2013 - RAV4 transmission shudder

[Peter Andrew]

I have had my RAV4 from new in 2013 and it has developed a shudder at low speed acceleration. Has anyone had experience with this? It has done only 109,000Kms.

[campbeam]

I cannot recall having this experience. Immediate thoughts are to check the engine and transmission mounts and to change the transmission fluid if this has not yet been done. 

I have just viewed this YouTube video by The Car Nut where he is recommending a drain pan change of the ATF every 60,000 miles or 6 years for Toyota Trucks; presumably larger SUVs etc. 

 

[Peter Andrew]

Thanks Ashley for your response. It doesn't appear to be a problem in the member domain so I just may be unlucky. I will check those items out. Thanks for the tip on the Car Nut. He is amazing! Cheers 

[Peter Andrew]

A simple fix for this low speed shudder problem which should have been first call for Toyota. Forget about $2895 job to change torque converter. Trans specialist in Adelaide city Centre suggested I approve a trans flush and filters and add "Shudder Fix" which has no detrimental effect on the hydraulics within the valve body. I noticed a distinct difference immediately. Give it a couple of weeks to work properly through and the problem completely disappeared. It has now been 8000Kms since the flush etc and no sign of shudder whatsoever. Cost $550. Don't believe the lie that auto trans. are sealed for life. Bad, ignorant and costly advice from Toyota service centre in my view.

[campbeam]

2 hours ago, Peter Andrew said:

Don't believe the lie that auto trans. are sealed for life. Bad, ignorant and costly advice from Toyota service centre in my view.

Plenty of posts on the Aurion side of this Forum about the supposed sealed for life transmission. It is a bit of a self-fullfilling prophecy. Don't change the ATF and the transmission will eventually fail. ATF lasted the life of the transmission. 

There are also posts about the minimal servicing schedule which is more about keeping the perceived service costs low for marketing/sales purposes. Mostly no problems in the initial 3-5 years for the new car buyer. Can is kicked down the road for the used car buyer to deal with potential future costly drivetrain repairs due to conditions caused by inadequate, extended  or delayed servicing intervals. 

If you want to keep the Toyota feeling then do more regular and preventative maintenance. What most consumers would consider to be normal driving conditions are actually severe as defined in the owner's manual. 

[Tony Prodigy]

10 hours ago, Peter Andrew said:

A simple fix for this low speed shudder problem which should have been first call for Toyota. Forget about $2895 job to change torque converter. Trans specialist in Adelaide city Centre suggested I approve a trans flush and filters and add "Shudder Fix" which has no detrimental effect on the hydraulics within the valve body. I noticed a distinct difference immediately. Give it a couple of weeks to work properly through and the problem completely disappeared. It has now been 8000Kms since the flush etc and no sign of shudder whatsoever. Cost $550. Don't believe the lie that auto trans. are sealed for life. Bad, ignorant and costly advice from Toyota service centre in my view.

Glad to hear it all worked out for you Peter.

Issues usually develop from the lack of maintenance, or being badly advised. We all agree 100% about the "sealed for life" garbage trotted out by auto makers. There's no oil or fluid that will last that long and irreparable damage will be inevitable. In your case, your transmission was crying out for help and you came to its aid. There's nothing like fresh fluid in an auto transmission. It just works as it was intended this way.