Toyota can get its first automatic transmission repaired after 300,000 km, subject to regular maintenance. It is recommended to make the first oil change after 80 - 100,000 km, and then monitor the transparency. Most Toyota automatic machines are recognized as “indestructible” for their simple design, reliability and balanced modes. However, in both the U and A series, typical weak points can be identified.
Type of automatic transmission on Toyota
Toyota equips its cars with “classic” hydraulic automatic transmissions, continuously variable CVTs and electronic e-CVTs produced by Aisin. A special feature of the e-CVT box is that it works with two motors: a traction internal combustion engine and an electric generator. In fact, the e-CVT is not a CVT, but a type of automatic transmission, since it has fixed gear ratios. Automatic transmission is found in rare Toyota hybrids.
Automatic transmissions developed in the 1980s-2000s (A40, A343, A540, U140, U340) are not stuffed with electronics, have a simple design, so they take over 200 - 300 tkm before overhaul. If you don’t forget to change the oil and consumables, Toyota gearboxes can last up to a million km.
In the 21st century, fast acceleration and imperceptible shifts have become a priority. Toyota automatic transmissions were equipped with complex electronic “brains” with a bunch of sensors, while the service life of the machine was reduced to 150 - 200,000 km. These boxes include A750 (according to Aisin classification - TB-50), U660/U760, UA80, as well as CVTs K310 - K111 (XA-15LN, XA-12LN).
| Model Toyota | Years of manufacture | Engine | Automatic transmission type |
| 4 Runner | since 1985 | L4 2.2 … 3.0 V6 3.0, 3.4, 4.0 | A340 |
| since 2003 | V6 4.0, V8 4.7 | A750 | |
| Alphard | 2002 — 2008 | L4 2.4 | U240 |
| V6 3.0 | U250 | ||
| 2008 — 2018 | L4 2.0, 2.5 | U661, U761 | |
| V6 3.5 | U660 | ||
| 2003 — 2018 | L4 2.4, 2.5 | CVT K110, K112, K115 | |
| Auris | 2006 —2018 | L4 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.4 | CVT K310, K311, K312, K313, 804K |
| 2006 — 2018 | L4 1.6 | EC50A | |
| 2012 — 2018 | L4 1.8 | e-CVT P410, P610 | |
| Avensis | 2000 — 2017 | L4 1.8, 2.0, 2.4 | A240, U151, U341, U660 |
| since 2008 | L4 1.8, 2.0 | CVT K111, K310 | |
| Camry | 1983 — 2004 | L4 1.8, 2.0 | A140 |
| V6 2.5 | A540 | ||
| 2000 — 2018 | L4 1.8, 2.0, V6 2.5, 3.0 | U140, U240 | |
| 2004 — 2018 | L4 2.0…2.5 V6 2.5…3.5 | U151, U250, U660, A761 | |
| 2006 —2012 | L4 1.6, 1.8 | e-CVT P310 | |
| 2011 — 2019 | L4 2.5 V6 3.5 | U760 | |
| since 2017 | L4 2.0, 2.5 V6 3.5 | U761, UA80 | |
| Celica GT | 1990 — 2006 | L4 1.8, 2.0 | A243, A140, U341 |
| Corolla | 1984 — 1993 | L4 1.6, 1.8 | A131, A240, A241 |
| 1993 — 2008 | L4 1.3 … 2.0 | A240, U341, U440 | |
| 2000 — 2014 | L4 1.3 … 1.6 | MC25, U240 | |
| 2007 — 2013 | L4 2.4 | U250 | |
| 2009 — 2018 | L4 1.3, 1.6 | EC60A | |
| since 2010 | L4 1.2 … 2.0 | CVT K110 - K313, 804K, e-CVT H410, P510 | |
| Estima | 2000 — 2006 | L4 2.0, 2.4 V6 3.0 | U140, U240 |
| 2006 — 2018 | L4 2.4 | CVT K112, EVT P311 | |
| V6 3.5 | U660 | ||
| Harrier | 1998 — 2012 | L4 2.2, 2.4 | U240 |
| V6 3.0, 3.5 | U140, U250 | ||
| 2005 —2018 | L4 2.0, 2.5 V6 3.3 | CVT K114, EVT P310, P314 | |
