All right I have a 99 tacoma 4x4 TRD with the 3.4 and an auto tranny. If I leave it sitting on a slope and then put it in reverse to back out the tranny lags for a bit before engaging and then you can hear a loud clank when it does engage. This happens even when using the parking brake. Anyone else ever seen this problem? The dealership can't figure it out. They pulled the tranny apart put a new clutch pack in and still can't figure out what is wrong.

 

what kinda hill are we talking? steep incline?

also, how tight is your e-brake? check that out and report back

 

Mine does the same. I think it's the torque converter engaging. This has happened on multiple auto tranny's for me w/ a steep enough incline; I think it's normal.

 

Thats the weird thing. This is just my driveway. It's probably only about 15degrees off level. Just enough to make the truck roll on it's own if it's in neutral. On steep inclines it gets really bad. Parking brake is really tight. Any idea what you think causes the torque converter to not lock up right away like normal?

 

not to try to make you sound dumb, do you pull the parking brake up with your foot on the brake at a complete stop WHILE in gear?

 

I pull the parking brake while the truck is in neutral take my foot off the brakes let the parking brake set then put the truck in park.

Fire? Do you work for a fire department? I work for the FD in my town.

 

check your fluid level

 

Until I got to your post #6 I was going to suggest thats how you park. Thats what we do in our driveway, waaayyy steeper than 15*, and have no issues.

Does it happen if you go into drive in this same condition? I wonder if your fluid is low?

 

Ditto on checking the fluid.
....make sure it is at the full mark on a level surface with the engine running and in gear.

Does it do that no matter how long you sit at idle then put it in gear?

 

Does toyota say to check the level in gear?? I have only owned one auto tranny toyota and my wife checks the fluid by the book, it is her rig.. but the other auto tranny rigs I have driven all say in park or neutral...

 

Fluid is golden. It just got changed when the dealership rebuilt the clutch pack. Plus the fluid is good. I thought you were supposed to check the fluid in neutral with the motor running. Check it in gear...that doesn't sound very safe. Never tried putting it in drive probably because I'd end up going straight into the wall . I'll park further back next time and try that.

 

mine makes a clank sound if i leave it in gear and forget to set the parking brake on a steep incline, i have never had the lag though. hey my uncle lives in farmington, he drives a silver (titanium) FJ with black steelies

 

Older or newer FJ? What's his name?

 

FJ cruiser brand new, his name is tom hudson, he is an instructer there at san jaun college

 

Hmm cool. Don't believe I've ever met him but if I do I'll say hi.

 

You'll get pretty much the same result either way.....but I think I was tired when I said "in gear" rather than "in neutral".

 

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

a guy i know has a chevy HD, and when on an inline going from park-drive the drive shaftmakes a loud clank, but i think it's just a bit of slack in the pinion.

my 98' taco made a loud clank alot before the u-joint blew, doesn't sound good though

 

Very common on slip yolk tranny/xcase setups, which a chevy has, but not a 4wd toyota...