota for landing us with this problem. We have offered for them to pay our cost to get it to this stage, about $4000.00. But they have declined. After 2 separate testing days with Toyota the have told us that "Toyota believes the automatic transmission is working how the transmission has been designed to" They also believe we should be able to tow in top gear (4th) but on approach to a rise/hill in the road we should manually put it back into 3rd gear till we reach the apex of the rise/hill where we are to return it to 4th gear again..

As you could imagine i have told them i didn't buy an automatic car to drive it like a manual and we wanted the problem fixed. Toyota has exhausted all avenues at this stage and there is nothing more Toyota can do for us... What a croc of *****..

Our car was released in 2012. We complained after the fist trip and every trip since.

At first there was no issue they knew about

Next there was a program software update ( to increase trans temp parameters)

Then the ecu wouldn't allow them to update the program so they had to fit a new updated ecu

They then suggested fitting a trans oil cooler ( at our cost of course. Some improvement but still not good)

After the first test day it was agreed the trans wasn't a good setup by there head mechanic (will continue to look into it)

2nd test day was arranged with a new SR5 Auto to compare with ours.. WHAT THE F@#*... It's another new release with a bloody 5 speed automatic transmission???

Let me get this right Toyota??

There is NOTHING wrong with our trans but within 6 months, Toyota comes out with a new software update for our model?? then comes out with the next batch of cars with the software update already on-board?? Then to rub salt into the wound you ditch the 4 speed auto that doesn't have a problem and start fitting the 5 speed auto's that come standard in the Prado??. And ours was the new face lift???

Most SR5 drivers would not even know that there car has this problem. Unless you use the car to tow or drive into wind you wouldn't have a clue.

We are awaiting our letter from Toyota to tell us how to drive our auto as a manual and we will be back to Consumer Affairs as we have already spoke with them. I'am not holding my breath for the letter but i have to give them a chance before i loose my *****..

Hi RUM PIG,How did you go with consumer affairs ? Because I am about to go there myself with this transmission problem

[RUM PIG]

Hi Stoney,

Haven't returned to Consumer Affairs as yet as we are still waiting for Toyota to supply us with a letter on there recommendations on how to operate the vehicle to there required standard..

Was informed at the time that it could take quite a while because it would have to pass through Toyota's legal department before we could get it. What this means is that they are trying to worm there way out of the problem.

We are almost due for a service again and we will approach more aggressively this time because they have had ample time to draft this letter...

If you are stuck with the car because of money into it etc i would defiantly speak with Wholesale Automatic Transmissions Phone 03 97628004

If you go down this path I would go the valve body and switch. We hardly use the switch but it is good to know it's there...

If i wasn't so far into my Hilux it would be gone.. We have spent easy another 30 grand after purchase..

Mind you if the 2015/16 model is more like the Tundra etc this fool will be loosing some money and selling it....

[Spidermonkey]

On 25 February 2015 at 5:45 PM, RUM PIG said:

Hi Stoney,

Haven't returned to Consumer Affairs as yet as we are still waiting for Toyota to supply us with a letter on there recommendations on how to operate the vehicle to there required standard..

Was informed at the time that it could take quite a while because it would have to pass through Toyota's legal department before we could get it. What this means is that they are trying to worm there way out of the problem.

We are almost due for a service again and we will approach more aggressively this time because they have had ample time to draft this letter...

If you are stuck with the car because of money into it etc i would defiantly speak with Wholesale Automatic Transmissions Phone 03 97628004

If you go down this path I would go the valve body and switch. We hardly use the switch but it is good to know it's there...

If i wasn't so far into my Hilux it would be gone.. We have spent easy another 30 grand after purchase..

Mind you if the 2015/16 model is more like the Tundra etc this fool will be loosing some money and selling it....

