Landcrusier not changing up gear (auto)

Jude13

I dropped my car (landcrusier amazon auto) in for a service two weeks ago and since then it is struggling to change gear. When I get to 80-100kmh it stays in the lower gear and doesnt change up. Anyone know what it might be? I have found that when I release the accelerator and re-apply pressure it somethings changes up.

I am dropping it back to the same garage at 4pm but just wanted to see if anyone may have an idea.

w211

What kind of service you ordered?

Jude13

It was down as 'major service'. If that's any help.

swarlb

Jude13 wrote: »

I dropped my car (landcrusier amazon auto) in for a service two weeks ago and since then it is struggling to change gear. When I get to 80-100kmh it stays in the lower gear and doesnt change up. Anyone know what it might be? I have found that when I release the accelerator and re-apply pressure it somethings changes up.

I am dropping it back to the same garage at 4pm but just wanted to see if anyone may have an idea.

Did they change the transmission oil ? If so I seem to remember a modification on the seal for the gearbox oil filter for Landcruisers. I had this problem once a while back, but sorted it prior to returning the car to the customer.

Jude13

I have no idea, I will ask them when I drop it back in this afternoon. I just don't want to have to shell out for a new gearbox or something.

w211

Jude13 wrote: »

It was down as 'major service'. If that's any help.

Does it included the flush too?

Jude13

I have no idea, I dropped it in without asking and picked it up when it was done. I will ask this afternoon.

swarlb

Jude13 wrote: »

I have no idea, I will ask them when I drop it back in this afternoon. I just don't want to have to shell out for a new gearbox or something.

What does it say on your receipt, do it mention transmission oil change ?.
Just confirm if they did change the oil in the 'box, and ask to see the old filter (if possible). Maybe it just needs a top up. Sometimes they don't give enough time for the oil to circulate around the 'box, so it may not have the correct level of oil. Check the mileage that the oil should be changed at as well, just to be certain that it did need changing (assuming that this is the issue).
As some automatic transmission have huge change intervals, it's less common for this to be an issue. I have seen on (very few) occasions where mechanics have drained oil from autoboxes, mistaking the sump plug for the engine oil plug. Not saying this has happened, but you never know.
At the very least ask them to check the oil level in the 'box just to be certain.

Jude13

I have been told it is the 'Throttle Body' which needs to be replaced at a cost of about 600 euro all in.

demanufactured

So the throttle body is stopping the auto box from changing gear.........


This doesn't add up.
I'd go to a different garage.

Leonard Hofstadter

I'm assuming the OP's car is a diesel, in which case it wouldn't even have a throttle body

Jude13

It's a petrol, apart from driving a car and being able to change a wheel that is where my knowledge ends, hence the post on here I guess. On one of the landcruiser forums it mentioned the throttle body/cable as being a known issue for not changing gears.

Leonard Hofstadter

Good to know. Seems strange to me even though it's a petrol (fair play for running a V8 petrol one in this country, that takes a lot of courage;)) but if that's what comes up as the problem on enthusiast sites then it's plausible.

Common faults are common.

Jude13

Its a V6 4.0 litre, I'm embarrassed to add 'I think'. I am abroad but when I return I want to get the similar in Ireland, petrol V6 4l but in the smaller narrow version, the prado instead of the current amazon

kirving

demanufactured wrote: »

So the throttle body is stopping the auto box from changing gear.........


This doesn't add up.
I'd go to a different garage.

All sorts of things can and will cause an Auto 'box not to change up gear.

Going low on Diesel can even do it. Fuel pressure goes out of an acceptable range. ECU puts the car into limp mode. Limp mode does whatever it can to protect the engine.

One way to limit the torque the engine is required to generate is to maintain a higher gear for longer than normally necessary, which would give behaviour like the OP described.

LeChienMefiant

I'll ask a silly question, or rather two silly questions. Are you sure you don't have the switch to hold second gear selected? Hopefully your not doing 80 to 100kmh in second but worth asking. Also, are you sure it's not that sports mode is deselected? This would hold gears for longer but should eventually switch up. I can't remember the layout of the gear shifter exactly.

Jude13

No problem with any Q's, I am in no way mechanically minded so do not take it to heart.

I am sure its not in 2nd or have the 2nd start selected.

There is no sports mode but has and ECT power button which increases the rev's before changing gear, so similar to a sports mode. It's a 2003 so I am not hammering it.

LeChienMefiant

You can rule those out so.

I had a 2001 Prado myself that I had to get rid of a few years back due to rust. That was hands down my favourite car I ever owned. Hopefully your Landcruiser will give you years of driving yet!

Jude13

Cheers, I had a 2016 prado, vxr, got it new but wasn't using it enough so changed it for an older full size version, the amazon. Much slower but legend has it that the major parts are built to last 25 years. Obviously except the throttle body....

I had older prado and put 70k on it in a year, 80% on 20% off road for work and it sold me on toyota. I had a LR3 V8 as a personal car so I got rid of that money pit.

Jude13

So I got back the car after the garage had received the wrong part. So it turns out it was the throttle body. In addition to this the catalytic convert was pretty blocked so he said he messed around with it to improve it but said I may need a new on.

It was very slow prior to the throttle body issue, now its moving a hell of a lot better. I will have to see do I pass the emissions test in June though.