ROUGH SHIFTING

Rough shifting is a common sign that there’s something causing problems with your transmission, but don’t panic! The good news is that rough shifting can be caused by something as simple as having the wrong transmission fluid or needing a fluid flush and fill to get rid of dirty or burnt fluid. Other common parts can fail inside the transmission that don’t usually require replacing the whole transmission to resolve as well. The bad news is that rough shifting does need to be addressed immediately. Depending on the source of the problem, continuing to use your vehicle can lead to transmission damage, which will make the problem worse and likely make the necessary repairs more expensive.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN’T SHIFT PROPERLY

If you have a Land Cruiser with an automatic transmission, transmission fluid problems are often the source of the issue. However, this can also be a sign that your throttle position sensor is failing, or that you have a shift solenoid that needs to be replaced. Your mechanic can help diagnose the problem as well as fix it so that you’re back on the road faster and shifting easier.

THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPS WORKING

Also called engine stalling, your engine stopping suddenly is one of the more common complaints about the Land Cruiser. This is a big problem because it can lead to an accident if you aren’t able to restart the vehicle quickly, but fortunately, it’s also a known problem that can usually be fixed. The most common culprit for a Land Cruiser’s engine stalling is a failed fuel pump, which means that the engine isn’t getting the juice it needs to keep going. Replacing the fuel pump almost always solves the problem as long as there hasn’t been any additional damage from stalling. Because engine stalling can be dangerous, this is an urgent issue that deserves immediate attention.
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CONSUMING TOO MUCH OIL

Land Cruisers aren’t necessarily known for burning oil, but it is a relatively common problem. Some consumers opt to deal with this issue and just keep oil on hand to replace the used oil, but that’s not a good solution. Especially since you can have overheating problems and other issues if you don’t catch that your vehicle is starting to run low on oil quickly. Usually, this is a piston ring or valve guide problem. Blue smoke is one of the warning signs that your vehicle is burning oil. Both of the common causes of this issue can cause blue smoke, so it’s not a diagnostic tool other than letting you know what’s happening. Once diagnosed, your mechanic can talk to you about possible solutions and ways to manage the problem.
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LEAKY POWER STEERING PUMP

Power steering is absolutely critical in most vehicles. It’s the only thing that keeps it relatively easy and effortless to steer, without it you would need the impressive upper body strength of a NASCAR driver to handle your vehicle. So, when your power steering pump starts leaking that can be a recipe for trouble, including intermittent power steering problems and outright steering failures. Replacing the steering pump and occasionally the power steering lines is the typical fix since that’s the only way to ensure the leak doesn’t open back up and cause problems again in the future. Unfortunately, a replacement pump doesn’t protect against future pump failures, it just makes them less likely. Want to keep your Toyota Land Cruiser in top working condition but don’t have the time or expertise to do the work yourself? Never fear, Precision Auto Care is here to help. Give us a call to schedule your next maintenance appointment away.

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