Diagnosing Solenoid Performance Faults in A761, AB60 & A960 6-Speed Transmissions

The Toyota/Lexus A761, AB60 and A960 6-speed transmissions have been showing up in shops more frequently over the last couple of years. Warranties are expiring and people seem to be hanging on to their vehicles longer these days. Even so, there are a number of different issues with these transmissions, including torque converter clutch failure that is especially chronic with AB60 Tundra applications. Common to all these units is a problem that sticks out a bit more than the others, though: On-Off solenoid mechanical fault codes. You’ll see these as P0751 S1 solenoid performance, P0756 S2 solenoid performance, P0761 S3 solenoid performance and P0766 S4 solenoid performance codes.

These types of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) set when the Transmission Control Module (TCM) commands a specific gear and an incorrect ratio is shown from the input and output speed sensors. As an aid for diagnosis, the TCM will set a DTC related to the solenoid or combination of solenoids responsible for that gear ratio. This can be a tricky situation, as the same performance codes also can set when a clutch in charge of holding the gear ratio is slipping or neutraling out. Immediately throwing new solenoids at the problem can be an expensive mistake if the clutch actually is to blame. The key to diagnosing the problem right the first time is verifying solenoid commands and gear ratios with a thorough road test and capable scan tool.

The trouble area that these three transmissions have in common relates to the feed that these solenoids are provided. On-Off solenoids typically are fed reduced pressure from a solenoid modulator valve or fed line pressure through a very small orifice to prevent flooding. Oddly enough, these 6-speed solenoids are fed regulated, non-orificed line pressure from the manual valve. You can count this as your little-known and even less-cared-for fact of the day, but it’s an extremely important one.

The significance of the unusual feed system is where our problem lies, because there is another On-Off solenoid connected to same oil circuit feeding the solenoids: the SR solenoid. This particular solenoid does not have a performance code connected to it to aid in diagnosis. The fact of the matter is that the trouble codes listed above really are of no help other than pointing us to the solenoids. The actual problem is deeper…it is the solenoid feed.

Figure 1 shows the locations of S1, S2, S3, S4 and the SR solenoid where you can see an exhaust port deeper in the bore from the SR solenoid. This port is directly below the retainer pocket for the bore plug located behind the SR solenoid (Figure 2 shows the OE bore plug and retainer removed from the valve body).

This bore plug separates solenoid feed (line pressure) and a circuit that is charged in first through fourth gears (Figure 3).

This problem area was discovered by Jeff Parlee, director of product support at Valve Body Xpress, and it was easy to see when run on the valve body test machine. As soon as the line pressure circuit was charged, oil started dumping out of the exhaust port. It was one of those “that can’t be right!” moments, and of course it is not right. Not every shop out there has a valve body test machine, so this problem can be missed very easily. A good repair for this area is an O-ringed bore plug that is threaded so it can be installed down into the bore with ease (Figure 4). The O-ring prevents solenoid feed (which we know now is line pressure) from leaking into the sump. This leak not only causes low solenoid feed, but also low line pressure that we all know is not good.

Removing the OE bore plug is where the challenge lies. Figure 5 shows the location of the retainer for this bore plug. A large paper clip and needle nose pliers can help push this bore plug out of its location starting at the exhaust port and/or the passage behind it (Figures 2 and 3). By the way, this is the one that always falls out of the casting when cleaning it, as there is no valve or spring that lives here to keep pressure on it.

I hope this overview of solenoid diagnostics has been helpful and proves that little-known and even less-cared-for facts are important to diagnosing hard-to-find problems.