I recently had a ECU Remap to increase power and torque. With the extra power it definitely holds 4th gear going up a raise towing a camper trailer weighing about 800kgs + a truck full of humans and gear. I do run a 285 tyre and 4.56 diff ratios. With the tyres and ratios I hated the way the truck towed, but after going with the ECU remap it is a different truck all together now.

[dazzle48]

Hilux Auto Transmission Failure

 

At the start of 2016, whilst traveling from Brisbane to Adelaide, my 2008 Diesel Hilux, which had done 237,000km, suffered a complete failure of the Auto Transmission main bottom seal, 60kms North of Hay, NSW.

Fortunately the day was only 27c with a cool breeze blowing, because the oil blew out over the exhaust, causing heaps of smoke, but the vehicle did not catch on fire.

 

I had noticed that after numerous services at two Toyota dealers, there was no mention of servicing the transmission, so I asked the service departments why not and received the answer that it was “inspect” only, they did not even know how much oil the transmission used, one service manager even stating that if they serviced the transmission it would void my warranty.

 

It took over two weeks to get the transmission repaired, the cost was almost a week of holidays lost, $5,300 to get the transmission repaired, $1,000 for a hire car and a week of extra living costs in Hay, NSW.

 

I spoke to the Auto Transmission repairer, who confirmed what I believed, that if the transmission had been serviced at regular intervals and the oil changed, it would most likely have not failed.

My attempts to contact Toyota via email were all unsuccessful, it seems that Toyota do not want any written contact, only via telephone to a very unhelpful operator.

If anyone can advise me how I can contact Toyota via email, I would be grateful, thanks.

 

[trentmeyer23]

http://www.toyota.com.au/email-us

[stoney@gulf country]

On 2/8/2016 at 10:26 PM, Spidermonkey said:

I recently had a ECU Remap to increase power and torque. With the extra power it definitely holds 4th gear going up a raise towing a camper trailer weighing about 800kgs + a truck full of humans and gear. I do run a 285 tyre and 4.56 diff ratios. With the tyres and ratios I hated the way the truck towed, but after going with the ECU remap it is a different truck all together now.

Hi Spidermonkey, Where did you get your ecu remap and what did it cost? I put a large oil cooler on mine and it made a bit of a difference stop the oil spitting out the breather but it still isn't right.I even dropped a tyre size to a 255/70r 16 .Have you changed the diff ratio?What revs is it doing at 100k in top?

[Ben_1984]

On 2/22/2016 at 1:50 PM, dazzle48 said:

Hilux Auto Transmission Failure

 

At the start of 2016, whilst traveling from Brisbane to Adelaide, my 2008 Diesel Hilux, which had done 237,000km, suffered a complete failure of the Auto Transmission main bottom seal, 60kms North of Hay, NSW.

Fortunately the day was only 27c with a cool breeze blowing, because the oil blew out over the exhaust, causing heaps of smoke, but the vehicle did not catch on fire.

 

I had noticed that after numerous services at two Toyota dealers, there was no mention of servicing the transmission, so I asked the service departments why not and received the answer that it was “inspect” only, they did not even know how much oil the transmission used, one service manager even stating that if they serviced the transmission it would void my warranty.

 

It took over two weeks to get the transmission repaired, the cost was almost a week of holidays lost, $5,300 to get the transmission repaired, $1,000 for a hire car and a week of extra living costs in Hay, NSW.

 

I spoke to the Auto Transmission repairer, who confirmed what I believed, that if the transmission had been serviced at regular intervals and the oil changed, it would most likely have not failed.

My attempts to contact Toyota via email were all unsuccessful, it seems that Toyota do not want any written contact, only via telephone to a very unhelpful operator.

If anyone can advise me how I can contact Toyota via email, I would be grateful, thanks.

 

I've recently had a similar issue.  My 2012 SR5 diesel, at around 135k, recently had a torque converter failure.  Driving from Chinchilla to Gold Coast, disaster struck in Toowoomba halfway home.  