| Hiace | 2003 — 2018 | L4 2.0, 2.4 | A44D, A960 |
| 2004 — 2018 | L4 2.5, 2.7, 3.0 | A340, A960, A750 | |
| Highlander | 2001 —2007 | L4 2.4 V6 3.0, 3.3 | U140, U241, U151 |
| 2007 — 2019 | L4 2.5, 2.7 V6 3.3, 3.5 | U151, U250, U760, UA80, A760 | |
| 2005 — 2019 | V6 3.3, 3.5 | e-CVT P310, P313 | |
| Land Cruiser | 1988— 2002 | V6 4.0, 4.2, 4.5, V8 4.7 | A343, A440 |
| 1988 — 2018 | L6 4.2 V6 4.0, V8 4.5 … 5.0 | A340, A750, TB-68LS | |
| Land Cruiser Prado | 1996 — 2018 | L4 2.7, 2.8, 3.0 V6 3.5, 4.0 | A340, A750 |
| Mark II | 2000 — 2004 | L4 2.2, 2.4 V6 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 | A43D, A340, A44D, A650 |
| 2005 — 2018 | V6 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 | A761, A750, A960 | |
| Matrix | 2003 — 2014 | L4 1.8, 2.4 | U240, A246, U241, U250, U341 |
| Premium | 2001 — 2007 | L4 1.5, 1.8 | U340, U341 |
| 2001 — 2018 | L4 1.5, 1.8, 2.0 | CVT K110, K310, K311, K312 | |
| RAV4 | 1996 — 2008 | L4 2.0, 2.4 | A540, A241, A247, U140 |
| 2005 — 2018 | L4 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 | U241, U660, U761, A760, CVT K112 | |
| V6 3.5 | U151, U250 | ||
| 2011 — 2018 | L4 2.0, 2.5 | CVT P311, 840K, e-CVT P310, P314 | |
| Sequoia | 2000 — 2018 | V8 4.6, 4.7, 5.7 | A340, A750, A760, TB-68LS |
| Tundra | 1999 — 2018 | V6 3.4, 4.0, V8 4.7, 5.7 | A750, TB-68LS, A340 |
| since 2005 | V6 4.0, V8 4.7 | A750 | |
| Verso | 2009 — 2017 | L4 1.8 | CVT K311 |
| Yaris | 2001 — 2018 | L4 1.3, 1.5 | U340, U440, CW6A |
What Toyota automatic transmission owners often encounter
Toyota automatic transmission repairs come with typical problems:
- clutches slip;
- reverse gear disappears;
- ATF leaks through the pump seal;
- in the U series, the rear cover—the clutch drum caliper—wears out;
- The hydraulic plate and solenoids become clogged with dirt.
The problem with Toyota 6-speed automatic transmissions is a worn valve body. The electronically controlled box is finely tuned, so it is very sensitive to the level and purity of the oil. Contaminated fluid and worn seals cause malfunction of solenoids, sensors and plungers. Working in such conditions will require repair of the Toyota automatic transmission electrics by 150,000 km.
In older Toyota machines (over 10 years of service) with a metal mesh filter, technicians recommend installing an external fine filter. It traps friction dust and adhesive residues, reducing wear on automatic transmission components.
Causes of Toyota automatic transmission breakdowns
The causes of automatic transmission breakdowns are not in the design, but in improper operation, when Toyota drivers “squeeze the maximum” out of an iron loaded to the limit. But the most important thing: they forget to change the oil and filter on time. Another problem is unscrupulous repairs: when a repairman uses defective parts, does not check connections, fills in the wrong oil, etc.
In Toyotas with engines from 3 liters, automatic transmissions may not be able to withstand high torque in conditions of low oil, for example, U-series transmissions. Due to aggressive acceleration and slipping, the planetary gear is destroyed, the Teflon ring of the rear cover wears out, which leads to a drop in pressure in Automatic transmission.
