'88 Camry transmission trouble
 

Hey, i've been having some problems with my automatic transmission on my 1988 Camry LE. I tried the search feature, but didn't come up with anything that sounded exactly like the problem i'm having, sohere goes...

The carstarts out in first, but will jump to 3rd instead of goingthru secondgear. It also does not shift into OD. The odd part of all this, is sometimesit will shift asis nothing is wrong at all, first, second, third, and finally..OD. The OD button works on the shifter, it will down shift when you accelerate, but then after about 5 mins ofdriving,it will shift back down into third, and stay there until the vehicle is pretty much at a complete stop. It will notdownshift otherwise.

Oil is a bit dark, but not burnt.Car has about280K on it, and i'm assuming the oil hasnot been changed for awhile now. I bought the car at 260K, and all the shops i've gone to said not to change, as it might domore harm than good.

Could this problem be caused by aSolenoid?I find it very strange thatonce in a blue moon it will work properly.Just enough to annoy me.... it actually works, but justdoesn't feel like it! [:@]

Any help on this would help alot. Thanks.

RE: '88 Camry transmission trouble
 

I have 91 Camry and have the exactly same problem.
I changed the transmission oil with a filter but it did not solve the problem, so don't try oil.
I asked several auto shops and most of them told me to donate the car and buy a new one. [:@]
I was thinking swapping the whole transmission because buying one from ebay costs $400~$500 and the labor to swap it costs around $500.
Spending around sub $1,000, I can get an almost-brand-new tranny.
However, I wonder if swapping the tranny will solve the problem.
Please post any news if you hear more.

RE: '88 Camry transmission trouble
 

Good news, car is shifting fine, and the bill was under 200!

Turns out, the previous owner had bent the transmission pan, denting the filter, and a valve body pipe. So after a new filter, valve body pipe, and a shift solenoid, the car is running fine!

So unless you've been off-roading in your Camry, or have jacked it up using the transmission pan :D, i'm sure your fine and it's just the shift solenoid that you need to replace.I'm assumingyour pan will have to be removed to get at the solenoid though, so you would need new oil and a gasket, and the labour to install it. Still, it won't be anywhere close to what you where thinking with that new tranny!

AT fluid - 26.95
Pangskt - 8.95
Filter - 12.80
Valve body pipe - 5.00
Shift solenoid - 42.80
Labor - 70.00

Then of course all the taxes, and remember this is all Canadian dollars.

Hope this helps.

RE: '88 Camry transmission trouble
 

It may sound odd but the problem was solved with another oil change.
I went to another place to change the transmission oil.
This time, they flushed the whole thingbefore putting new oil.
(Last time, I guess they just drained oil and refilled without flushing.)
The problem solved.

RE: '88 Camry transmission trouble
 

lol i just love it when people solve their own problems!

Turns out, the previous owner had bent the transmission pan, denting the filter, and a valve body pipe. So after a new filter, valve body pipe, and a shift solenoid, the car is running fine!

I have the same exact car, with the same exact problem. It was just given
to me by my parents in FL a few weeks ago & they told me there was
"something very strange going on with the transmission" Since it was free
& in great shape otherwise, I drove it here to NJ. The problem was getting
worse so I took it to the Toyota dealer here & they said it was a "spindle"
problem & the trans needed to be replaced (for a small $3000 fee!) I don't
trust them at all & when I called other transmission companies they said
that Toyota is "full of it"

I have had all the trans issues too. Don't think you need to trans. This is a sensor or solinoid issue. Could be fuel ratrio sensor too which I just replace.
What are the light trhat are coming on? Have the codes checked for free at Auto zone. You may want to try another dealer. Have you called Toyota?

i have some problem..but who can tell me how to fix it