I've got 125k miles on my 2008 Scion xD and it just developed an issue where the transmission seems to jerk when going into first gear when coming to a stop. I thought at first it could be my brakes but I tested it on a long stretch of road where I very lightly touched the brake pedal until it stopped and it still did it. Sometimes its a light clunks and sometimes its like a jerking feeling. The transmission was supposedly flushed by Toyota at around 105k. And it only does it when downshifting into first gear none of the other gears do it when upshifting or downshifting. I even hooked up my $1200 Autel Scan tool and it couldn't find any issues far as trouble codes that could be wrong. I was wondering if new fluid would help or maybe a shift solenoid? I've had Toyotas in the past with well over 200k and none of them have had a problem like this. Btw I've owned this car since 2010.

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I'd definitely check the fluid level and condition. If the fluid level is low, try topping it off first before you change it out. If your current ATF is full of friction particles, changing it out could cause slippage.

 

I just got enough WS fluid to do 3 drain and refills the fluid was dark but didn't seem to really indicate any shedding or metal in the amount I drained out. One thing I noticed was that the smells are drastically different between the two and I'm not talking about burnt either. The stuff I drained out smells like the old type IV while the new WS smells totally different. And I know for a fact this car takes WS fluid. I wonder if that flush that I had done a couple of years ago put in type IV instead of WS. Unless WS changes the way it smells after a couple of years of service but it's not a burnt smell at all and I know exactly what that smells like from past experience so im almost wondering if I got screwed by Toyota a few years ago. If so I hope there's not that much damage done but I've got no way to prove it if it is the cause.

 

Glad to hear there's no metal in the fluid. Good luck with the WS fluid.

 

Is there a serviceable transmission filter in the pan? I think there is I just wanted to make sure.

 

Yes, you have a filter. Whether it's serviceable I do not know. You can probably get a new filter and gasket for $20.