Driving in sport mode without changing the oil and consumables leads to overload of the Toyota variator. The belt is the first to suffer. Then the bearings are destroyed, and scuffs appear on the cones. Continued use of a worn-out automatic transmission leads to its early write-off.
Special Modes
The control system contains several transmission control programs:
- "POWER" - sports
- "NORMAL" - economical
- “2nd STRT” - winter
The selection of programs is carried out by pressing the buttons located on the center console.
When you turn on the programs, the corresponding indicators on the instrument panel light up: 2nd STRT - for winter and ECT PWR - for sports; the economical program works by default.
Economical program
Designed to ensure movement with minimal fuel consumption; for this purpose, switching to a higher gear occurs at average engine speeds.
Sport program
Designed for maximum use of engine power; for this purpose, upshifting occurs at maximum engine speeds. When using this program, the car accelerates with significant acceleration, however, when using it, especially in conjunction with “O/D”, it is necessary to monitor the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid; if it rises to a critical temperature, the “A/TOIL TEMP” indicator lights up.
Winter program
Designed to make winter driving easier; when selected, the car starts moving from second gear, eliminating the possibility of slipping.
Proper use of your automatic transmission will extend the life of your transmission for many years and miles to come.
Toyota automatic transmission repair
Maintenance and repair of Toyota automatic transmissions is best carried out in specialized technical centers that are familiar with the features of Japanese units. Initially, the technician diagnoses and inspects the car to determine the problem area. Checks the oil level and quality, inspects the pan. The presence of metal particles larger than 1 mm indicates critical wear of the planetary gear. This means you can’t do without disassembling the automatic transmission.
Automatic transmission valve body repair
Repairing the valve body of Toyota automatic transmissions involves cleaning the channels and solenoid valves from dirt. If there is insufficient pressure, the oil pump drives more fluid, which is already saturated with wear products. A powerful flow of “abrasive” wears out the plate, which leads to the flow of fluid between the channels - a common problem in repairing the U250 automatic transmission. In the U660, the problem was corrected with gentle electronic settings.
Solenoids are rarely changed during repairs. More often due to resource depletion. The first to fail are the complex electric linear pressure regulators SLT and torque converter lock-ups SLU. A faulty solenoid is identified by an error code and then diagnosed using special equipment. Electrovalves are selected according to the VIN code of the Toyota vehicle.
Torque converter repair
The torque converter is an intermediary between the engine and automatic transmission. It transmits torque from the crankshaft to the gearbox shaft through fluid action. The appearance of vibrations, hum, jumps in speed, sluggish acceleration indicate the need to repair the torque converter.
Overhaul of an automatic transmission is usually carried out on Toyotas with high mileage and cannot be done without replacing the torque converter lock-up clutch. Typical workflow:
- A craftsman cuts a welded body on a lathe.
- Inspects parts, cleans and rinses off dirty oil.
- Cleans the locking piston of old lining and glue. Glue on a new clutch and solder it in the oven.
- Assembles the torque converter with new seals and bearings.
- Welds the body.
- Checks the unit for runout and leaks. Performs balancing.
Planetary gear repair
Destruction of the planetary gear is a problem with the Toyota U series automatic transmission. Due to extreme loads, the axles of the satellites play or break. Breaks off the sun gear. Gears crumble, contaminating the oil and accelerating wear of the planetary mechanism.
During the repair of a Toyota automatic transmission, the technician checks the integrity of the gears and bearings, changes the axle or bushes the old one. If the wear of the planetary gear is large, the entire series is replaced as an assembly.
Friction disc repair
If the oil in a Toyota automatic transmission smells like burning, check the friction and steel discs. Burnt clutches lose their characteristics, start with jerks, and cool worse. During automatic transmission repairs, they are replaced in a package along with steel disks.
