Scan gauge and 1999 and up will read temperature of transmission fluid. 96 thru 98 would have to be an aftermarket sensor. No pids have ever been found.
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So does this also mean 96-98 can't send tranny temp via obd2?
In 4Lo, you can climb steep grades all day and never overheat your trans. The only problem is, you can't really do this on pavement unless you have manual locking hubs like some of us do.
dang, I think I learn something new everytime I visit T4R.
So basically Tim, manual locking hub lets you utilize the "very low" transfer case 4Lo gearing (which is much lower gear ratio than using the trans' 1st gear setting I assume), but at the same time locks the front diff completely so you can avoid the whole 'binding on dry pavement' issue of part-time 4WD?
dang, I think I learn something new everytime I visit T4R.
So basically Tim, manual locking hub lets you utilize the "very low" transfer case 4Lo gearing (which is much lower gear ratio than using the trans' 1st gear setting I assume), but at the same time locks the front diff completely so you can avoid the whole 'binding on dry pavement' issue of part-time 4WD?
You're very close. Manual hubs would allow you to put the transfer case into 4LO without the driveline binding up. With the front hubs unlocked there will be no power transfer to the front wheels and no way for it to bind up on dry surfaces.
Alternatively to manual hubs you can modify a j shift transfer case to twin stick so you can use low range while in 2wd. You can also modify the wiring on a j shift transfer case vehicle to not allow the front ADD actuator to engage also giving you an unlocked front axle similar to manual hubs.
dang, I think I learn something new everytime I visit T4R.
So basically Tim, manual locking hub lets you utilize the "very low" transfer case 4Lo gearing (which is much lower gear ratio than using the trans' 1st gear setting I assume), but at the same time locks the front diff completely so you can avoid the whole 'binding on dry pavement' issue of part-time 4WD?
And Yes, you can't read your tranny temp on a 96-98 via the OBDII port. You have to install an aftermarket transmission temp gauge like I did in the video below.
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I'm running a Koyorad and a B&M 70268. I recently did a trans drain and fill and filter replacement (at 300k, which was 2k miles ago). The majority of my driving since the drain and fill has been 100 above outdoor temp. If I'm going through mountains I turn off O/D and I rarely see above 200 even on super hot days.
The cooler you have now is 13k btu rated. On my automatic 4Runner I used a TruCool LPD4589 which is rated for 21k btu and has an integral thermostat to help the transmission fluid get up to temperature. I didn't drive in the mountains with it, but I never saw above 180*F under any condition including offroading or pulling a trailer through the hill country. I'd recommend it to anyone looking to bypass their radiator for transmission fluid cooling.
So isn't this accomplished by locking the front differential? Maybe I'm missing something.
Or this is a lock/unlock feature on the individual CV axles in the front 2 wheels?
Manual hubs are located on the steering knuckle/spindle. With the hubs unlocked the outer portion of the hub that the rotor/wheel attaches to spins freely from the inner part of the hub that the axle shaft is attached to. With the hubs unlocked you won't have any transfer of power to the front wheel regardless of 2wd or 4wd transfer case selection. Manual hubs do not interact with the front differential in any way.
This is all super helpful. I've got a line on a reman auto trans from Toyota directly for my A340F (I guess that's still possible) and I'm going to weight that option against a junkyard find. Though I may have already found one from somebody in town for 400-500. I'm looking to keep using my truck for a long time so going the reman route sounds appealing, obviously the price is a big jump but the 2-3k extra would give me great piece of mind (and hopefully an even more noticeable change in performance.)
Our 4Runners reputation of being bulletproof is starting to get tested as everything other than the engine starts to break (or in my case I broke the engine too). Financial status also plays into this as nobody want to pay for a repair like that on a credit card or loan.
My only comment on used transmissions is there is no real way to verify the mileage. Unlike an engine, there's no compression test to be done and dropping the pan only shows extreme neglect and would be easy to hide by just cleaning it before hand. I do not know how helpful it is but I don't buy from sellers, both private or commercial, that round their reported mileage. If they are too lazy to put a real mileage on the vehicle they removed it from I do not trust them enough to buy it. Hope that helps in your search.
This thread is pretty interesting to me because I tend to semi-regularly see temps in the 200-240 range in stop-and-go traffic on hot days or climbing/descending mountains. I've checked the fluid and its still bright red with no burnt smell or any other (obvious) indications of cooked fluid, and no symptoms of a warped torque converter like sluggishness or shuddering.
I use a cheap bluetooth OBDII adapter and the Torque app on my phone though - my theory is that this reads a "hot spot" and not the pan temp? I'm really not sure. Its a 99 Limited
Edit: for additional context, the current fluid is maybe 20k km old, but has been through two continental crosses and too numerous to count mountain climbs/descents. Also has the external BM cooler bypassing the rad.
Last edited by youwitdaface; 07-05-2023 at 05:54 PM.
This thread is pretty interesting to me because I tend to semi-regularly see temps in the 200-240 range in stop-and-go traffic on hot days or climbing/descending mountains. I've checked the fluid and its still bright red with no burnt smell or any other (obvious) indications of cooked fluid, and no symptoms of a warped torque converter like sluggishness or shuddering.
I use a cheap bluetooth OBDII adapter and the Torque app on my phone though - my theory is that this reads a "hot spot" and not the pan temp? I'm really not sure. Its a 99 Limited
When looking at the transmission fluid temperature with any OBD device it reads from the sensor located just before the transmission fluid exits the transmission to the transmission cooler. This means that it is reading the fluid temperature at the hottest point possible.
When looking at the transmission fluid temperature with any OBD device it reads from the sensor located just before the transmission fluid exits the transmission to the transmission cooler. This means that it is reading the fluid temperature at the hottest point possible.
The cooler you have now is 13k btu rated. On my automatic 4Runner I used a TruCool LPD4589 which is rated for 21k btu and has an integral thermostat to help the transmission fluid get up to temperature. I didn't drive in the mountains with it, but I never saw above 180*F under any condition including offroading or pulling a trailer through the hill country. I'd recommend it to anyone looking to bypass their radiator for transmission fluid cooling.
I put that on my 97 limited.
At that milage imo it’s time to rebuild or replace the trans. You lost confidence.
Our 4Runners reputation of being bulletproof is starting to get tested as everything other than the engine starts to break (or in my case I broke the engine too). Financial status also plays into this as nobody want to pay for a repair like that on a credit card or loan.
My only comment on used transmissions is there is no real way to verify the mileage. Unlike an engine, there's no compression test to be done and dropping the pan only shows extreme neglect and would be easy to hide by just cleaning it before hand. I do not know how helpful it is but I don't buy from sellers, both private or commercial, that round their reported mileage. If they are too lazy to put a real mileage on the vehicle they removed it from I do not trust them enough to buy it. Hope that helps in your search.
They *were* bulletproof, since 1996. The age is starting to show, with the exception of maybe lower-mile 2002's. We're seeing more tranny-related failure posts than ever in T4R 3rd gen history I think.
Some people have rocked a 1996 for example for the past 27 years. Many people in that timeframe have had to buy 2 or perhaps even 3 vehicles by comparison - especially if they drive American cars, lol.
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