The torque converter failed, and was completely replaced at a cost of $6500 by an automatics specialist in Toowoomba (at the recommendation of the bloke at Toyota in Toowoomba who first diagnosed the problem).  Toyota were going to charge $9000.  Two weeks without a vehicle, hire car costs, etc etc.  

The vehicle was purchased brand new from my local dealer, and has had every single service at the same dealer since.  The vehicle has done zero towing, hardly done any work whatsoever, 95% highway miles with no load.  A couple of Cape York/NT trips with a bit of weight in the back.   I should mention that the alternator died for no apparent about 10 months earlier (1 month out of warranty) - while I was up the Cape of all places......

At the time the torque converter failed, the vehicle was less than 12 months out of warranty.  The Auto specialist said he'd only seen a couple of new Hiluxes do this.  Toyota of course said they'd never heard of this issue before....

I bought a Hilux, and spent the extra money, because I didn't want these sorts of inexcusable failures.  The vehicle has not been worked hard at all, has been serviced perfectly, I've supported the dealership where I bought it, done everything exactly by the book.  

What I'd like to know is - is there any point whatsoever in me writing a letter to Toyota?  Or would that be a complete waste of my time?  

[Shipo]

Mine is a manual and the clutch failed and they rejected the warranty based on their assumption that I had abused the vehicle.

[HK1837]

Older thread but might help someone.

NEVER tow in any auto Hilux without an auxiliary cooler. No ifs, no buts.

I have a 2011 V6 auto SR5 dual cab. I bought a V6 as I do tow a bit, and I needed the extra power and torque of the V6 and the V6 also had the far superior A750F auto, not that awful 4spd thing fitted to diesels pre about 2013. I fitted a Wholesale Autos transmission temperature gauge the day I bought it home, it is the analogue type. These measure where the fluid exits the converter, not the pan temperature like a Scan gauge gives you. I hooked up my 300kg box trailer and before I got out the street the fluid was well over 100deg C. I took it straight back home, and took the trailer off. Then over the next week fitted a Wholesale Autos cooler to it AFTER the factory cooler. Since then when towing right the fluid never exceeds 100degC. If driving in 4x4H on sand in D it will rocket to over 130deg if you let it, but putting it in 4L it stays below 100degC.

It also now has a lockup converter kit. and a Nomad valve body.

I also fitted a TRD type supercharger kit to it around 100,000kM. I got the fluid changed out for Valvoline Maxlife once the supercharger was fitted. I've always babied the fluid, never let it get hot and it was at end of life, just turning brown.

Around 120,000kM it did a weird 4-5 slip, so I got the pan dropped to see what was going on. There was brass shavings in the pan. I have to do a trip to South Australia and didn't have time to get the box pulled and rebuilt, so I bought a used box and transfer from a Stat write-off 2009 TRD that didn't have a towbar on it and had 120,000kM on it. Fluid looked and smelt clean and was original WS fluid so I took a gamble, only $1500. We changed it out, air tested all the clutches, flushed the TRD converter and swapped the valve bodies. Also filled with new Lubegard COMPLETE Synthetic fluid that has a far higher boil and flash point than most other available ATF fluids. So far so good, apart from the apparent slightly higher stall of the TRD converter all good so far...

It looks like the original torque converter is failing in the thrust, it is the only brass in the box I believe. The converter bush is bronze. On GM TH350/400 converters they fit needle rollers for high performance applications, but the A750F converter cannot be modified in this way, so at the moment there is no solution for one of these that is being hit with in excess of 550Nm of torque. Keeping it on a pallet for a rebuild in case this TRD box starts to fail the same way.

BTW, I've tried towing in D, towing a 2250kg car/float, even with the big cooler the fluid rockets to 120degC and will go higher. Dropping back to 4th it cools right back down and stays below 90degC. If I lock the converter then it goes back below 70degC. So if you are towing with a Hilux without a cooler, you are cooking fluid and will kill the transmission.