Have a 2000 Limited 4x4 w/100k and am told with the California emission standards. Had the dreaded trans cooler leak in the radiator and got the strawberry milkshake mixture. Thought I had saved it, trans dipstick is clean but when removing trans lines and then trans pan, it is coated inside with milkshake. I drove it for 5 mins with a low whistle before it overheated and I shut it down. Did not have any trans problems at that time.

All signs point to no salvage of the trans, no where have I read or talked to anyone that has seen one saved from this. I can flush the trans for $2-250 with little hope of it working or apply the $200 to another trans.

Main question, is there a difference between a trans for the California emissions and one for the regular Federal emissions? I can't even get a straight answer from Toyota. Both trans are #A340F for both I believe but some are showing different part numbers?? Anyone know for sure if there is a difference or any bits of info on the fun road I have ahead, like finding a trans?!?

This seems to be a major design flaw, how is there anyway to know or prevent this problem from taking your trans out? Besides installing a separate cooler for the trans which will now be done!

Thanks in advance for the help!

I've never heard of a CA spec tranny, and couldn't imagine what the difference would be. I know many vehicles sold other places, like all my Toyotas here in MA, come w/ CA spec emissions. Sucks about the issue, did you do regular coolant and trans fluid changes every 30k or less? As for the tranny, if you're sure its done I'd look for as low a mileage used unit as possible, just call a few salvage yards and see what's around you.

I can't imagine what the difference would be either unless the layout is different or some different breather. Both are the same trans model (#A340F) but believe the Toyota part #'s are different. Even Toyota couldn't tell me and said to lay them next to each other! That's a big help...

Resurrecting an old thread...

Went to replace my tranny dipstick that had broken off and the parts guy wanted me to make sure whether I had CA or Fed spec before he ordered the dipstick. I couldn't think of any reason it could be different either, and the truck was about 3 hrs away so I just told him Fed spec.

Appears there are four different dipsticks possible...

35103-35350 (VZN185L-GKPGKA) <- The one I bought
35103-34060 (VZN185L-GKPGKA)
35103-35290 (VZN180L-GKPGKA)
35103-34070 (VZN180L-GKPGKA)

Paid $27 at the dealer but Toyotapartszone.com has it for $17.

Dont mean to beat a dead horse but does anyone have the answer to this question yet? What are the differences between the fed and cal trannys?

I would like to know as well. I just tore out my tranny and found the one from the salvage yard is different. I suspect it is from a different year but would like to know the difference between the fed and calif emissions.

My new (to me) transmission had some different wiring connections but looks physically the same. Would an '02+ be physically the same but with a few different sensor changes?

I decided to see if I could help any. I looked in my '99 EWD to see what electrical differences there are. 1999 is one of the two years where both Cali-type and Federal type emissions were produced. The only difference I could find is ONE extra ground wire. All the plugs were the same.

You should be more concerned about the numerous differences shown between transmissions mating to J-shift TC's and those going with multi-mode transmissions. It makes sense that the various transfer case designs would need different interfaces to the trans.

I can't speak to any physical differences.

Thanks for the info. I was lucky enough to have the salvage yard include the transfer case with the transmission. again, it is physically similar but is missing one of the sensors (it has a threaded plug in its place) other than that it has a contraption with two sensors on the rear of the TC which mine does not have. Must be a different 4x4 option than my truck had? I wonder if I bolted it up if my truck would run the different TC anyway?

Let me know how it went if you end up putting that transmission in from the salvage yard. Any changes you had to make too.

resurrection time.

im stuck in TN with a blown tran right now, looking for a used, the shops are asking me about thru 5/99 then from 6/99, does anyone know what the differences are? have a 4x4 3.4 liter v6

Call a Toyota service shop?

I'll put my two cents in on this. I bought a nice '99 T4R Limited that needed a transmission (turned out the tyranny coolest lines were connected to each other, bypassing the radiator). I happened to have a tyranny from a '98 that my daughter wrecked. Got the '99 for $600! The '98 was Fed Emissions and the '99 was Calif. Emissions. The engines were the same EXCEPT for the massive wire connectors from the engine into ECU behind the glove box. So, I couldn't swap the tyranny and engine as one unit. Oh, and the exhaust manifolds are different- the '98 had one large exit to the exhaust/cat pipe (one catalytic conv.). The '99 has two channels from each cylinder bank going into exhaust (two cat. conv.). Once I got the '99 home I could see the transfer cases were different. Oh, oh...did I screw up? Will the trannys swap-out? Great parts guy at west-herr Toyota in Orchard Park, NY assured me both trannys are the same! Whew, dodged a bullet, there. I swapped the trannys with no problem. As far as there being a difference in the dip-sticks- idk. I've scrapped the '99 tranny, so I can't look now and compare. I DID use the dipstick and tube (both tubes were two-piece) from the '98 tranny and the upper bracket fit up to the same spot on the engine. I really lucked out. Out of the three components: engine, transmission, transfer case the only one that's compatible between the '98 and '99 is the tranny. How this relates to the 2000 model, I can't tell you. Hope this helps. Here's my ride:

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Just had a thought, maybe the Calif emission's dip stick takes a slightly different route because of the first catalytic conv. which is close to the engine

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Hi folks hate to revive a dead post but i'm new to the 4runner world and was unlucky enough to buy a 2000 limited with cali. emissions and the transmission is junk after I drove it for 3 months. So I have a yard ornament that I would love to drive again. I can find Fed. emissions transmissions all over the place but not cali. ones. Is there really any difference?

Internally there should be no differences. I'm (personally) about 98% sure the only difference is the dipstick tube.

I have a '97 (Fed emissions) 4WD transmission swapped into my originally 2WD CA emissions truck... Worst case is swapping the transmission pan and dipstick over from your CA emissions transmission, but that is probably not even necessary.

-Charlie