A340e Sluggish takeoff? Lockup Solenoid Problem?

[4th surf]

you will get strange/low voltage readings when the solenoids are starting to die. Well that's if you get a voltage reading at all, I mean hell half the time they don't even spit a code.. To be sure next time it plays up manually shift it and if all functions as it should replace the solenoids(this is what the factory service manual tells you to do anyway), cheapest way to do this is to jump on eBay and search for A340 solenoids, there's a guy in the US who sells the whole set for $165USD (I've fitted a few sets to various vehicles now) and some pointers for you..

The trans pan is usually "Glued on" and doesn't use a gasket,If there is a gasket it usually means that the trans has been worked on before I use Permatex Grey to seal them back up

The filter is a mesh screen so you can wash it out in petrol or brake cleaner and re-use.

The replacement solenoids are smaller than the originals being a more modern design and build plus they only go in in one position so no worries there. You will notice smoother shifting after.

Be sure to check either Castrol or Valvolines database for the correct fluid as only some models of A340 use Dex-III . Wrong fluid can destroy the frictions and seals leading to a costly exercise. And yes it is a messy job but the hardest part is getting the pan off

[orangeute338]

thanks for the reply. The auto had a service few months ago affording got it the pan has a cork gasket. Yeah i read about the solenoids having residule voltage or something if it plays up so that might be why. When its playin up i pull it back to 2nd on the stick and stays in 3rd i think ill just replace the solenoids and hope that fixes it should do.

[dumbass]

unplug solenoid plug see if voltages are ok
might even be fkt ecu

[4th surf]

Having dealt with more of these than I care to know about if it's an ECU problem you tend to get lazy or slow shifting and no overdrive combined with power loss and slow throttle response where the TCM is combined with the ECU and when that happens if they do throw a code you get 14

[orangeute338]

im thinking its just the solenoids, reading stuff on the net they are meant to be 11-16ohms they were 14ohms before when it was working properly but they are about 4-5ohms when the thing is playing up so im guessing they are stuffed or there is some loose connections, i might pull the pan off and check out the wiring and the solenoids

[orangeute338]

ok update on the auto, so if anyone is having problems with there auto check the ohms of each solenoid they should be between 11-16ohms. i changed the solenoids and now its all great, also bumped up the pressure so it shifts a little quicker now....the solenoid that was playing up when i pulled it out, black oil came out so im must be pretty stuffed. thanks for everyones advice...hopefully this will help to someone in the future...

[George]

Nice work! Did you buy used solenoids at some wrecker place, or brand new Toyota pieces, or US Ebay thing?

[orangeute338]

a local guy had a second hand valve body for $50 so i got that and swapped over the solenoids, i can get new ones or $120 from the us on ebay but thought i would do the cheaper option first to make sure it was the solenoids, now i have a spare valve body i might shift kit or sell...heading out to the drags on wednesday hopefully do a ok time, still have speed cut so 1/8 time should be good, have a 30 shot of nos to wack on also

[aloshan]

dammit, i replaced solenoids as well and still having my shifting problem.

need to check the wiring......

[orangeute338]

whats ya symptoms? i have read almost every post about auto problems with the a340e since i started having drama's so might be able to give ya some advice...

[Z2TT]

Hi Guys I remember fixing this problem and it's been a while.
I got help from 2 people thanks to Peter Faneli and Peter Goudie on some old threads.

Possible causes :

1. The solder on the solenoid itself often is pretty bad from factory and adding a bit on there can help.
2. Solenoid not earthed well, in my case I had to scratch a bit of the black coating off the plate with sandpaper, and it fixed it.
3. Stripped wiring along plugs/wires running near bellhousing
4. Faulty solenoid itself.

Sometimes these problems can be intermittent too so if your tests might all show up well while driving the car it can come and go
so replacing all solenoids and checking wiring might be a good plan if having many repeated problems.

[aloshan]

whats ya symptoms? i have read almost every post about auto problems with the a340e since i started having drama's so might be able to give ya some advice...

thanks for helping!

- The overdrive light is flashing

Transmission throwing codes

61 Speed sensor No.2 (transmission)
62 Solenoid No.1 open or short circuit
64 Lockup Solenoid open or short circuit

- Ive replaced the speed sensor behind the dash - still have the problem.

- I've replaced all 3 solenoids(2 shift and 1 lockup)- still have the problem

I see that the other code ive pulled is 61 speed sensor no.2.

Recently I realised that if I pressed my dash down while driving the speedo seems to work and the car changes gears okay so this led me to believe it was a connection issue.
I removed my dash plugged everything back in and secured it properly. This resulted in the dash lights being much brighter and correct operation of my dash ...and consequently my gears for the first 20min of driving. After driving for 20min the speed started jumping around again , leading to my gearbox also shifting erratically.

This has happened previously( i removed the dash , put it back in , everything works for about 20min and then stops working)...could it be that resistance is increasing somewhere due to heat and this causing the problem.

The operation of my box

In D it will take off very slowly
In 1 it will hold but it will randomly drop down to what seems to be a lower gear and the revs rise RAPIDLY (the fact that its dropping down from one means that in one im actually selecting 2 ? :S )...this is dangerous if im taking a corner while its in 1 and its wet as I lose the back end because of the increased revs and tyre spin
In 2 it will hold 2( this seems to be the only gear functioning perfectly..this is the gear I use most of the time)

Im leading to it being my speed sensor as when the dash is operational , the gearbox seems to work flawlessly.

Thanks again in advance for any help

[orangeute338]

are all the check codes still current since you put in new solenoids? (were they new or second hand ones, what are the resistance of the solenoids at the ecu plugs?) have you checked the no.2 speed sensor while driving? find the pinouts of the ecu and check it while driving. Im pretty sure the ecu runs off no2 speed sensor and if it dies then it will use the speedo signal from the dash. try disconnecting the sensors one by one and test drive, when you disconnect the 3 wire plug near the rear you should only have manual changing, d=4th, 2=3rd, L=1. what car - what motor?

if you havnt already since you replaced the solenoids reset the ecu and start from there...