Questions and Answers

Shiftless Toyota Previa Q. Dear Vincent, I have a 1991 Toyota Previa, automatic transmission, 2.4 liter engine and 154,000 miles. Cruise control was not working for many years. Now the temperature is about 40 to 50F in the morning. After 40 mph the transmission does not shift gear, even if it reaches 60 mph. It does shift gear after driving about 10 minutes.

Last winter I drove this van at 70 mph many times when the transmission did not shift, so it was very noisy. I changed the transmission fluid and filter last year, and the fluid is still full.

I went to a transmission shop and was told that they needed to open the transmission for inspection. I thought it might be due to a minor temperature sensor problem. What do you think the problem might be?

Thanks for your help.
Shangming

A. I can't offer any solid possibilities unless I can actually drive the vehicle. But if it is not upshifting, which is what I think you are saying, then the things I would check in order are the Throttle Valve Cable, the transmission valve body and the transmission itself.