First I'd like to apologize for creating a new thread about something that I'm sure has been posted before. I cannot find anything that matches my exact issues and most of the threads I have found are really old.

So, my issues go a little bit like this: Say I am turning from a main road into a parking lot and I have to adjust my speed naturally, to about 5-10mph. When I am at these low speeds I mostly idle through with very slight acceleration, the problem appears when I need to speed back up a bit and I push the accelerator the RPMs go to about 1500 and it shifts into the next gear. It isn't really a clunk into the next gear just a delay. I can tell it is unnatural because the engine revs up an entire 500 (or more) RPMs before going into the next gear.

I do not notice the problem when I am going speeds 25 or higher

However, when I am going down a hill at say 45 MPH and I coast through it with my foot off the gas my RPMs drop, like they should, and when I go to accelerate after the hill I once again rev it back up to have it catch into the next gear.

very very occasionally I will come to a complete stop at a light and after sitting for about 5 seconds my tranny will CLUNK down into a lower gear. This happens very infrequently but when it does, it happens multiple times a day or for a few days and then goes away from weeks or months.

Just a little backstory,

I have had my 4runner for about two years and I mostly took it to NTB for the 19.99 oil change because its just cheaper than buying the stuff myself. The first time I tried to change it myself I accidentally drained the transmission fluid but I didn't catch it because my fluid was black. I did not notice until I added oil on top of the old oil what I had done. So I figured out by pouring my pan of transmission fluid into a container that I had drained 3qts, bought 3 quarts of the automatic transmission fluid and siphoned it into my transmission. Since I measured and added that same amount back I did not set it into the fluid checking mode or whatever or anything I just put it in there and was done with it, irresponsible, I know.

If you are with my this far I appreciate it so much and apologize for the wall of text but I will break down each concern I have and maybe it will be easier to answer them in the comments if they are numbered.

1. I may have not gotten 100% of the 3qts back into the tranny because its hard to get the last tiny bit of fluid in there because at some point there isnt any fluid to push the last bit up against gravity. Also, I had 3.5 qts of fluid in pan after draining and removing oil filter but I counted the .5 as just oil from the filter since the pan holds 3 qts at all times it just made logical sense.

2. I still have the old tranny fluid in my drip pan mixed in with a bunch of oil. Would it be worth looking at to see if there are metal shards? Its been sitting there for months.

3. Should I have toyota change my trans fluid and see if its too bad to get a flush because I am worried about gear slippage?

4. Could it be the throttle position sensor or a shift control solenoid? I have about 177k miles and I have heard that these issues come up around that time

5. I have seen multiple users say they had some sort of "flash" done at the dealership to refresh the computer or something..idk it was mostly in 5th gen threads - is this applicable to my situation?

Once again, if you read this entire wall of text thank you so much I seriously appreciate that. I feel so ashamed at my carelessness I am a college student and I do not have a super extensive tool collection and it is hard to come up with a bunch of spare cash to get a flush/change so I have put off taking it to a professional. I drive it a lot for my job and really really love the thing so I want it to go for 200k more miles at least without having to rebuild shit ya know.

TL;DR: engine revs up a few hundred RPMs before trans switches into next gear at low speeds. occasionally clunks down into first gear while at stop light after about 3-5 seconds. Did a few stupid things before issues. Seriously difficult to make a TL;DR for such a hairy post

Looking forward to the comments

Thanks y'all

It sounds like you've answered your own question here a little bit.

It could be all of the things you mentioned, but most will result in a code.

Personally, I would get your fluid level right however you have to do it. Driving with improper levels is a sure way to do damage.

If I were you I would start there. You can address the rest of the possibilities after the fact. Also, I would start with a drain and fill to correct levels. I wouldn't go for a flush right off the bat with 180k on the clock. That part is completely preference. I like to play it safe and I've never heard of a proper drain and fill causing problems. I have heard though that flushes have created issues in some cases.

As always that is free advice. Take it for what it's worth.

Matt

Big question which Transmission fluid did you put back in it?

I agree. What did you put in your transmission?

If you said the fluid was black when you drained it, I'd do a full fluid exchange. Especially if you put a not compatible fluid in your transmission.

Whether you do a full exchange or a drain and fill you still have the critical task of getting the fluid level right. That is why I just do the exchange.


I had a 2004 that hesitated to shift into 2nd gear when cold. Sounds like a similar issue to your problem. I changed the fluid out and it did not change the symptom. Drove it like that for years. It is still running today... 200k plus on the odometer.

Ouch. Is your throttle body gummed up? Not sure if that would make a difference.

But pretty sure if you put anything other than toyota fluid (04 is WS fluid right?), you might have done something bad.

This might just be the driveshaft clunking, not the transmission.

^ I just greased my drive shafts and it was doing this to me too.

Stopped when I greased that bad boy. Couldn't hurt to try and it is a super cheap thing that is required maintenance anyway.

I'm going to see if I can get Toyota to check mine for a next to nothing cost and if they want to rip me off I will attempt to check it myself. Don't I just get temp up and crack that allen key slot and analyze the drip/gush? drip if okay levels, gush if too much, nothing if not enough?

I used Toyota's WS Automatic transmission fluid. Bought it from the dealership 3 quarts for a total of about 30 bucks - I double checked with the parts guy and he said it was the right stuff.

WS ATF is what I used. If I get a fresh fluid swap and my old fluid is thick and burnt and full of metal shards, hypothetically speaking, would my gears slip with all new fluid? This may just be an old wise tale though?

Music to my ears and sounds like it could be that now that I think of it.

Funny thing is, I had the very task on my to-do list but pushed it down a few weeks ago. Guess it's back up around the top

Ive done the fluid exchange on two 4runners... 04 V6 (136k miles at the time of exchange) and 06 V8 (165k miles at the time of exchange)

04 Had never had the fluid serviced. It was brown. No metal shavings, good amount of silt tho.

06 Did have transmission fluid serviced at around the 100k mark (documentation) however it had been serviced with non Toyota fluid which is why I did the exchange.

Both were high mileage. Neither had burned smell to them, or metal shavings. Both seemed to benefit from the service. Watching the fluid being pumped out of the return line into my bucket changing from brown to bright red was well worth the work.

If your transmission seizes up and wets the bed after a fluid exchange it was on its way out anyways and probably would have died regardless. I have not personally witnessed new fluid damage a transmission.


Definitely try to grease the drive shaft. That would definitely help the clunk.

No need for temp check mode: Eas(ier) ways to check WS transmission fluid level

Or you can try this method. It's what I did when I changed my Trans fluid 6 months ago.
Buy this ODB2 bluetooth reader
Get this app.
And Read this information here.

I plan to check my levels again next oil change (in 2 weeks) since I kept turning off the engine when I checked. You're suppose to have the engine running when you pull the overflow/check plug.

First, I did search for this trbl and found several posts, but I cannot get linked when I click on them. Also Googled and found the same posts, again clicking on the links just hung up and never linked.

So, my '07 auto won't downshift when I tap (or hold) the brakes. This should be the same setup as my '05 Tundra 4.7 5spd auto that does downshift tapping the brakes.

Can somebody search "random downshift" on the 4th Gen forum and post relevant links for me? For some reason when I click on links embedded in threads it links me right away. Thanks.