In the Toyota A140 automatic, the most loaded clutch packs light up first - Direct and Forward. In the A750, the “fuse” begins with Forward and B1, followed by Direct and C3. Even if the clutches are poorly worn, the entire package with steel discs is replaced. In case of general overheating of the automatic transmission, the set of pistons is also changed.
Options
Three main versions of the updated 5-door SUV are available for European consumers.
Basic version "Standard". Equipped with a 2-liter engine with a manual transmission. Front-wheel drive. The maximum power of the power unit is 149 l/s, torque is 206. The model is equipped with 17-inch diagonal tires.
The Comfort package has a 2-liter engine and a CVT. Available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. In both versions, the engine produces 149 l/s. It is equipped with 18-inch wheels.
The “Prestige” version is equipped with both a 2 and 2.5-liter engine. In the first version, the power is 149 l/s, in the second, 199 with a torque of 243. With a 2-liter engine, a CVT is installed, and with a 2.5, an 8-speed automatic transmission. Drive – full. 19-inch wheels are installed.
Automatic transmission repair cost
The cost of repairing a Toyota automatic gearbox depends on the complexity of the work and the cost of spare parts:
| Works | Cost of work , r |
| Toyota automatic transmission diagnostics | free or from 2500 |
| Changing the oil without removing the pan | from 1 500 |
| Changing the oil and filter | from 2 500 |
| Removing/installing Toyota automatic transmission | from 8 500 |
| Troubleshooting with valve body check, replacement of consumables | from 6 000 |
| Valve block repair | from 18 000 |
| Torque converter repair | from 4 000 |
The repairman will tell you the exact cost of the repair after disassembling the automatic transmission, checking the torque converter and valve body. From practice, for example, repairing a Toyota U140 costs 62 - 72,000 rubles, and U660 - from 90,000 rubles.
What's next
After the automatic transmission has been removed and installed, it is necessary to adjust the gear ratios. How to do this procedure is described in a special article, which I devoted to the intricacies of adaptation.
Don't forget to check the oil level again. Since a decrease in level is a normal process. Because the lubricant, being hot, gets into hard-to-reach components of the unit. As a result, the indicator level on the dipstick will decrease.
Take control oil measurements every day during the first week after removing and installing the automatic transmission. This will avoid oil starvation.
If you liked the article, please like and share it on social networks. Write in the comments what else you would like to read about on the pages of our website.
Contract transmissions for Toyota
An automatic transmission is a technically complex unit. To understand “where the knocking is”, you need to diagnose the entire car. And here you can’t do without an experienced and conscientious technician who will not only identify the breakdown, but also fix it the first time, without passing off “Chinese” spare parts as original Toyotas in the estimate. In order not to guess about the results of expensive repairs, you can go the other way and order a contract automatic transmission.
We select a “donor” on the Japanese market based on the Toyota model and engine type, so that the automatic transmission fits your car exactly. All that is necessary after receiving the box: install it instead of the “original” machine and do a complete oil change. We provide a 90-day guarantee so you can be convinced of the quality of the transmission.
The price for a Toyota contract automatic transmission is from 16,000 rubles. To find out the cost of a specific model and delivery time, you can leave a request on the website or by phone.
Stage III. Checkpoint.
1. Drain the transmission oil. 2. Unscrew the bolts that hold the gearbox to the engine. At this moment, the gearbox has not yet been unscrewed from the upper cushion. We also unscrew the bolts that hold the starter. Next, we carefully move the gearbox away from the engine with a balloon (a little bit to make sure it goes) 3. Unscrew the gearbox from the pillow. After this, your friend should insure you and hold the box just in case. 4. Remove the box. She stands on the guides. So it comes off quite easily. The shaft from the differential (which goes to the right wheel) is also splined. I used the spray gun a little from below, a little from above, evenly shorter. 5. We catch the checkpoint, carefully so as not to crush it. It weighs pretty decently, about 40kg I think. Ready.
Next we make the necessary repairs. Along the way, you can easily replace balls, tie rods and ends, and much more.
Installation is the same, in reverse order.
Source
